…130,000 Boko Haram fighters, dependants surrender as FG expands military capacity
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has developed a Five-Year Strategic Defence Operations Plan aimed at tackling terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other security threats across Nigeria.
The comprehensive strategy is designed to strengthen the country’s security architecture, improve military effectiveness and establish a coordinated, intelligence-driven approach to addressing the nation’s security challenges.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday by its spokesperson, Dele Alake, noting that the initiative forms part of President Tinubu’s broader efforts to reposition the defence sector and address the country’s longstanding security concerns.
According to the statement, military operations conducted over the last three years have resulted in the elimination of more than 15,000 Boko Haram terrorists and bandits, while over 130,000 Boko Haram fighters and their dependants have surrendered through Operation Safe Corridor, the Federal Government’s rehabilitation programme for repentant insurgents.
The statement described the figures as evidence of the administration’s two-pronged approach to insecurity, combining sustained military operations with non-kinetic interventions aimed at addressing the root causes of violence and encouraging the surrender of insurgents.
As part of efforts to strengthen the Nigerian Army’s operational capacity, President Tinubu has approved the creation of four new Army divisions and the restructuring of existing military formations to expand operational coverage and improve responses to security threats.
The administration has also approved the establishment of two additional Army depots in Osogbo, Osun State, and Amasiri-Edda, Ebonyi State, to expand recruitment and military training capacity.
The two facilities are designed to accommodate 6,000 recruits each, providing a combined capacity of 12,000 soldiers at a time.
The Osogbo facility is already operational, with 5,210 recruits currently undergoing training, according to the statement.
The expansion is expected to accelerate the training of new personnel and increase the number of soldiers available for deployment across the country.
In a further boost to manpower development, Tinubu has approved the recruitment of an additional 28,000 soldiers, alongside 50,000 new police officers, to reinforce the country’s security forces and improve their capacity to tackle criminal activities.
Beyond personnel expansion, the Federal Government is also investing in military infrastructure and personnel welfare, recognising the importance of providing security operatives with adequate accommodation and operational facilities.
One of the projects highlighted is the construction of a 700-unit military barracks in Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, designed to provide improved accommodation and operational support for military personnel.
The five-year defence strategy will also focus on aligning security investments with clearly identified threats, operational requirements and national priorities.
It is expected to improve combat readiness, close critical capability gaps, optimise available resources and reduce unnecessary expenditure within the defence sector.
The APC Presidential Campaign Council said the measures demonstrate President Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening national security through improved manpower, modern infrastructure, intelligence coordination and sustained military operations.
The administration is positioning the strategy as a long-term framework for building a more responsive security system capable of confronting both existing and emerging threats across the country.
Dele Alake
Spokesperson, APC Presidential Campaign Council