The Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has praised Nigeria’s military leadership, insisting that recent gains in the fight against terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes show a renewed momentum in the country’s security strategy.
Agbese, who represents Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency in Benue State, said Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa and the service chiefs had restored public confidence through joint operations that were beginning to show tangible results.
He dismissed calls in some quarters for their removal as a ploy aimed at undermining morale within the armed forces, warning that such campaigns played into the hands of terrorist groups.
Speaking with journalists on Thursday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on his way to an international engagement, the lawmaker credited General Musa with strengthening coordination among the Army, Navy and Air Force, noting that his leadership had been instrumental in shaping a unified counter-terrorism framework. He also pointed to the African Defence Chiefs’ Summit hosted in Abuja in August, describing it as evidence of Nigeria’s growing influence in regional security.
Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, the Chief of Naval Staff, was commended for his role in tackling oil theft, pipeline vandalism and maritime crime, with Agbese arguing that the Navy’s operations had secured critical national assets and boosted government revenues.
On the Army, he said Lieutenant-General Olufemi Oluyede’s leadership style had revitalised counter-insurgency and counter-banditry operations, bringing troops closer to affected communities and making intelligence-gathering more effective.
Agbese, who is also a member of the Pan-African Parliament, pledged to use his continental platform to push for stronger regional cooperation on security. He argued that Nigeria’s current approach had already demonstrated the value of combining military operations with wider policy engagement.
He urged Nigerians to continue supporting the armed forces while holding leaders accountable, warning against what he described as the “propaganda of despair” being circulated by terrorist networks.
