Former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd), on Sunday said Nigerian troops are making significant operational successes against terrorism, banditry, and other forms of criminality across the country, crediting recent successes to improved coordination and a renewed fighting spirit among security forces.
General Buratai, who also served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin Republic (2021–2023), stressed the importance of morale on the battlefield, noting that “the soldier on the frontline must never be demoralised, not for a single second”, adding that “there is no greater honour than to fight for your nation and, if need be, to sacrifice for it.”
Attributing the recent “successes” to “better intelligence gathering, improved coordination, and the courage of ordinary soldiers,” he however warned that the fight is not yet over as “the terrorists and bandits are wounded but still dangerous. This is exactly the time to press harder.”
Buratai, in a statement on Sunday morning, highlighted recent operations under Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) in the North-East region where troops repelled a major terrorist attack in Borno State, noting that “when the battle ended, twenty-four terrorists lay dead,” adding that soldiers recovered a cache of weapons, including rifles, machine guns, and rocket-propelled grenade tubes.
He stated that follow-up operations revealed further losses among insurgents. “Soldiers discovered seven fresh graves and two more bodies of fleeing terrorists,” he said.
In Yobe State, he disclosed that troops neutralised a high-ranking ISWAP member, stating that “removing commanders like him sends a strong message that no terrorist is safe.”
The former Army Chief also pointed to the role of joint operations between the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Air Force. “When ground troops and air power work together, the enemy has nowhere to hide,” Buratai said, referencing precision airstrikes on terrorist positions in the Lake Chad region.
In the North-West, Buratai said troops under Operation Fansan Yamma had intensified offensives against bandits. He cited an operation in Katsina State where soldiers engaged a notorious bandit group and recovered more than 200 rustled cattle.
“The troops are not just reacting to attacks; they are going into the forests, clearing hideouts, and denying bandits freedom of movement,” he said.
According to him, similar progress has been recorded in Zamfara and Kaduna states, where troops destroyed camps, rescued victims, and arrested suspects. In Plateau State, he said troops recovered stolen cattle and apprehended militia members involved in communal violence.
Buratai further noted that operations in the South-South and South-East have also yielded results, including the discovery of illegal oil bunkering sites in Rivers State and the arrest of a suspected militant commander linked to attacks on security personnel.
Calling for public support, Buratai urged Nigerians to stand behind the military. “Do not believe every negative story or amplify enemy propaganda. Celebrate our troops’ victories,” he said, adding that “balanced reporting is not just good journalism; it is patriotism.”
He also commended the leadership of the armed forces and security agencies, noting that recent achievements “would not have been possible without their commitment” and praising the “renewed spirit of cooperation” among them.
Encouraging the Nigerian troops, Buratai said, “Keep the pressure on. Do not allow the enemy to breathe. Every terrorist killed, every bandit arrested, and every kidnap victim rescued is a step closer to peace.”
Despite ongoing challenges, he expressed optimism about the trajectory of operations, stating that “the road ahead is still long, but the direction is clear; the tide is turning.”
