Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has lauded the Nigerian Armed Forces for what he described as remarkable operational achievements under the leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede. In a statement made available to Legit.ng, the Labour Party lawmaker representing Ado, Okpokwu and Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State, said improved inter-service collaboration has bolstered the fight against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and oil theft across various regions of Nigeria.
Agbese Highlights Security Gains
Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Agbese noted that the Armed Forces have adopted a more coordinated approach that is yielding measurable outcomes in security operations. “Those who genuinely follow developments in our security sector will agree that the Armed Forces have become more coordinated and more decisive in confronting criminal elements. Under the leadership of General Olufemi Oluyede, we are seeing a level of synergy among the services that is producing visible results. The military is not merely responding to attacks; it is taking the battle to terrorists, kidnappers, bandits and oil thieves across different parts of the federation,” Agbese said.
The lawmaker cited figures released by the military for June, stating that troops neutralised 129 terrorists and other criminal elements, arrested 486 suspects, and rescued 542 kidnapped victims. He also reported that security forces recovered 130 firearms, 5,538 rounds of ammunition, dismantled seven illegal refining sites, and recovered over 308,000 litres of stolen petroleum products.
Commendation for Troops and Humanitarian Success
Agbese described the rescue of hundreds of civilians held by insurgents in the North East as a notable humanitarian success. “The rescue of hundreds of innocent Nigerians, many of them women and children who had spent months in captivity, speaks volumes about the commitment and professionalism of our troops. These brave men and women continue to risk their lives every day so that ordinary Nigerians can live in peace, and as a nation we owe them our gratitude and unwavering support.”
He also referred to the military's second quarter operational report, which showed 662 terrorists neutralised, 1,084 suspects arrested, and 951 kidnapped victims rescued within three months. Agbese urged Nigerians to support security agencies by providing credible intelligence and refusing to aid criminal groups. He also expressed confidence that improved funding, modern equipment and better welfare for personnel would strengthen ongoing operations.
The lawmaker added that the National Assembly would continue to back initiatives aimed at improving the country's security architecture and enhancing the operational capacity of the Armed Forces.
Agbese Resigns from APC
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Philip Agbese, the deputy spokesperson of the House of Representatives, resigned from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and defected to the Labour Party ahead of the 2027 general elections. The lawmaker announced his official defection on the floor of the House during plenary on Tuesday, March 31.
