The Nigerian Army has been named Africa’s Best National Army in Counter-Terrorism Operations for 2025 by African Security Watch in recognition of its operational achievements against terrorism and violent extremism.
The award was presented to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, at the Army Headquarters in Abuja after it was received on behalf of the Army by Maj.-Gen. Teriworie Gagariga at the 19th African Security Watch Awards in Banjul, The Gambia.
Receiving the award, Shaibu described the recognition as a tribute to the courage, professionalism and resilience of officers and soldiers engaged in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations across the country.
He dedicated the honour to personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty and their families, reaffirming the Army’s commitment to intelligence-led operations, stronger joint and multi-agency collaboration, continuous training, improved welfare and the acquisition of modern capabilities.
Shaibu said the Army would continue its transformation into a more professional, adaptive and combat-ready force capable of addressing Nigeria’s evolving security challenges while contributing to regional peace and stability.
African Security Watch said the Army earned the recognition for its coordinated joint operations, intelligence-driven campaigns, civil-military cooperation, force development and capacity building, noting that its operations had significantly degraded terrorist groups and strengthened national and regional security.
Also, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 2 command, Olohundare Jimoh, was honoured as the Most Outstanding Anti-Crime Police Chief in West and Central Africa for 2025.
The award recognised his policing strategies while serving as Commissioner of Police in Lagos. Jimoh, who was unable to attend the ceremony in Banjul, received the award at the Zonal Headquarters in Onikan, Lagos, yesterday.
He said the recognition reflected the collective efforts of officers and men under his command, thanking the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Olatunji Disu for providing the leadership and strategies that have strengthened security in Lagos and Ogun states.
He attributed the success of policing in Lagos to strong community engagement and residents’ cooperation with the police, citing the peaceful conduct of the local government elections across the state’s 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas without incidents of ballot box snatching or attacks on voters.
Jimoh reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to protecting lives and property, preventing crime and ensuring prompt detection and investigation of criminal offences.
Speaking at the presentation, International Coordinator of the Security Watch Africa Initiative, Patrick Apambu, urged African countries to develop home-grown solutions to the continent’s growing security challenges instead of relying on external interventions.
He said most African countries faced similar security threats, adding that the organisation’s biennial conference produces recommendations for regional bodies, including ECOWAS, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union, to address the root causes of insecurity.
Apambu said this year’s conference examined the impact of global geopolitical competition on Africa, linking it to food insecurity, underdevelopment, unemployment and migration. He also raised concerns over porous borders and weak border management, which he said undermine the continent’s security.
He described Jimoh as a disciplined and professional officer whose outstanding record, including his management of the Lagos local government elections, justified the continental recognition.
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