Anayochukwu Agbo
Despite a few setbacks, the Nigeria Armed Forces say they are adopting integrative solutions to security challenges in the country with the people at the centre. This was disclosed by General Christopher Musa, chief of defence staff, on June 19 in Abuja at a meeting with media executives to mark the two years of their operation since 2023.
Applying the kinetic and non-kinetic options, he explained, allows the military, not only to use the carrot and stick but also be more compassionate. This manifests in the improved welfare for soldiers wounded in battle, who after treatment are rehabilitated and made active again through sports, both nationally and globally.
The Nigeria Military is seen as relatively strong. In the 2025 Global Power Index, PWI, Nigeria is ranked 31 globally and third in Africa, with only Egypt and Algeria preceding her. Egypt is ranked first in Africa and 19th in the world; while Algeria is ranked 26th in the world and second in Africa. The top three globally are: United States, Russia and China, with Russia and China tied at the latest ranking.
From 2023 to date, General Musa disclosed that the Nigerian Armed Forces killed 6,260 terrorists, arrested 14,138 criminals and rescued 5,365 kidnapped victims in operations across Nigeria. A “significant” cache of arms and ammunition were recovered.
Across the geopolitical zones, the military has been busy neutralising discontent and criminality. A breakdown shows that in the Niger Delta, troops under the aegis of Operation Delta Safe recovered N83 billion worth of stolen crude oil, killed 103 criminals, arrested 2,760 suspects, and rescued 266 kidnap victims.
In the North-East, under Operation Hadin Kai, security forces killed 1,246 Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists, arrested 2,467, rescued 1,920 civilians, recovered 982 arms and 2,153 rounds of ammunition.
In the North-West Region, with burgeoning banditry, the military killed 1,374 bandits, including top commanders operating across Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, and Sokoto States; arrested 2,160 suspects, freed 3,288 hostages and recovered 947 weapons with 25,802 rounds of ammunition.
In the South-East, under Operation UDO KA the military killed 440 “terrorists”, arrested 1,677 criminals, rescued 294 civilians, and recovered 683 weapons with 21,300 rounds of ammunition.
In the South-West, the Joint Task Force killed 80 criminals, arrested 1,763, rescued 89 kidnap victims and recovered 143 weapons and a massive 177,904 rounds of ammunition.
TELL raised the issue of rehabilitation of “repented” Boko Haram terrorists, which appears to be backfiring as recently, soldiers of that descent have been caught stealing bullets and funneling back to Boko Haram. They are also reported to be sabotaging military operations, like in Borno recently where the battery of an army tank was said to have been removed ahead of a terrorist attack, denying the gunner the duty of repelling the attack.
General Musa explained that these were exceptions. He disclosed that on screening, some of those rehabilitated were found to have been forcefully recruited by Boko Haram and had not been radicalised like hardened core Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists who cannot pledge allegiance to Nigeria.
He made a passionate case for the mix of kinetic and non-kinetic strategies. “In today’s battles, particularly against terrorism and insurgency, we are not only engaged in physical combat but also fighting a war for the hearts and minds of the people. The media is not just a supporting actor but a central player in shaping narratives that influence national unity and peacebuilding.
“That is why we seek a professional, objective, and nation-oriented partnership with the media. Truth and trust are the cornerstones of national resilience. The perception battle, which entails controlling the narrative and countering misinformation and disinformation, is essential to strategic success. Media professionals play a critical role in this non-kinetic theatre. In today’s battles, we are not only engaged in physical combat but also fighting a war for the hearts and minds of the people. The media is not just a supporting actor but a central player in shaping narratives that influence public sentiment, national unity, and peacebuilding.
“While kinetic operations are ongoing across all theatres, we have also come to fully appreciate the importance of non-kinetic strategies, which now constitute over 70 per cent of the efforts required in modern asymmetric warfare. In this context, the media is not just a supporting actor but a central player. Nigerians are deeply interested in understanding their security situation and prospects; hence, the narratives you shape as media professionals will significantly influence public sentiment, national unity and peace building.”
The CDS said the security threats facing Nigeria are unconventional and “adaptive,” ranging from terrorism and banditry to secessionist violence and organised crime. These require a “comprehensive, multidimensional, and multidisciplinary approach” to national security. And that is why the Armed Forces adopted a “Whole-of-Society Approach” that builds synergy among the military, government institutions and the citizenry.
The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, represented by his Special Adviser (Technical), Major General Ahmed Tijani Jibrin (rtd), argued that national security is a collective responsibility. “The media is the veritable backbone of our nation. Your responsibility in ensuring accurate, timely, and constructive reportage is vital to building morale and public trust, despite skepticism in some quarters, the Armed Forces are steadily turning the tide against insurgents, bandits, and other criminal elements.”
Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, Chief of Naval Staff, represented by Rear Adm. Olusegun Soyemi, reported that the Navy has intensified its maritime security efforts, safeguarded Nigeria’s coastal assets and contributing to national economic growth.
Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff, represented by AVM Edward Gabkwet, said the Nigeria Airforce, NAF, flew over 4,500 hours in more than 2,300 sorties for counter-terrorism missions in the past year alone.” According to him, NAF received 15 new aircraft since 2023, with 49 more expected by 2026.
Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation who was chairman of the event, urged the media to report responsibly as the terrorists thrive on publicity. “It is disheartening to see criminal elements make headlines while the heroism of our troops is relegated. He recalled the video clips of wounded soldiers which were shown to the participants. He observed a female officer who lost a leg in combat but continued to serve with pride, “Her courage must serve as a moral compass for us all.”
Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, said the parley was a “significant milestone” and a commitment to a “people-centric approach to national security.
From the creeks of the Niger Delta to the forests of the North-West, and from the hinterlands of the North-East to the bustling cities in the South, our troops have remained resilient.”
Brigadier General Yusuf Ali, Coordinator, Operation Safe Corridor, OPSC) later provided TELL with the details of the programme. The vision is “to encourage defection within the ranks of BHT/ISWAP through the corridor of opportunity offered by the DRR Programme as part of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s overall efforts to end the insurgency in the North-East;” while the mission is “to De-radicalize, Rehabilitate and prepare the clients for Reintegration.”
Put together, the OPSC initiative was set up in September 2015 with the CDS as chairman “to encourage willing and repentant Boko Haram (BH) insurgents to surrender and embrace peace.” The primary objective is to facilitate easy access and passage for surrendering “low risk insurgents” to security forces for subsequent disarmament, demobilization and re-integration process.
The OPSC is a joint and multi-agency humanitarian operation involving 17 ministries, departments and agencies comprising the military, security and law enforcement agencies.
According to the Coordinator, their operations are being “conducted within the ambit of international humanitarian laws with strict adherence to rule of law.
OPSC partners with local and international organisations and multinational agencies such as the Centre for Democracy and Development, North-East Region Initiative, North-East Development Commission and UNICEF. It is a 24-week programme conducted at the Operation Safe Corridor Camp, Mallam Sidi, Gombe and is divided in two phases – Deradicalisation and Rehabilitation, and Reintegration.
“The primary purpose of the D&R is to de-radicalize and rehabilitate the ex-combatants to prepare them for reintegration. So far, over 3200 ex-combatants including Chadians and Nigeriens have gone through the programme and have been successfully transferred to their state and national authorities for re-integration. Currently, there are 370 clients undergoing D&R in the camp,” declared Ali.
Women and minors are admitted into the Transit Camp in Bulunkutu, Maiduguri which is run by the State Ministry for Women Affairs in conjunction with UNICEF.
The highlights of the D&R phase are as follows:
- Advanced Profiling
- Comprehensive medical screening.
- DNA sampling.
- Biometric registration (NIMC).
- Further debrief.
- De-radicalisation
- Psychotherapy
- Psycho-spiritual counseling
- Art therapy intervention.
- Social therapy.
- Drug use intervention.
- Introductory formal education.
- Recreation/sports.
- Rehabilitation.
In the rehabilitation phase, the ex-insurgents are exposed to vocational training of choice which is facilitated by National Directorate of Employment and other implementation partners. The vocations on camp include Barbing, Carpentry, Farming, Leather works, Tailoring, Welding. - Re-integration Phase: Re-integration Phase is long term and is the responsibility of the state government. It covers:
Sensitisation of the receiving communities; Family link and camp visitation by senior citizens, religious, traditional and community leaders from clients’ states of origin;
*Quasi-judicial panel headed by a Judge of the Federal High Court with members comprising military lawyers, traditional rulers, religious leaders, state government officials and a senior judicial officer from the Federal Ministry of Justice. The clients denounce their membership of BH before the Panel and swear an oath of allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria;
*Admission of the ex-insurgents into transit camp from where they will be inserted into the communities.
*Gradual re-integration of the ex-insurgents into the communities through Emirate councils, district heads and local chiefs after security screening by State Services and Police as well as traditional and religious institutions.
*Registration and admission in NDE Vocational Centres for advance vocational training.
- Systematic monitoring through government established structures and existing traditional settings/mechanism.
*OPSC is the first Joint/multi-agency operation of its kind in Nigeria, and it has so far been successful.
*OPSC does not admit arrested ex-BH insurgents into the DRR programme. It is strictly for low risk, surrendered ex-BH insurgents that have been thoroughly screened at OPERATION HADIN KAI.
*OPSC does not and has never recruited ex-BH combatants into the Nigerian Military.
*OPSC has successfully deradicalised, rehabilitated & handed over 3200 ex-combatants to national and state authorities with less than one percent recidivism.
OPSC is seen as a huge success, rehabilitating and reintegrating over 3200 ex-combatants through its custodial program.
However, challenges persist. Topmost is public perception and distrust. “One of the major challenges OPSC faces is skepticism from the public and affected communities. There are concerns about the sincerity of the repentant insurgents and fears of potential recidivism,” explains the coordinator.
Consequently, community acceptance is a problem: “Reintegrating ex-insurgents into communities that have suffered from insurgent activities poses significant challenges. There is often resistance from community members who are unwilling to accept former insurgents back into their midst.”
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