Former Chief of Army Staff, retired Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has commended the Nigerian Armed Forces for what he described as significant operational successes against terrorism, banditry and other forms of criminality across the country.
Buratai, in a statement on Sunday, said recent military operations under various theatres, particularly Operation Hadin Kai, demonstrate a renewed momentum in the fight against insecurity.
He noted that troops in the North-East had repelled coordinated terrorist attacks and recorded substantial battlefield gains, including the neutralisation of several insurgents and recovery of arms and ammunition.
According to him, in one of the encounters in Borno State, troops successfully defended Kukareta community against heavily armed terrorists, killing 24 fighters and recovering multiple weapons, including AK-47 rifles, machine guns and rocket-propelled grenade launchers.
He added that subsequent clearance operations led to the discovery of additional bodies and graves of fleeing insurgents, while another operation in Yobe State resulted in the elimination of a senior ISWAP commander, Abu Jarir.
Buratai attributed the successes to improved synergy between the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Air Force, highlighting precision airstrikes on terrorist in the Lake Chad region as a critical factor in degrading enemy capabilities.
He said intelligence reports confirmed that dozens of insurgents were neutralised during coordinated air and ground operations, underscoring the effectiveness of joint force employment.
The former army chief also highlighted gains in the North-West under Operation Fansan Yamma, where troops neutralised bandits, dismantled camps and recovered rustled livestock.
He cited an operation in Katsina State where troops engaged a bandit leader, forcing his group to abandon over 200 cattle, which were subsequently returned to their owners.
In Zamfara and Kaduna States, Buratai said troops carried out ambushes, rescued kidnapped victims, and disrupted criminal logistics networks, adding that the military had shifted from reactive responses to proactive clearance operations.
In the North-Central region, he noted that troops under Operation Enduring Peace had made arrests linked to cattle rustling and communal violence, while in the South-South, security forces uncovered illegal oil bunkering sites and recovered stolen crude.
He further stated that in the South-East, troops arrested a suspected insurgent commander linked to attacks on security personnel, demonstrating the nationwide reach of ongoing military operations.
Buratai also referenced the recovery of the remains of two soldiers killed in 2022, describing it as a significant step toward honouring fallen heroes with due military rites.
He stressed that the recent achievements were a result of improved intelligence gathering, inter-agency cooperation and the resilience of troops on the frontlines.
“The soldier must never be demoralised. There is no greater honour than defending one’s nation,” he said, urging Nigerians to continually support the armed forces.
Buratai called on citizens to avoid spreading unverified information and enemy propaganda, and instead support troops through timely intelligence and moral encouragement.
He also commended the Minister of Defence, CDS, Service Chiefs, Inspector-General of Police and intelligence agencies for what he described as effective leadership and coordination.
He urged the military to sustain the current momentum, noting that although terrorist groups had been weakened, they remained capable of regrouping.
“The fight is not over. This is the time to intensify operations and deny the enemy any opportunity to recover,” he said.
Buratai reiterated that with sustained military pressure, enhanced intelligence and public support, Nigeria was on course to restoring peace and security across all regions.
