Nigeria’s Security Agencies Sustain Tempo of Operations Against Terrorists in September–Says DG NOA
By Our Editor
Abuja (Core Reporters) The Director General of National Orientation Agency (NOA) Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu has stated that Nigeria’s security agencies, intelligence, enforcement and regulatory agencies have sustained a robust tempo of operations against terrorists in the month of September, consolidating on gains and further degrading the capabilities of criminal and terrorist groups.
He stated this on Monday, October 13, 2025, during the monthly joint security press briefing at the headquarters of the national orientation agency in Abuja.
Core Reporters report that these agencies, coordinating through intelligence-led operations, cross-sectoral collaboration, and citizen engagement made significant progress in various areas, including counter-terrorism, law enforcement, and revenue generation.
Security Operations:
The DG revraled that the Nigerian Army conducted 196 operations, rescuing 76 kidnapped victims and neutralizing several ISWAP and JAS fighters. While the police also arrested 2,547 suspects, dismantled 37 criminal gangs, and recovered 212 firearms and ₦250 million in illicit funds.
According to him, the gallant soldiers “intercepted multiple arms traffickers across Niger, Plateau, Kaduna, Ekiti, Ebonyi, and Katsina, seizing M-16s, AK-47s, PKT machine guns, over 2,000 rounds of ammunition, and disrupting major weapons supply chains using coordinated, intelligence-led surveillance.”
Counter-Narcotics:
Mallam Issa-Onilu also noted that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the month of September dismantled 37 drug syndicates, arrested 1,763 suspects, and seized over 212,000 kilograms of narcotics valued at ₦6.5 billion (approximately $4 million).
Revenue Generation:
On revenue generation he said, “The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) generated ₦658.6 billion in revenue for September through enhanced digital enforcement systems.
Road Safety:
According to Mallam Isa-Onilu, “The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) responded to 589 road crashes, rescuing 3,848 people and recording 282 fatalities.
Anti-Corruption:
The DG reported that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) recovered ₦446 million, restrained ₦172 million, and secured three convictions.
The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), on its part, flagged illegal mining as a growing terrorism-financing channel, prompting new partnerships with the UK High Commission and other international bodies to trace and freeze illicit fund flows linked to extremist networks.
Immigration and Border Control:
He said, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) intercepted 20 trafficking victims, repatriated 48 Nigerians, and processed over 13,000 visas.
Food and Drug Safety:
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) confiscated several containers of falsified medicines and substandard goods, and conducted joint enforcement operations with the Nigerian Navy.
The DG emphasised that these achievements so far have demonstrated the effectiveness of Nigeria’s coordinated security efforts, leveraging intelligence, technology, and inter-agency collaboration to address various security challenges, under the Renewed Hope Agenda, where public trust, operational strength, and Institutional reform continues to align in service of national safety.
