The Federal Government says security forces have eliminated more than 13,000 terrorists and arrested over 17,000 others since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday.
Idris explained that the figures were provided by security agencies as part of ongoing counter-terrorism operations across the country. He stressed that despite criticisms from some foreign bodies, the Tinubu administration had made “significant progress” in tackling violent extremism, banditry, and related security threats.
According to him, the government’s achievements contradict recent claims before the United States House Subcommittee on Africa, where Nigeria was redesignated as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ over alleged persecution of Christians.
He said the administration had neither ignored nor downplayed security challenges but had strengthened military operations nationwide.
“From May 2023 to date, over 13,500 of these criminals have been taken out of our society, and more than 17,000 have been apprehended. Many are already facing trial, while others have been convicted,” Idris said.
The minister added that President Tinubu is “deeply saddened” by the loss of lives in different parts of the country, stressing that killings, whether of Christians or Muslims, are unacceptable.
“We don’t need a situation where anybody is killed, regardless of their faith. It’s not good for our country, and no one should be happy that innocent lives are being lost,” he stated.
Idris, however, dismissed claims of a targeted religious genocide, insisting that violence affects citizens of different faiths.
“Christians are being killed in some places, and Muslims are also being killed. It is a sad situation, but the government is doing quite a lot to address it,” he added.
Over 13,000 terrorists killed, 17,000 arrested under Tinubu administration — Nigerian govt
Leave a Reply