Over 8,000 Terrorists Neutralised by Tinubu’s Administration Since 2023, According to IMPI Report

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

Despite a recent rise in kidnappings, a new Independent Media and Policy Initiative (IMPI) study indicates that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s counter‑terrorism campaign has achieved significant tactical gains.

In a policy statement signed by IMPI Chairman Dr Omoniyi Akinsiju, the organization reported that police and military operations have neutralised more than 8,000 bandits and terrorists, arrested 11,600 criminals, and recovered thousands of weapons since 2023.

“From our study of the federal administration’s counter‑terrorism efforts, it is indisputable that the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration has recorded notable tactical successes in the fight against banditry,” the statement reads.

“Between 2023 and now, the police and military offensives have led to the neutralisation of over 8,000 bandits and terrorists, with 11,600 criminals arrested, and the recovery of thousands of weapons.”

On 6 June 2026, Operation HADIN KAI troops rescued 360 kidnapped victims from a heavily fortified terrorist enclave deep within the Mandara Mountains of Borno State.

Earlier, in the Yagba West area of Kogi State, troops of the Nigerian Army 12 Brigade and local vigilantes rescued two kidnapping victims after pursuing fleeing terrorists. In May and June 2026, operations in Borno State saw large search‑and‑rescue missions that freed hundreds of individuals, and in Kwara State, joint operations by the Nigerian Army and Air Force rescued 21 victims.

“Additionally, recent efforts by the federal administration have resulted in major rescues of citizens abducted by kidnappers and bandits in Kebbi, Kaduna, Niger, Kwara and Borno States, marking a paradigm shift from the past,” the statement added.

The policy group also outlined key strategies used by security agencies in the war against terrorism.

“The military relies on several key strategies to secure the release of captives. Troops frequently launch swift, aggressive pursuit operations into forests, mountainous terrain, and caves, such as the Mandara Mountains in Borno and the Babanla Forest in Kwara. The physical pressure from these sweeps forces armed bandits or insurgents to abandon their captives and flee,” it said.

“Likewise, when kidnappers demand large ransoms and threaten to kill victims, military intelligence tracks their movements and deploys covert rescue tactics. For instance, troops in Plateau State used these methods to rescue a retired military officer from a ₦200 million ransom situation without paying a kobo.”

Security operatives employ Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) before launching air strikes. Precision air strikes or drone sweeps often dislodge militant hideouts, giving captives the chance to escape and find safety. Rescued individuals receive initial first aid, trauma support, and food at field ambulances or military medical facilities before being handed over to state governments for family reunification, the report noted.

IMPI argued that frontline successes stem from investments in military hardware and improved training of operatives.

“It would be remiss not to credit these outcomes to the Tinubu administration’s major investments in both military and presidential aviation. Key procurements and deliveries across the Nigerian Armed Forces and military air assets include 24 advanced M‑346FA fighter jets, four T‑129 ATAK helicopters, and five Agusta 109S Trekker helicopters,” the statement said.

The Nigerian army also received 12 MD 530F Cayuse attack helicopters to operationalise the newly established army aviation unit. Deliveries also include Diamond DA62 surveillance aircraft and King Air 360i multi‑purpose aircraft.

However, the report added that further work is needed in technology to boost the operational readiness of security operatives, as well as in addressing socio‑economic factors in remote areas that criminal elements exploit to perpetrate crime.