Military recording visible successes under Oluyede, says reps deputy spokesman

The Deputy Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has praised the Nigerian Armed Forces for what he described as remarkable progress in the fight against insecurity.

He stated that the military has become more coordinated and effective under the leadership of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede.

Agbese, who represents Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State on the platform of the Labour Party, made the remarks in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja.

He said the renewed collaboration among the various branches of the Armed Forces had translated into tangible successes against terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, oil thieves and other criminal groups operating across the country.

According to him, the improved coordination between the Army, Navy, Air Force and other security agencies has strengthened ongoing operations, leading to increased arrests, rescue missions and the recovery of illegal weapons and stolen petroleum products.

“The Armed Forces have demonstrated a higher level of coordination and determination in tackling the country’s security challenges. Under the leadership of General Olufemi Oluyede, the synergy among the various services has improved considerably, and Nigerians are beginning to see the impact of these joint operations,” Agbese said.

He added that military operations have shifted beyond merely reacting to attacks, with troops now taking proactive measures to dismantle criminal networks in different parts of the country.

“Our security forces are aggressively confronting terrorists, kidnappers, bandits and economic saboteurs across various theatres of operation. This renewed offensive is yielding encouraging results,” he stated.

Agbese cited operational figures released by the military for June, saying they reflected the intensity of ongoing offensives nationwide.

He noted that troops eliminated 129 terrorists and other criminal elements during the month, arrested 486 suspects and rescued 542 kidnap victims.

According to him, security forces also recovered 130 firearms and 5,538 rounds of ammunition, while dismantling seven illegal crude oil refining sites and recovering more than 308,000 litres of stolen petroleum products.

“These achievements go beyond statistics. Every rescued victim represents a family reunited. Every recovered weapon reduces the capacity of criminals to inflict harm, while every dismantled illegal refinery weakens the financial lifeline of criminal networks,” he said.

The federal lawmaker particularly commended troops for rescuing hundreds of civilians who had been held captive by insurgents in the North-East, describing the operation as one of the military’s most significant humanitarian accomplishments in recent months.

“The successful rescue of innocent Nigerians, including women and children who spent months in captivity, demonstrates the professionalism, courage and commitment of our military personnel. These men and women continue to make enormous sacrifices to keep our nation safe and deserve the appreciation of every Nigerian,” he added.

Agbese also pointed to the military’s second-quarter operational performance as evidence that the gains recorded were not isolated successes but part of a sustained campaign against criminal groups.

He disclosed that between April and June, troops neutralised 662 terrorists and other criminals, arrested 1,084 suspects and rescued 951 kidnapped victims across various operational theatres.

He further stated that security forces recovered 328 firearms and over 12,500 rounds of ammunition, dismantled 12 illegal refining sites and intercepted more than 464,000 litres of stolen petroleum products during the same period.

According to him, the figures underscore the sustained pressure being mounted against criminal organisations and demonstrate that security forces are gradually regaining the initiative.

Agbese, however, stressed that lasting success in the fight against insecurity would require the active support of citizens, urging Nigerians to provide credible intelligence to security agencies and avoid any form of collaboration with criminal elements.

“Our armed forces cannot win this fight without the cooperation of the people. Nigerians must continue to support security agencies with timely and useful information while remaining vigilant in their communities. Security is a shared responsibility,” he said.

He expressed optimism that the momentum already achieved could be sustained through increased investment in intelligence gathering, improved welfare packages for military personnel, adequate funding and the acquisition of modern equipment.

Agbese also assured that the National Assembly would continue to support legislative measures and budgetary interventions aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture and enhancing the operational capacity of the Armed Forces.

Nigeria has continued to battle multiple security threats, including insurgency in the North-East, banditry and kidnapping in parts of the North-West and North-Central, as well as crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta. In response, the military has intensified joint operations across the country in a bid to restore security and protect lives and critical national assets.