According to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, the Nigerian military “neutralized” over 13,000 suspected terrorists last year. Speaking in a televised address last Friday, Tinubu stated that the death toll resulting from Nigeria’s conflict against armed rebels has decreased by 81 percent since he took office in 2023. Furthermore, he reported that a total of 124,000 combatants and their relatives have surrendered under a government program designed for the reintegration of former fighters who voluntarily lay down their arms.
However, despite the optimistic tone set by the President, the country continues to face a profound security crisis. Groups affiliated with both IS and Al-Qaida, alongside criminal gangs, regularly kidnap individuals to extort ransom payments. Soft targets such as schools, churches, and mosques remain particularly vulnerable, especially in rural areas. For example, dozens of people, including teachers and children aged four and older, have been taken since January alone. Just last Monday, the military announced the liberation of 360 hostages who had been abducted by the Islamic State-linked group Boko Haram.
