The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said Nigeria has made significant gains in fight against terrorism, banditry and other forms of insecurity in the month of October.
According to him, synergy among the military, DSS, police, and immigration services has improved measurably in October 2025, producing faster interdictions and fewer casualties.
According to him, terror-linked arrests in the month under review rose by 33%, reflecting proactive use of human and digital intelligence.
, Issa-Onilu said rescues increased by 40%, showing that security operations are shifting from reactive to preventive.
Speaking during the October edition of the Monthly Joint Security Press Briefing (JSPB), at the NOA headquarters in Abuja, the DG disclosed that fatalities dropped by 12%, demonstrating the effectiveness of joint operations and early warning systems.
Giving an analysis of the gains recorded in the fight against insecurity by the security agencies, Mallam Issa-Onilu said 56 and 42 major arrests were made in October and September, respectively, resulting from a 33% increase in stronger intelligence coordination.
For the rescue of abducted victims, the DG said 27 victims were rescued in October, as opposed to 19 in September, 2025. A feat he ascribed to improved rapid response, especially in Kogi & Zamfara.
According to him, the seizure of arms & ammunition recorded high, with multiple caches recovered in N/W & S/E due to proactive interdictions.
The figures presented to newsmen also show that fatalities in violent crimes witnessed a decline from 240 to 210, which further declined to 185, representing a 12% reduction month-to-month.
For the cross-border interventions, the month of October had seven incidents while September had 4, resulting from expanded collaboration with the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Department of Secret Services.
While acknowledging the sacrifices made by the security forces in the onslaught against insecurity, Mallam Issa-Onilu reaffirmed that data-driven collaboration and citizen intelligence are central to sustaining national peace and safety.
“October 2025 marked another step forward in Nigeria’s collective journey toward safety and trust.
“Together, through courage, collaboration, and communication, we are reclaiming public confidence in our institutions.
“Together we build trust. Together we build peace. Together we build Nigeria,” he concluded
