Why Military Is Recording Successes Against Terrorists — CSO

A civil society organisation, the Coalition for National Security Advancement (CONSA), has attributed recent gains recorded by the Nigerian Armed Forces in the fight against terrorism, kidnapping, and oil theft to leadership style, operational coordination, and inter-service synergy under the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede.

The group said the military had recorded notable successes in recent operations, including the killing of over 175 terrorists in coordinated offensives across various theatres of operation. It added that the renewed tempo of military campaigns reflects a more strategic and intelligence-driven approach to tackling insecurity.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, the Executive Director of CONSA, James Adama, said the successes were largely due to improved collaboration among the Nigerian Army, Air Force, and Navy under the defence leadership.

He also said troops had neutralised several high-profile terrorist commanders whose activities posed grave threats to national security, including the reported elimination of Abu Bakr al-Mainuki, described by Nigerian and U.S. officials as the second-in-command of the Islamic State group globally, during a joint Nigeria–United States operation in the Lake Chad Basin.

Adama said the operation underscored the effectiveness of intelligence gathering, international cooperation, and precision military coordination, adding that it had weakened the operational capabilities of terrorist networks within and beyond Nigeria’s borders.

The CSO also commended the Armed Forces for intensifying rescue operations, noting that several kidnapped victims had been freed from terrorist enclaves and criminal hideouts through sustained military pressure and coordinated ground offensives in affected regions.

He further praised ongoing efforts to tackle crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta, stating that security operations had dismantled illegal refining camps, disrupted economic sabotage networks, and strengthened protection of critical national assets.

“The current leadership style of the Armed Forces under the Chief of Defence Staff has encouraged professionalism, discipline, and synergy among the services. What we are witnessing today are measurable outcomes of a coordinated military structure,” Adama said.

While acknowledging that security challenges remain in parts of the country, the organisation urged citizens to support security agencies with timely and credible intelligence to sustain ongoing gains against criminal elements.

CONSA expressed optimism that with sustained operational synergy and strategic leadership, Nigeria would record further progress in defeating terrorism, combating organised crime, and securing critical economic infrastructure.