APC to Peter Obi: Military Records Show Tinubu’s Remarkable Security Gains, Not a ‘Killing Field’

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly rejected recent comments by Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, who described Nigeria as a “killing field,” citing over 10,000 lives lost to terrorism and criminal violence in two years.

Obi, in a post on his official X handle on Monday, referenced data from Amnesty International to back his claim, expressing concern over the state of insecurity across the country.

In response, Lagos APC Spokesman, Mr. Seye Oladejo, issued a statement on Tuesday dismissing the remarks as “baseless” and politically motivated.

“APC utterly rejects and condemns the allegation by Mr. Peter Obi that Nigeria is now a killing field with more than 10,000 deaths under Tinubu’s watch,” Oladejo said.
“These sensationalist claims are not only baseless, they are a disgraceful distortion of reality made in bad faith to score political points.”

Citing the Federal Ministry of Defence’s midterm report (Aug. 2023 – April 2025), Oladejo said President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda has led to substantial achievements in national security. According to him, the military neutralised 9,415 terrorists, arrested 3,159 suspects, and rescued 5,449 hostages during that period.

Additionally, he referenced a two-year summary from the Defence Headquarters which reported the elimination of 6,260 terrorists, the arrest of 14,138 terrorists and criminals, and the rescue of 5,365 civilians. The military also recovered N83 billion worth of stolen crude oil.

Providing a regional breakdown, Oladejo said:

• In the North-East (Operation Hadin Kai): 1,246 terrorists were killed, 2,467 arrested, and 1,920 civilians rescued.
• In the North-West (Operation Fasan Yamma): 1,374 bandits were killed, 2,160 arrested or surrendered, and 3,288 hostages rescued.

“These are not statistics; they are lives saved, communities secured and terrorists dismantled,” he said.

He highlighted recent military actions in Katsina where airstrikes freed 76 hostages—many of them children—kidnapped in a mosque attack that claimed 50 lives. Though one child tragically died during the rescue, he said the operation reflected both courage and risk. An additional 35 militants were eliminated in the region, while airstrikes in Borno killed another 35 insurgents and helped restore vital ground communications.

He also pointed to a week-long operation earlier this year in Borno which neutralised 76 extremists, arrested 72 suspects, and rescued eight hostages.

Oladejo detailed military upgrades under Tinubu, including the acquisition of 24 M346 attack jets, 10 AW109 Trekker helicopters, and new patrol vessels for the Navy. Local arms manufacturing has also advanced, with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) producing over 4.6 million rounds of ammunition, 53 MRAPs (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles), and 14,040 PPE units.

He noted that groups such as the Coalition for Human Rights and Freedom (CHRF) have also recognized the military’s achievements, citing the neutralization of over 13,500 terrorists and the rescue of nearly 10,000 hostages.

“These are tangible, verifiable successes,” Oladejo emphasized.
“There is nothing like the exaggerated sensationalism offered by Mr. Obi. The Nigerian Armed Forces, under this administration, are not only standing tall, but they are also striking back aggressively, saving lives and securing our nation.”

He concluded by reaffirming the Lagos APC’s support for President Tinubu’s leadership and the armed forces, calling on critics to recognize the progress or “risk being left behind in baseless political dramatics.”