ABUJA — The Nigerian military has recorded a significant breakthrough in the battle for the nation’s soul, neutralising over 30 terrorists and facilitating the emotional homecoming of 700 refugees in just one week.
In a detailed briefing on Tuesday morning, February 10, 2026, the Director of Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, revealed that the intense operations spanned the country’s most volatile corridors. Beyond the battlefield victories, the repatriation of 700 Nigerians—who had fled their ancestral lands to escape the scorched-earth tactics of bandits—marks a rare humanitarian win for an embattled populace.
From the Trenches to the Townships
The military’s “clearance patrols” targeted several forest enclaves where insurgents have long enjoyed a perceived immunity.
- Tactical Success:Â Troops recovered a haul of AK-47 rifles, sophisticated communication gear, and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
- A Human Victory: The 700 repatriated citizens had been living in precarious conditions across border communities. Their return to states like Katsina and Benue is being seen as a first step toward reclaiming territory from the “forest-based” criminals who recently massacred over 300 Christians in 72 hours.
The ‘Regime Security’ Shadow
Despite these gains, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) is operating under a cloud of intense political scrutiny. Just yesterday, former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai accused the administration of pivoting toward ‘Regime Security’—using state power to protect politicians while citizens bleed.
The military has pushed back against these claims, insisting its focus remains on the constitutional mandate of protecting all Nigerians. However, the contrast remains sharp: while the army fights in the bush, Peter Obi and hundreds of protesters were at the National Assembly gates on Monday, pointing out that if the military can track terrorists in the remotest caves, the government has no excuse for failing to transmit election results from those same areas.
Economic Constraints and the Malami Factor
The high cost of these kinetic operations is also a point of national concern. With the national debt hitting ₦152 trillion and petrol prices nearing ₦1,000 per litre, experts like Professor Usman Yusuf warn that “Tucano Jets” cannot defeat an insurgency fuelled by the poverty of 133 million Nigerians.
Furthermore, the ongoing terrorism financing trial of former AGF Abubakar Malami continues to cast a long shadow. Soldiers on the frontline are increasingly asking if the “sacred cows” who fund their enemies are finally being held to account in Abuja.
Next Phase: ‘Operation Savannah Shield’
The DHQ has confirmed that it is intensifying its presence in the forest reserves of Kwara and Niger states under the newly launched ‘Operation Savannah Shield’. As the refugees settle back into their razed communities, the challenge now shifts from military victory to long-term reconstruction in a nation currently defined by “vanishing middle classes” and “electoral anxiety.”
