Linus Aleke in Abuja
The Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN) has honoured the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd.); the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede; the Service Chiefs; the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu; and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Ajayi, for strengthening Nigeria’s counter-insurgency marketing campaign and recording vital features within the combat towards terrorism.
The heads of the nation’s safety establishments acquired the honours on the third version of the DECAN Conference and Awards, themed ‘Beyond Kinetic Warfare: Harnessing Technology and Intelligence-Led Operations for Nigeria’s National Security.’
The occasion introduced collectively senior navy and safety officers, authorities representatives, policymakers and journalists to look at rising safety threats and techniques for strengthening Nigeria’s safety structure.
The NSA was represented by the Director of Legal Services on the Office of the NSA, Zakari Mijinyawa, who acquired the award on his behalf.
Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to the Minister of Defence on Foreign Relations, Air Commodore Adewale Ogunmodede (rtd.), and the Director of Defence Information, Major General Sumaila Uba, acquired the awards on behalf of the Minister of Defence and the CDS respectively.
According to a press release by DECAN, “The awards are in recognition of their outstanding leadership, strategic coordination and dedicated service in strengthening and managing Nigeria’s national security architecture.”
Nigeria has battled the Boko Haram insurgency for over 15 years, ensuing within the lack of lives and the destruction of property value trillions of naira.
In its combat towards terrorism, the Federal Government has arrested hundreds of suspects, killed hundreds of terrorists and recovered territories beforehand occupied by insurgents.
In October 2017, the Federal Government commenced the mass trial of terrorism suspects to make sure that justice was served to victims of terrorism throughout the nation.
Since the mass trials started, the Federal Government has secured a complete of 1,721 terrorism-related convictions.
The NSA, as coordinator of the counter-terrorism marketing campaign, has continued to offer strategic management in efforts to disrupt terrorist logistics and provide networks and dismantle their management constructions.
In 2026 alone, the Federal Government secured 865 convictions, surpassing the mixed whole of 856 convictions recorded in the course of the previous 9 years, from 2017 to 2025.
During the ninth section of the trials on the Federal High Court in Abuja, 386 convictions have been secured from 508 instances prosecuted earlier than 10 judges, alongside eight discharges and two acquittals.
Ongoing mass trials in Abuja and at regional navy detention amenities, together with Kainji, proceed to course of tons of of suspects, amongst them high-profile members of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Those convicted have acquired sentences starting from a number of years’ imprisonment to life imprisonment and dying by hanging.
Approximately 5,000 suspects stay in pre-trial detention amenities throughout the nation because the National Counter-Terrorism Centre and the Ministry of Justice work to evaluate excellent case information.
These achievements have been made attainable by the collaborative efforts of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Nigeria Police Force, the DSS, different safety companies, the Ministry of Justice and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). These efforts reveal the sturdy inter-agency cooperation amongst Federal Government establishments working collectively to finish terrorism and insurgency in Nigeria.
Participants on the convention deliberated on the roles of technological innovation, intelligence-sharing, coordinated operations and efficient public communication in addressing the nation’s evolving safety challenges.
DECAN is an expert affiliation of journalists protecting defence, safety and navy affairs in Nigeria. The affiliation promotes correct and accountable reporting on defence and safety issues.
