Sit-at-Home orders in South East is fast losing grip—NSA,Nuhu Ribadu
National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu announced on Thursday that the influence of sit-at-home directives issued by terrorist elements in the South-East is steadily weakening.
He made the remarks during his address at the All Progressives Congress national summit, where he presented a report on the security achievements under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
According to Ribadu, the government inherited several major security issues, ranging from Boko Haram activities in the North-East and rampant banditry in the North-West to separatist campaigns led by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in the South-East.
He also listed instability in the Niger Delta and herder-farmer conflicts in the North-Central zone.
He credited security agencies for making considerable progress in tackling these challenges, particularly through measures that have curtailed widespread killings, kidnappings, and destruction orchestrated by criminal networks.
In his report, Ribadu highlighted significant strides in the battle against insurgency, stating that more than 13,543 Boko Haram militants have been eliminated over the past two years, and over 11,000 weapons seized and destroyed.
He added, “124,408 Boko Haram fighters and their family members have surrendered to security forces since the commencement of the Tinubu administration.”
Despite acknowledging ongoing confrontations in volatile zones like the Timbuktu Triangle and the Tumbu Islands, Ribadu emphasized gains made in the South-East.
“In the South-East, a welcome development is that the sit-at-home orders are becoming increasingly ineffective,” he said.
“Key IPOB/ESN figures have been captured or neutralised. Over 50 police stations and numerous police posts have been rebuilt. Attacks on security forces have significantly reduced, and social and economic activities are normalising.”
Turning his focus to the North-West, Ribadu described the year as pivotal in counter-banditry efforts, revealing the rescue of 11,250 hostages and noting a decline in mass abductions.
“Decisive blows have been dealt to top warlords such as Ali Kachalla, Boderi, Halilu Sububu, Dangote, Isuhu Yellow, and Damuna,” he declared.
