Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, has directed an immediate recalibration of military operations across multiple theatres following an emergency combat audit with the country’s Service Chiefs.

The high-level meeting, held at the Ministry of Defence Headquarters, reviewed the recent wave of brazen terrorist attacks and assessed the current military strategy against insurgents, bandits and other armed groups.

Speaking after the meeting, the defence minister said the Service Chiefs had been mandated to intensify and reorganise operations nationwide to dismantle the networks of terrorists and criminal gangs threatening national security.

He disclosed that commanders have been instructed to exercise direct, on-site leadership in various operational theatres to improve coordination and maintain sustained pressure on armed groups.

According to him, the meeting also carried out a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s national military strategy aimed at strengthening operational effectiveness and ensuring that ongoing missions deliver measurable results.

While noting that details of troop movements and tactical adjustments would remain classified for security reasons, Musa assured Nigerians that the armed forces are taking decisive steps to confront emerging threats.

He said the military has already recorded progress in recent operations, including the neutralisation of key terrorist commanders and the disruption of several insurgent networks.

The defence minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continuing military operations until terrorist and bandit groups are completely dismantled.

Musa assured citizens that the armed forces would maintain relentless pressure on criminal elements to restore stability and protect lives and property across the country.

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested two suspected cultists and recovered a firearm on the campus of The Polytechnic, Ibadan following a tip-off from a concerned citizen.

The suspects, identified as 31-year-old Lawal Opeyemi, popularly known as “Aiki,” and 29-year-old Olaniyan Opeyemi, alias “Bojan,” both residents of the Apete area of Ibadan, were apprehended while allegedly planning an attack on a rival cult group within the institution.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Alayande Olayinka, said a Good Samaritan alerted authorities to the presence of some young men reportedly moving around the campus with violent intentions. Operatives from the Sango Division responded swiftly, leading to the arrest of the two suspects.

Items recovered from them include a locally made double-barrelled pistol, two live cartridges, and a black bag containing charms.

During interrogation, the suspects allegedly confessed to involvement in cult activities and identified themselves as members of the Eiye Confraternity. Preliminary investigations suggest they may have been linked to previous cult-related clashes within the institution.

The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, CP Femi Haruna, has directed that the suspects be transferred to the Command’s Anti-Cultism Unit for further investigation and possible prosecution.

He commended members of the public and officers involved for their prompt action and urged parents and guardians to discourage their wards from joining secret cult groups.

The Command reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on cultism and violent crimes, stressing that continued collaboration between the police and the community remains vital in maintaining security.

Tinubu Renews Mandate for NSCDC Commandant-General Ahmed Audi

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has renewed the mandate of the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, directing him to reposition the service for a more strategic role in the nation’s security architecture.

Dr Audi will resume duties at the NSCDC National Headquarters in Abuja on Monday.

The President charged the NSCDC boss to strengthen the corps’ operational capacity and play a more significant role in safeguarding critical national assets and infrastructure, particularly as the Nigeria Police Force intensifies efforts to tackle banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism across the country.

Born on September 30, 1967, in Laminga Town, Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Dr Audi began his educational journey in the state before proceeding to the Teachers’ College, Jengre, Plateau State, where he obtained a Teachers’ Grade II Certificate in 1987.

He later earned a Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) from the College of Education, Akwanga, in 1992. In pursuit of higher education, he attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Physical and Health Education in 1995.

Dr Audi further obtained a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Calabar in 2001. He went on to earn a PhD in Public Administration from Nasarawa State University, Keffi, in 2014, and a Master’s degree in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 2019.

He joined the NSCDC in November 1996 as a volunteer and was subsequently deployed as a Divisional Officer in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, marking the beginning of his rise through the ranks in the civil defence corps.