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A civil society coalition has commended the DSS and military for what it called improved collaboration against terrorism, pointing to stronger intelligence sharing and recent battlefield gains.
The praise came from the Coalition for National Security and Democratic Stability. Its president, Samuel Agada, said better coordination among the security agencies was driving results.
What the coalition said about the DSS and military
Agada said recent operations reflected improved coordination among the armed forces, intelligence agencies and other security institutions. He linked the gains to sharper intelligence gathering.
He noted that operations spanned the North-East, North-West, North-Central, South-South and South-East. According to him, the spread showed stronger inter-agency collaboration across the country.
The group directed its commendation to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, and to the wider security architecture. It urged the agencies to keep up the momentum.
The figures behind the praise
The coalition cited official operational figures for May 2026. It said troops neutralised 317 terrorists and criminal elements during the period.
Security forces also arrested 314 suspects and rescued 221 kidnapped civilians, according to the figures quoted by the group.
Agada said the numbers were more than statistics. He described them as communities protected, lives saved and criminal networks disrupted through the work of Nigerian troops.
Why the collaboration matters
Nigeria has battled insurgency and banditry for years. Analysts have long argued that poor coordination between agencies weakened the response to armed groups.
Closer cooperation between the DSS and military is meant to close those gaps. Shared intelligence can help forces act faster on threats and reduce duplicated effort.
The coalition framed its statement as encouragement rather than a verdict. It called for sustained pressure on terrorists, bandits and other criminal networks.
A pattern of civil society support
The coalition is not alone in praising the security forces. Other groups, including the United Against Terror Movement, have also commended the DSS, the army, the police and local vigilante groups for recent gains.
Such statements have become more common as the military reports higher numbers of arrests and rescues. Supporters say public recognition can boost morale among troops in the field.
Critics, however, caution against reading too much into monthly figures. They argue that lasting security depends on tackling the root causes of conflict, from poverty to weak local governance.
The coalition acknowledged that challenge. It said operations alone cannot solve the crisis and called for stronger support for affected communities.
Defence officials have repeatedly stressed that intelligence sharing is now central to their strategy. They say agencies that once worked in silos increasingly plan and act together.
Analysts will watch whether the May results hold over the coming months. A single strong period, they warn, is easier to celebrate than a sustained drop in attacks.
The road ahead
Security remains one of Nigeria’s biggest challenges. Communities in parts of the North still face attacks, kidnappings and displacement despite the reported gains.
Civil society groups say steady progress, not one-off operations, will rebuild public trust. They want the agencies to keep protecting civilians while respecting human rights.
For now, the coalition’s message is clear. It wants the DSS and military to build on the May results and sustain the inter-agency teamwork that produced them.
