The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has said troops are making significant progress in efforts to rescue the 39 pupils and seven teachers abducted from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The victims were kidnapped on May 15, and according to the Army Chief, ongoing operations have brought security forces closer to securing their safe release.
Shaibu disclosed this on Saturday during an interactive session with media executives at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre in Port Harcourt as part of activities marking the 163rd Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2026.
“Operations are currently ongoing to rescue those children abducted in Oyo State, and we are making tremendous progress,” he said, expressing confidence that the victims would soon be reunited with their families.
The Army Chief said the Nigerian Army remains actively engaged across the country’s six geopolitical zones to address emerging security challenges.
He noted that troops under Operation Hadin Kai in the North-East had recorded major victories against insurgents, including the recent elimination of a senior Islamic State commander, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, in a joint operation with United States partners.
According to him, more than 1,872 insurgents have been neutralised under the operation, while many others have surrendered. He added that improved security had enabled displaced residents to return to their communities, leading to the closure of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Bama, Borno State.
In the North-West, Shaibu said Operation Fansan Yamma has continued to weaken bandit groups through the neutralisation of criminal elements and the recovery of arms and ammunition.
He also highlighted the successes of Operations Enduring Freedom, Whirlwind, and the newly established Operation Savannah Shield in improving security across Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, Kwara, Niger, and parts of Kogi states.
The Army Chief further stated that security in the South-East had improved considerably, noting that no major disruptions were recorded during the last Christmas celebrations.
In the South-South, he attributed increased crude oil production to sustained military operations against oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and illegal bunkering, while describing the South-West as one of the country’s most peaceful regions, aside from the recent Oriire abduction.
On military capacity building, Shaibu revealed that President Bola Tinubu had approved the establishment of a new Nigerian Army Depot in Amasiri-Edda, Ebonyi State, increasing the number of Army depots to three alongside those in Zaria, Kaduna State, and Osogbo, Osun State.
He said the three facilities are expected to train about 28,000 recruits, adding that 14,000 soldiers have already graduated from the existing and newly established depots.
According to him, the Army has also reviewed its training curriculum to strengthen marksmanship, counter-insurgency, and counter-terrorism capabilities, while recruits now undergo approximately 11 months of intensive military training.
Shaibu added that the Army has acquired armoured personnel carriers, mine-resistant vehicles, and unmanned aerial vehicles, with personnel receiving specialised training both within and outside Nigeria.
He said the acquisition of armed and surveillance drones, alongside enhanced aviation capabilities, has significantly improved operational response and effectiveness across various theatres of operation.
Meanwhile, the Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, said the Army Chief identified operational effectiveness, manpower development, personnel welfare, and sound administration as the key pillars driving the transformation of the Nigerian Army into a more professional and combat-ready force.
She said Shaibu attributed the Army’s recent operational successes to the support of President Tinubu, as well as improved collaboration with other security agencies and international partners.
According to Anele, the Army has also strengthened local defence production by increasing patronage of indigenous manufacturers, including the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), the Command Engineering Depot in Kaduna, and the Special Vehicle Plant in Bauchi.
She further disclosed that the Army Chief convened the Third African Land Forces Forum in Port Harcourt, bringing together military leaders from several African countries to strengthen cooperation against terrorism, insurgency, and transnational organised crime.
On personnel welfare, Anele said the Nigerian Army has upgraded accommodation, expanded access to quality education through its Command Schools, improved healthcare services, and extended its Group Life Assurance Scheme, benefiting about 15,000 personnel.
As part of the Nigerian Army Day celebrations, Shaibu also commissioned several civil-military projects in Rivers State, including renovated secondary schools, a town hall, and a solar-powered borehole, bringing the Army’s nationwide Civil-Military Cooperation projects to more than 250.
He also held bilateral talks with the Chief of the Armed Forces of Guinea-Bissau, Major General Tomas Djass, to strengthen regional military cooperation and enhance joint efforts in tackling cross-border security threats.
