Nigeria's Tinubu says 13,000 'terrorists' killed in 2024

ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Tinubu said on Friday that 13,000 "terrorists" were killed in Nigeria last year, framing the figure as evidence of progress in the country's long-running security operations. Tinubu, who took office in May 2023, added that deaths from armed insurgency had fallen 81% since he came to power. He said more than 124,000 fighters and their families had surrendered their weapons under a program called the "Safe Corridor," which the Abuja government runs to disarm armed groups and reintegrate former combatants into society. Tinubu listed the security gains among his administration's foremost achievements. Northeastern Nigeria has faced years of violence from Boko Haram and related groups, while armed gangs have operated across the northwest. Security forces have intensified airstrikes and ground operations against the groups in recent months, contributing to a sharp rise in reported militant casualties. The president's office did not provide a detailed breakdown of the figures or independent verification of the toll. No further details on the government's methodology were immediately available.