Nigeria Security Review 2025: Military Neutralises Terrorists, Rescues Thousands, Faces New Threats

By Sumaila Ogbaje

By the end of 2025, Nigeria’s Armed Forces had sustained high levels of operational activity across all security theatres, marking a year of intensified counter-terrorism, anti-banditry and internal security campaigns nationwide.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said the period was defined by expanded joint operations, intelligence-driven tactics and closer collaboration among security agencies, aimed at weakening terrorist and criminal networks, protecting civilians and safeguarding critical national assets.
According to the DHQ, troops neutralised numerous insurgents and criminal elements, arrested more than 4,300 suspects, secured the surrender of over 1,600 insurgents and rescued thousands of kidnapped victims across the country in 2025.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, attributed these outcomes to improved coordination and professionalism within the Armed Forces, stressing that operational success increasingly depended on intelligence and public trust.
“While kinetic operations remain essential, winning the confidence and cooperation of the people is critical to sustaining security gains,” Oluyede said.

North-East: Sustained Pressure on Insurgents

Under Operation HADIN KAI, troops continued coordinated ground and air operations against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). The Theatre Commander, Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, said the focus was on degrading leadership structures and restricting insurgent movement.
He noted that while isolated attacks persisted, the insurgents’ capacity for large-scale operations had been significantly reduced, allowing for gradual improvement in farming, trade and the return of displaced persons.

•Soldiers on duty

North-West: Combating Banditry and Terrorist Spillover

Operation FANSAN YAMMA intensified operations against banditry, kidnapping and emerging terrorist infiltration linked to transnational networks. DHQ reported the neutralisation of bandit elements, recovery of arms and the rescue of abducted civilians.
A major highlight was precision air strikes against Islamic State-linked enclaves in parts of Sokoto State, carried out in collaboration with international partners to curb Sahelian terrorist spillover.

North-Central: Complex Security Challenges

Operations ENDURING PEACE and WHIRL STROKE tackled banditry, arms trafficking, terrorism spillover and communal violence. While hundreds of suspects were arrested and arms supply routes disrupted, the military acknowledged that farmer-herder clashes and the spread of small arms remained persistent challenges.

South-South: Protecting Economic Infrastructure

Operation DELTA SAFE focused on oil theft, illegal refining and pipeline vandalism. The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, said illegal oil activities worth over ₦8.9 billion were thwarted, millions of litres of stolen products recovered and more than 500 illegal refining sites destroyed.

South-East: Containing Separatist Violence

Operation UDO KA sustained intelligence-led operations against the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its Eastern Security Network (ESN), leading to arrests, arms recoveries and a reduction in attacks on security personnel and infrastructure.

•Soldiers in training

Air Power and Intelligence

Across all theatres, the Nigerian Air Force played a key role through surveillance, precision strikes and close air support. Improved intelligence fusion and air-ground coordination were described as major force multipliers.
Defence Industry and Outlook
The Defence Industries Association of Nigeria (DIAN) commended President Bola Tinubu’s Nigeria First policy, describing it as vital to strengthening indigenous defence production. However, concerns were raised about low patronage of locally produced military equipment.
Security analysts welcomed recent international support, including US-led airstrikes in Sokoto, but warned that reliance on foreign intervention exposed gaps in domestic capacity.
As 2025 closed, the Armed Forces said their focus for 2026 would be on consolidating gains, strengthening partnerships and refining strategies to counter evolving threats.

Analysis

1. Tactical Gains, Strategic Fragility

The military’s 2025 operations show measurable tactical success—arrests, surrenders and rescues—but these gains remain fragile. Insurgent groups have been weakened, not defeated, and retain the ability to adapt and strike opportunistically.

2. Intelligence-Led Warfare Is Paying Off

The emphasis on intelligence fusion, joint operations and air-ground coordination marks a shift from manpower-heavy campaigns to smarter warfare. This approach has reduced large-scale insurgent operations, particularly in the North-East.

3. The Sahel Factor and Foreign Support

Airstrikes on IS-linked enclaves in Sokoto highlight the growing spillover of Sahelian instability into Nigeria. While international cooperation boosts capacity, it also raises political concerns about sovereignty and the state’s ability to independently secure its territory.

4. Economic Security as National Security

Operations in the Niger Delta underscore the military’s expanding role in economic protection. Oil theft directly affects national revenue, making security operations there as politically significant as counter-insurgency campaigns.

5. The Civil-Military Trust Deficit

Repeated emphasis on public cooperation suggests a lingering trust gap. Without addressing socio-economic drivers of insecurity—poverty, arms proliferation and communal tensions—military victories risk being temporary.

6. Indigenous Defence Production: A Missed Opportunity

DIAN’s concerns point to a structural weakness. Nigeria’s failure to fully support its local defence industry prolongs dependence on foreign suppliers and limits long-term operational sustainability.

Overall, 2025 reflects a military under pressure but improving in coordination and effectiveness. The challenge for 2026 will be translating operational momentum into lasting stability—something that requires not just firepower, but political will, economic reform and sustained public confidence.