Insecurity: Tinubu Holds Talks with Service Chiefs as Military Intensifies Operations Against Terrorists

President Bola Tinubu on Monday evening held a closed-door meeting with the nation’s Service Chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock, Abuja.

The meeting commenced at about 6:01 pm, with the security chiefs arriving at the Villa’s forecourt before proceeding to the President’s office. It was Tinubu’s first engagement with the military high command since the swearing-in of General Christopher Musa (retd.) as Minister of Defence on December 4, 2025.

Although details of the discussions were not made public, the meeting took place against the backdrop of growing security challenges nationwide. These include the continued captivity of 115 students abducted from a Catholic boarding school in November, as well as the Senate’s recent approval for the deployment of Nigerian troops to Benin Republic following an attempted coup.

The meeting also coincided with intensified military operations, particularly a precision air interdiction mission carried out by the Nigerian Air Force on December 14, 2025, at Dabar Masara in the Southern Tumbuns of Borno State. The operation, executed by the Air Component of Joint Task Force Operation HADIN KAI, targeted a terrorist workshop and vehicles concealed under thick vegetation and identified as a major logistics hub.

According to the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, post-strike assessments confirmed the destruction of the targeted vehicles and the neutralisation of terrorist elements. He noted that intelligence-led precision air operations remain vital to disrupting terrorist networks and improving security across the North-East. The Southern Tumbuns, a marshland area around Lake Chad, has long served as a key hideout for terrorist groups, with combined air and ground operations ongoing to weaken insurgent capacity.

Meanwhile, troops of Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace recorded significant successes during operations conducted in Kaduna and Plateau states between December 11 and 13, 2025.

The JTF spokesperson, Major Samson Zhakom, disclosed that several kidnappers were neutralised and multiple abducted victims rescued during the period. On December 11, troops carried out clearance operations in Dangoma and Godogodo villages in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State, eliminating three notorious kidnappers, while others escaped.

On December 12, a covert operation in Plateau State led to the neutralisation of a suspected kidnapper and gunrunner linked to multiple crimes in Bassa and Jos North local government areas. Recovered items included a pistol, ammunition, a dagger, a mobile phone, and cash.

On December 13, troops acted on intelligence about a planned attack in Gidan-Saki Village, Zangon Kataf LGA of Kaduna State, forcing the criminals to abandon their plan. Later that day, an ambush in Jengre, Plateau State, following the abduction of four persons at Rimi Village in Jere District, resulted in the rescue of all victims and the neutralisation of one kidnapper. An AK-47 rifle, a magazine, and 13 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition were recovered.

Major Zhakom reaffirmed the task force’s resolve to maintain sustained operations against criminal groups and ensure the safety of residents within its areas of responsibility.