CDS Reaffirms Military’s Resolve to Crush Insecurity in Northern Nigeria, Showcases Major Gains
By Onwe Wisdom|Pan Afric Reporters,Kaduna | July 30, 2025
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, has reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) to restoring peace and securing communities across Northern Nigeria.
He made this declaration on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at a high-level interactive session on Government–Citizens Engagement organized by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation in Kaduna.
Speaking before an audience of community leaders, scholars, and civil society representatives, General Musa according to a press release e-signed by Director, Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau described the session as a timely platform to evaluate security efforts under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He used the occasion to highlight several transformative military initiatives and operational successes since assuming office in 2023.
Among the standout achievements, General Musa cited the creation of the Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre in Abuja and the establishment of a new Department of Training at Defence Headquarters, moves designed to boost inter-agency coordination and troop readiness. He also announced the graduation of over 800 Special Forces operatives, with additional personnel undergoing advanced counter-insurgency training in Jaji and Nasarawa.
In a bold restructuring move, military operations in the North-West have been consolidated under a unified task force named Operation FANSAN YAMMA. Special Forces Brigades have also been established in Kaduna and Niger States, while multiple sectors under Operations HADIN KAI and FANSAN YAMMA have been reinforced with Forward Operating Bases and rapid-response units.
“Over the past two years, more than 3,000 terrorists and bandits have been neutralized, over 120,000 insurgents have surrendered, and more than 2,000 kidnapped victims have been rescued,” General Musa reported. He also revealed that over 2,300 illegal firearms and 72,000 rounds of ammunition were recovered across conflict zones in the North.
Beyond kinetic operations, the CDS underscored the Armed Forces’ focus on peacebuilding, citing initiatives such as sports competitions, civic reorientation campaigns, and continuous dialogue with traditional rulers and state leaders. These efforts, he noted, have facilitated the return of displaced persons to their ancestral homes.
General Musa also touched on the military’s role in economic revitalization, including the development of ranches, schools, and ICT training centres in the North-East and North-West. He praised institutions like the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) for advancing local defence production and innovation in line with national policy.
On regional cooperation, he referenced his 2024 diplomatic visit to Niger Republic to discuss joint security strategies, and announced Nigeria’s upcoming hosting of the African Chiefs of Defence Conference from August 25 to 27, 2025, in Abuja—a forum aimed at deepening continental security collaboration.
The session closed with widespread commendation for the military’s evolving approach to national security, blending combat effectiveness with community engagement and long-term development.
