A northern-based peace advocacy group, the Northern Alliance for Peace and Security, has commended the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, and the Nigerian Armed Forces for what it described as sustained successes in ongoing military operations against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping across the country.
The group said the recent rescue of hundreds of abducted victims and the neutralisation of several armed criminals demonstrate the military’s renewed determination to dismantle violent criminal networks operating in different parts of Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja, the National President of the organisation, Danladi Abutu, said the recent achievements reflected the commitment of the Armed Forces under the leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff to improving national security and restoring public confidence.
His remarks come amid intensified military operations targeting terrorists, bandits and kidnappers, particularly in the North-East and North-West, where insecurity has continued to claim lives, displace communities and disrupt economic activities. Kidnapping for ransom has also spread to several other parts of the country in recent years.
Among the operations highlighted by the group was the rescue of 14 out of the 15 worshippers abducted during a night vigil at a church in Eda Oniyo, Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, on April 28, 2026.
The victims regained their freedom after spending more than 67 days in captivity and were subsequently taken to the Ekiti State Teaching Hospital for medical attention.
The group also praised troops of Operation Hadin Kai for rescuing 416 residents of Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, who had been abducted by suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) insurgents.
It further cited the rescue of 11 women kidnapped while fishing in Dille community, Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, describing the operation as another indication of the military’s resolve to protect vulnerable communities.
Abutu said the recent operations should reassure Nigerians that the Armed Forces remain committed to defeating criminal elements across the country.
“These gains mirror the commitment of the CDS and his men to make Nigeria safe for all. What we have witnessed in the past few weeks is an indication of the battle readiness of our gallant troops to make life difficult for these terrorist elements.
“The security situation is of huge concern to every well-meaning Nigerian. We must join hands with the Federal Government to ensure that the war against banditry is successfully prosecuted.
“What the Federal Government has done through the gallant troops is a message to the terrorists that they can never win this war. They will lose because every Nigerian deserves to live and work in peace everywhere he or she chooses to live in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory,” he said.
The group also urged Nigerians to support ongoing security operations by providing credible intelligence to security agencies, stressing that community cooperation remains essential to defeating criminal networks.
Abutu particularly condemned attacks on schools and the abduction of students, describing such acts as an assault on the country’s future.
“Why do you think they are attacking schools and abducting our children? Education is the bedrock of every society desirous of growth and progress. We must not allow the enemies of our beloved country to continue their evil enterprise. We may not be armed, but volunteering information to security agencies is a sign of patriotism,” he added.
Nigeria continues to face multiple security challenges, including insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West and North-Central, as well as rising cases of kidnapping across several states.
In response, the Armed Forces have sustained coordinated land and air offensives targeting terrorist enclaves, conducting rescue operations for abducted victims and clearing criminal hideouts in affected communities.
Recent operations have resulted in the rescue of kidnapped persons, recovery of arms and ammunition, and the dismantling of several terrorist camps, although security experts maintain that sustained intelligence gathering and stronger collaboration between security agencies and local communities remain crucial to consolidating the gains recorded so far.