The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has urged Nigerians not to see the Nigerian Armed Forces as a foreign entity but as a force for protection.
He said it was time for Nigerians to reclaim ownership of the Armed Forces and see it as an integral part of our national family.
The minister spoke as the Special Guest of Honour at the Maiden Defence Headquarters (DHQ) Civil-Military Relations Conference in Abuja with the theme: “Winning Hearts and Minds: Non-Kinetic Approaches to National Security.”
The minister, represented by the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Information, Mr Ogbodo Chinasa, urged Nigerians to begin to see the military not as an “occupying force, but a force for good, for protection, and for progress.”
Idris stressed that the effectiveness and efficiency of the Nigerian Armed Forces depend on the full ownership and participation of all Nigerians.
According to the minister, the Nigerian military is not a foreign entity, but rather an integral part of our national security that must be proudly owned and respected by the citizens it serves.
He lamented that, due to the military’s past involvement in governance, Nigerians had developed negative perceptions about the military, but after several years of civilian rule, those perceptions must change.
Idris said: “The reality we face today is uncomfortable but undeniable: a trust deficit exists between the military and many segments of the Nigerian population. Civilians, in some quarters, perceive the Armed Forces not as partners in peace, but as a force of aggression, brutal, offensive, and distant.
“This perception, whether based on history, misinformation, or isolated incidents, poses a grave threat to national unity and stability. Yet, let us remember that the Armed Forces of Nigeria are not a foreign entity. They are not detached machinery. They are a national institution, owned, funded, and mandated by the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on behalf of every Nigerian citizen. In truth, the Armed Forces belong to the people.
“Therefore, it is time for our people to reclaim that ownership. It is time for Nigerians to see the military as an integral part of our national family, not an occupying force, but a force for good, for protection, and for progress.”
The minister said the conference marked a crucial step towards achieving that vision by focusing on non-kinetic strategies, dialogue, community engagement, media sensitisation, and humanitarian collaboration.
He affirmed that national security is not only about firepower, but also about trust, empathy, and partnership.
Idris, therefore, urged the media and other critical stakeholders to champion the efforts of rebranding the image of the Nigerian military as a force that belongs to the people and is committed to protecting the country to achieve desired peace and economic development.
He said: “As the Minister of Information and National Orientation, I see an enormous role for the media and public communication in this mission.
“We must be deliberate in reshaping the public narrative about our Armed Forces. We must amplify stories of sacrifice, of community service, of lives saved and dignity restored. We must challenge misinformation and foster responsible reporting.
“Moreover, we must build stronger bridges of interaction through town halls, joint projects, civic education, and institutional frameworks that keep the military close to the heartbeat of the nation.
“Let me assure you that the Federal Ministry of Information stands ready to work hand in hand with the Defence Headquarters, civil society, and the media to implement the outcomes of this conference.
“Together, we will shape a new chapter in Civil-Military Relations, one rooted in mutual respect, transparency, and shared purpose.”
The minister commended the DHQ for organising the conference, which he described as “timely but essential.’
“I commend the leadership of our Armed Forces for recognising the urgent need to bridge the widening gap between the military and the civilians they are sworn to protect,” he said.
6,260 Terrorists Killed, 5,365 Civilians Rescued In 2 Years – DHQ
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has disclosed that a total of 6,260 terrorists have been killed across the country through joint military operations in the past two years.
This is just as troops recovered stolen products worth over N83 billion.
The Deputy Director of Defence Media Operations, Brig.-Gen. Ibrahim Abu-Mawashi, revealed this while giving an overview of troops’ achievements in two years, at the expanded parley with media executives at the DHQ on Thursday.
He said 14,138 terrorists and other criminals were arrested while 5,365 civilians were rescued within the period.
Abu-Mawashi said troops recovered hundreds of weapons and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
The defence spokesman gave details of military successes in each region. In the Niger Delta region, troops recovered N83 billion worth of stolen crude.
He said troops also killed 103 criminals, arrested 2,760 others and rescued 266 civilians from the kidnappers’ den.
Abu-Mawashi further stated that 1,246 Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists were killed, while 2,467 of them were arrested in the Northeast.
“The troops rescued 1,920 civilians, recovered 982 arms and 2,153 ammunition in the Northeast,” he said.
According to him, troops killed 1,374 bandits, including their top commanders in the Northwest theatre of operation, which comprises Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi and Sokoto states.
They also arrested 2,160 bandits and rescued 3,288 hostages from bandits’ enclaves.
He said: “The arms and ammunition recovered are 947 weapons and 25,802 rounds, respectively.”
The defence spokesman said troops on operations in the North-central killed 730 terrorists, bandits and violent extremists, and arrested 7,153 violent extremists.
He said 1,510 civilians were rescued, while 1,065 weapons and 19,709 rounds of ammunition were recovered.
In the military’s Joint Task Force Southeast over the past two years, the defence spokesman said 440 terrorists were killed while 1,677 criminals were arrested.
“The troops rescued 294 civilians and recovered 683 weapons and 21,300 rounds of ammunition,” he said.
“Finally, Joint Task Force Southwest killed 80 criminals and arrested 1,763 others, while they rescued 89 kidnap victims.
“Troops recovered 143 weapons and 177,904 rounds of ammunition,” the defence spokesman added.
For his part, Director Defence Information Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau said the event marked a significant milestone in their collective efforts to address and mitigate the nation’s complex security challenges.
Gusau said the programme was conceived in alignment with the CDS’s leadership philosophy of “leading a people-centric armed forces.”
NAF Destroy Terrorist’s IED Factory, Gun Trucks In Borno
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has revealed that its aircraft operating under Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) destroyed an IED factory, terrorist gun trucks and eliminated dozens of fighters in Kwaltiri, within the Tumbuktu Triangle, Borno State.
A statement by the NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the airstrike conducted on 18 June 2025 followed intelligence reports of terrorist activity in the area.
“Surveillance confirmed the presence of an IED-making site and vehicles, which were struck in precision passes by NAF aircraft,” he said.
According to him, the strike dealt a major blow to terrorists’ fighting capabilities, as it “not only disrupted their command and control as well as logistics chains but also sent shockwaves through their ranks, significantly degrading their morale and operational momentum.”.
He said the successful operation reinforces NAF’s resolve to degrade terrorist capabilities and enhance security in the North East.
Media Powerful, Central Player In Fight Against Insurgency –CDS
For his part, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, described the media as a powerful force and central player in the fight against terrorism and insurgency in the country.
Musa said the military was contending with an array of adaptive and unconventional threats from non-state actors, including terrorism, insurgency, banditry, secessionist violence and other forms of organised crime.
He stated this during Thursday’s “CDS Expanded Chat with Media Executives” in Abuja.
He said the engagement was aimed at fostering direct interaction with media executives nationwide.
“We believe that truth and trust are the cornerstones of national resilience.
“In today’s battles, particularly against terrorism and insurgency, we are not only engaged in physical combat but also fighting a war for the hearts and minds of the people. In this non-kinetic theatre, the media is a powerful force. The battle for perception, which entails controlling the narrative and countering misinformation and disinformation, is essential to strategic success.”
He reiterated that media reports on military operations significantly impact public perception and morale, both locally and internationally.
“That is why we seek a professional, objective and nation-oriented partnership with the media,”.
General Musa reaffirmed that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remain unwavering in their mission to protect our country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“While kinetic operations are ongoing across all theatres, we have also come to fully appreciate the importance of non-kinetic strategies, which now constitute over 70 per cent of the efforts required in modern asymmetric warfare.
“In this context, the media is not just a supporting actor but a central player. Nigerians are deeply interested in understanding their security situation and future prospects; hence, the narratives you shape as media professionals will significantly influence public sentiment, national unity and peacebuilding,” he said.
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