13,543 Boko Haram insurgents killed, 124,408 others surrendered under Tinubu — NSA Ribadu

MaTaZ ArIsInG
Dallas, Texas

The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has revealed that 15,543 insurgents were killed across the country in the first two years of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

He added that 124,408 fighters of Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), also surrendered within the same period.

Mr Ribadu disclosed this in a presentation he made at the national summit of the All Progressives Congress to mark the two years anniversary of the President Bola Tinubu administration.

The NSA’s presentation detailed  the administration’s achievements on national security between 2023 and 2025. PREMIUM TIMES obtained a copy of the 19-page PowerPoint document titled ‘Nigeria’s Achievement on National Security (2023-2025).

The document covers three areas: an overview of security challenges before President Tinubu took over power, strategic interventions and regional achievements, and ongoing challenges with a call for sustained commitment and whole-government collaboration for lasting peace.

Highlighting Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgency, banditry, separatist agitations, Niger Delta unrest and communal clashes as the main security threats in Nigeria, Mr Ribadu said these threats, before May 2023 when his principal took power, were dire to the “cohesion, stability, and integrity of the Nigerian state.”

‘The achievements’

Focusing on regions and security threats peculiar to them, Mr Ribadu highlighted the Tinubu administration’s major achievements in stemming insecurity.

In the terror-ravaged North-west region where kidnapping for ransom is a regular occurrence, the NSA said more than 50 bandit kingpins and 70 deputy commanders, as well as hundreds of foot soldiers, have been killed.

Notable among those killed in the country’s fight against banditry include Halilu Sububu, a top bandit kingpin, Ali Kawaje popularly known as Ali Kachala, Boderi Isyaku, Isuhu Yellow and Dumuna.

“Over 35 [bandit] warlords surrendered as part of our non-kinetic approach, which we call the Kaduna Model,” Mr Ribadu said, noting a new programme code-named “Operation Safe Corridor North-west” has been designed to welcome and probably rehabilitate repentant bandits.

This is similar to the rehabilitation programmes designed for repentant Boko Haram terrorists in the North-east. While these programmes have achieved some successes, key factors like poor welfare keep pushing some repentant terrorists back to the forest, to meet their brothers-in-arms.

Notable among the achievements recorded in the North-west region is the release of 11,250 hostages who were freed by the military from various terrorists’ dens across the region, according to Mr Ribadu.

In the North-east, a region coping with years of insurgency, Mr Ribadu said 13,543 insurgents have been killed while more than 124,408 others and their family members surrendered.

More than 11,000 weapons were recovered and destroyed, he said, adding that another 252,596 rounds of assorted ammunition were also recovered and destroyed.

In the troubled oil-rich Niger Delta area in the South-south, Mr Ribadu said 1,978 illegal refineries were dismantled. In the area where “Operation Safe Delta” has been launched to ensure “regional security”, Mr Ribadu said at least 3,849 dugout pits and 3,773 illegal cooking ovens have been destroyed.

In the South-east region threatened by separatist agitations, the NSA said key figures of Eastern Security Network (ESN), an armed wing of the outlawed Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), have either been captured or killed.

The ESN also enforced a “sit-at-home” order on Mondays. However, Mr Ribadu said that is becoming “more ineffective,” noting that social and economic activities are normalising.

The ESN has carried out terror attacks in the region, targeting security forces and public servants. The armed group has set ablaze many police formations in the region, killing many officers.

But the NSA said these violent attacks have “significantly reduced.” He also noted that more than 50 police stations and many police posts have been rebuilt.

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