3,000 terrorists killed, 120,000 insurgents surrendered in two years — CDS Musa

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher 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 in Northern Nigeria in the last two years.

This was contained in a statement made available to Defence Correspondents in Abuja on Wednesday by the Director of Defence Information, DDI, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau,

According to the statement, Gen Musa disclosed this 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.

Gen Musa said, “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.”

He further added that the military also recorded over 120,000 surrenders by insurgents during the period under review

The statement explained that the CDS 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, adding that “these initiatives have enhanced joint operations and strengthened personnel preparedness to counter asymmetric threats.”

According to it, the CDs AFN graduated over 800 special forces operatives, with hundreds more undergoing training in Jaji and Nasarawa State to confront insurgency and banditry more effectively.

It added that Gen Musa explained that as part of the strategic overhaul of military operations, the North-West theatre was restructured into Operation FANSAN YAMMA, a unified joint task force.

He pointed out that new Defence Special Forces Brigades had been created in Kaduna and Niger States, being supported by the expansion of Forward Operating Bases and the deployment of high-readiness units.

In addition, the statement said that 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.

He said, “These programmes are designed to foster trust, facilitate the return of displaced persons, and promote national unity.”

It further explained that Gen 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.

The statement added on regional cooperation, the CDS recalled his 2024 visit to the 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.

He said, “The conference aims to strengthen continental dialogue and enhance cooperation on common security challenges.

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

Gen Musa reaffirmed the commitment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) to restoring peace and enhancing security in the country.

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