3,000 Terrorists Killed, 120,000 Surrendered in Two Years — Defence Chief

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, has said that the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) have killed over 3,000 terrorists and bandits, secured the surrender of more than 120,000 insurgents, and rescued over 2,000 kidnapped victims within the last two years.

Musa made the disclosure on Tuesday during a presentation at a two-day interactive session on Government–Citizens Engagement, organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation in Kaduna.

The military chief’s comments were contained in a press statement issued on Wednesday by Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information.

“In the last two years, we have neutralised over 3,000 terrorists and bandits, rescued more than 2,000 kidnapped victims, and recovered over 2,300 arms and 72,000 rounds of ammunition across theatres of operations in the North,” General Musa was quoted as saying.

The CDS noted that the Nigerian military has also recorded over 120,000 surrenders by insurgents, a development he described as a major step toward restoring peace and stability in northern Nigeria.

Gusau said the Defence Chief highlighted other key achievements under his leadership since 2023, including the establishment of the Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre in Abuja and the creation of a dedicated Department of Training at Defence Headquarters.

“These initiatives have enhanced joint operations and strengthened personnel preparedness to counter asymmetric threats,” the statement read.

According to the Defence spokesperson, Musa also spoke about the graduation of over 800 Special Forces operatives, with hundreds more undergoing training in Jaji and Nasarawa. He said these units were tailored to confront insurgency and banditry more effectively.

As part of the strategic overhaul of military operations, General Musa explained that the North-West theatre was restructured into Operation FANSAN YAMMA, a unified joint task force. He added that new Defence Special Forces Brigades had been created in Kaduna and Niger States, supported by the expansion of Forward Operating Bases and the deployment of high-readiness units.

The CDS also highlighted the non-kinetic efforts of the military, including peacebuilding activities such as community sports competitions, public sensitisation campaigns, and engagements with traditional rulers, civil society groups, and state governments.

“These programmes are designed to foster trust, facilitate the return of displaced persons, and promote national unity,” he was quoted as saying.

Gusau said General Musa also cited the Armed Forces’ contributions to economic empowerment through the establishment of ranches, schools, and ICT-based training centres, especially in the North-East and North-West.

He further acknowledged the contributions of local defence institutions such as the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) in boosting local capacity in logistics and innovation.

On regional cooperation, the CDS recalled his 2024 visit to Niger Republic, where he held bilateral talks with his counterpart on managing cross-border threats. He also announced that Nigeria would host the African Chiefs of Defence Conference from August 25–27, 2025, in Abuja.

“The conference aims to strengthen continental dialogue and enhance cooperation on common security challenges,” he added.

The two-day forum in Kaduna, according to the organisers, was convened to foster dialogue between government institutions and the citizens, with a particular focus on assessing security-related performance under the current administration.