Tinubu’s 2-year Security Scorecard: Gains, Pains And Future Prospects

By Sumaila Ogbaje, 

As President Bola Tinubu marks his second year in office, the question on many Nigerians’ minds is: has the administration’s security approach yielded tangible results?

Nigeria’s security challenges are multifaceted and deeply entrenched. No doubt, the administration took off on May 29, 2023, amidst a myriad of security challenges across all regions of the country, but the administration has introduced various measures to tackle the menace.

While some progress has been made, much work remains to be done.

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, recently revealed that over 13,543 terrorists and other criminal elements have been killed across Nigeria since May 2023.

He added that over 10,000 hostages have been rescued during the two years of President Tinubu’s office.

According to him, a total of 124,408 fighters of Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), along with their family members, surrendered to Nigerian forces and are undergoing rehabilitation through the government’s de-radicalisation and reintegration programme.

Also, the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru, during a ministerial briefing recently, said that Nigeria currently grapples with multiple security challenges.

Badaru said the administration, which came in with promises to enhance security, had been making determined efforts to fulfil its promise, adding that contemporary security challenges in Nigeria were neither isolated nor simplistic.

He said the challenges were deeply rooted in decades-long socio-political fractures, economic dislocations, porous transnational borders, foreign insurgent influences and a global terrorism matrix that continues to mutate beyond classical military doctrines.

According to him, President Tinubu’s firm directive, “Enough is enough,” signals reinforcement of political will, which also spurs the military to double its efforts in conjunction with all stakeholders towards overcoming the security challenges.

The key achievements include enhanced synergy within the AFN and with other security agencies, defence equipment procurement, improvement in defence production and capacity development of troops.

Others are troops’ welfare, increasing partnerships with friendly nations/organisations and sustaining stakeholder engagement sessions.

It is pertinent to note that despite these claims, the Nigerian Military has recorded seven terror attacks on its bases in 2025, despite claimed successes against terrorists and bandits.

The Defence Headquarters in 2024 declared 106 terrorists/bandit leaders wanted with a vow to eliminate them from the battlefield.

Several such terrorist leaders, at least 22, have been eliminated.

Among the prominent terrorist leaders eliminated are Abu Bilal Minuki, Haruna Isiya Boderi, Kachallah Alhaji Dayi, Kachallah Idi, Kachallah Kabiru, Kachallah Azailaru, and Alhaji Baldu.

On his part, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye revealed that Nigerian troops seized a substantial cache of arms and ammunition during recent operations targeting non-state actors.

Kangye revealed that more than 3,002 firearms and 71,532 rounds of ammunition were recovered during coordinated offensives in Sambisa Forest, the Timbuktu Triangle, and the Tunbums along the Lake Chad Basin.

Despite these successes, however, there were some setbacks recorded as a result of the recent resurgence of terrorist attacks targeting troops’ locations and vulnerable communities in the North East, particularly, Borno.

On January 4, Boko Haram terrorists riding on motorcycles and gun trucks attacked troops’ location at Sabon Gari village of Damboa local government area, killing at least six soldiers.

On March 25, terrorists attacked troops at Goneri in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe and another attack on a military location in Wajiroko near Sabon-Gari in Damboa Local Government Area in Borno, killing at least four soldiers, with some wounded in action.

These are some of the incidents that brought a sort of set of setback to the gains hitherto made in the fight against insurgency, a development that slightly affected the planned return of some Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno.

It is based on the foregoing that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede re-jigs the operation in Borno, appointing new field commanders, including the Theatre Commander for Operation Hadin Kai North East.

The current Theatre Commander, Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar has reiterated the commitment of the troops to sustain the renewed tempo of operation with the sole objective of defeating the terrorists.

He said the troops had continued to show resilience in defeating the terrorists across the theatre of operation, with several successes so far recorded.

According to him, in the recent attack on the Kukawa area of Borno, troops with the support of air components defeated the terrorist onslaught, neutralising 28 terrorists.

He said the terrorists’ resort to attacking isolated communities in search of logistics, equipment or fighters, close-ledger, and outdoor high-value targets, suggests “desperation of the terrorists leaders to reassess themselves, demonstrate strength, recruit more fighters, and amass logistics infrastructure for future offensive across the theatre”.

On procurement of equipment, the administration of President Tinubu has a high level of commitment to the acquisition of several modern platforms, including armoured vehicles, aircraft and ships, as well as drones and other equipment.

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, had, during the induction of two newly acquired Agusta 109S Trekker Helicopters as part of activities marking NAF’s 61st Anniversary, announced that an additional 49 aircraft were expected within the next two years.

Abubakar said the 49 aircraft expected include 10 additional A-109S trekkers, 12 AH-1 Zulu attack helicopters, 24 M-346 attack and ground attack aircraft, and three Kata 295 medium airlift aircraft.

According to him, these acquisitions will significantly bolster NAF precision strike, ground attack, and air mobility capabilities to support counter terrorism and counterinsurgency operations.

Providing an overview of operational achievements, the CAS disclosed that in the past year alone, the NAF has flown over 4,500 hours across 2,304 sorties, executing nearly 2,000 counterinsurgency missions.

He added that over 2,600 anti-banditry sorties were carried out, resulting in 4,670 hours of flight time.

According to the CAS, the NAF, in support of efforts to combat economic sabotage, conducted 366 sorties targeting crude oil theft and illegal refining, amassing more than 1,450 hours of flight time.

Similarly, in the fight against crude oil theft, the NAF said the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe had, between January and May 2025, executed over 173 missions and 265 sorties, accumulating approximately 270 flying hours in support of joint military operations and independent strikes across the zone.

A statement by NAF’s spokesman, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said that the airstrikes destroyed more than 100 illegal refining sites, 53 boats, 74 cooking tanks, two reservoirs, and several transport vehicles.

On his part, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, said the Nigerian Navy had taken delivery of three helicopters and three ships to boost its operations.

Ogalla said the service had, between January to May 2025, arrested 215 suspects, 26 vessels and deactivated 468 Illegal Refinery Sites.

He added that an estimated quantity of 6.5 million litres of stolen crude oil and seven million litres of illegally refined Automated Gas Oil were seized and appropriately handled, while 361 wooden boats, 1,107 dugout pits and 279 storage tanks were deactivated.

According to the CNS, the Navy, since January 2025, destroyed 103 Illegal Refinery Sites and arrested 34 suspects linked to crude oil theft.

The administration has successfully reduced the influence of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), in the Southeast, particularly in enforcing sit-at-home orders.

Tinubu’s administration has partnered with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) to host a high-level African counter-terrorism summit and has implemented existing counter-terrorism measures.

The administration launched the Pulaku Initiative, a N50 billion project aimed at providing non-kinetic solutions to address banditry and insurgency in Northern Nigeria.

The administration should prioritise community-based security initiatives, promoting socio-economic development and inter-communal dialogue.

Completing police reform efforts, including decentralising policing and enhancing accountability, could improve internal security.

Overall, while President Tinubu’s administration has made some progress in addressing insecurity, the persistence of attacks and criticisms of his security approach highlights the need for a more effective and comprehensive strategy.

The administration should do more to address economic challenges, such as inflation and unemployment, particularly through agriculture and other empowerment programmes to reduce the root causes of insecurity.

News Agency of Nigeria