The Coalition for Change has commended Chief of Defence Staff General Olufemi Oluyede and Nigerian troops for weakening Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and restoring peace to communities across the North-East.
The group made the commendation in a report following an assessment tour of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi and Taraba states.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, the coalition’s Executive Director, Dr Emmanuel Agabi, said the tour aimed to independently assess the security situation, engage military personnel and residents, and determine the extent of recovery after years of insurgency.
“The Coalition is satisfied that the Nigerian Armed Forces, under the strategic leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, have substantially degraded the operational capacity of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province in the North-East,” the report stated.
It added that the insurgent groups no longer control significant territory and have suffered a major reduction in their ability to launch large-scale, coordinated attacks.
According to the coalition, although some insurgents remain active in remote areas, particularly around the Sambisa axis and the Lake Chad fringes, they no longer pose an existential threat to the North-East or Nigeria.
The report identified Operation HADIN KAI, led by the Joint Task Force in the North-East, as the principal military operation responsible for sustaining pressure on insurgents.
It also credited complementary operations, including Operation Desert Sanity, explosive ordnance disposal activities, Quick Reaction Force deployments and the non-kinetic Operation Safe Corridor, with contributing to the security gains.
The coalition said troops had recovered hundreds of weapons and tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition, while locating and safely detonating hundreds of improvised explosive devices.
It further reported that more than 7,000 displaced families had returned to their ancestral communities across Borno State, with previously abandoned settlements being reoccupied.
“Over 3,000 Nigerians have been voluntarily repatriated from Cameroon. Trade routes and local markets have reopened,” the report stated.
The coalition also highlighted the resumption of West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations in communities such as Banki and Gwoza.
It described the return of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation programme to Maiduguri after more than 13 years as another sign of improving security.
“Civil life—farming, trade, schooling and free movement—is steadily recovering,” the report added.
Coalition urges investment in affected communities
The group said military personnel reported improved cooperation among the armed services, better intelligence sharing and the provision of essential operational equipment.
It added that troops maintained high morale despite the challenges of prolonged deployment, while residents, traditional rulers, farmers, traders and returned displaced persons expressed appreciation for the security improvements.
However, the coalition stressed that military gains must be supported by sustained development to prevent a resurgence of extremism.
Residents called for faster provision of roads, schools, healthcare facilities, water, electricity, markets, agricultural support and youth empowerment programmes.
The report said such investments would help address the conditions that previously made young people vulnerable to recruitment by extremist groups.
The coalition specifically praised General Oluyede for providing strategic direction, strengthening coordination among the services and security agencies, and supporting intelligence-led military operations alongside non-military interventions.
It also recognised the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, intelligence agencies, Civilian Joint Task Force and other security partners for their contributions.
“The North-East is no longer under the grip of large-scale Boko Haram or ISWAP control,” the coalition concluded.
It urged the military leadership to sustain the progress, particularly through improvements in troop welfare, accommodation, training and cooperation among the services.
[10/16, 7:57 PM] rosewendy: Coalition urges Development to Sustain North-East Peace
