(PRESS STATEMENT)
The Renewed Hope Labourers Network (RHOLAN), a cross-party political movement, has strongly rejected claims by Peoples Redemption Party National Chairman Hakeem Baba-Ahmed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu failed Nigerians on security.
In a statement issued by its Director of Public Affairs, Toby Prince, the group said Baba-Ahmed’s assertions deliberately ignored verified operational successes recorded by the Armed Forces and other security agencies.
The network cited official Defence Headquarters figures showing that over 3,000 terrorists and bandits have been neutralised, more than 120,000 insurgents and their families have surrendered, and over 2,000 kidnapped victims have been rescued in the past two years.
It described the PRP chairman’s comments as a selective narrative that erases the hard-won gains achieved through sustained military pressure.
“Mr Baba-Ahmed’s claim that children cannot go to school because of bandits is outdated and misleading. Data confirm that troops have degraded terrorist and bandit capacity, reopened previously controlled territories, and enabled the gradual return of normal life, including schooling, in many affected communities,” the statement said.
“In the third quarter of 2026 alone, troops neutralised 554 terrorists and criminals, arrested 1,333 suspects, rescued 1,736 kidnapped civilians and forced 333 insurgents to surrender.”
The Renewed Hope Labourers Network further highlighted the establishment of Defence Special Forces Brigades in Kaduna and Niger States, the expansion of Operations Hadin Kai and Fansan Yamma, and the recovery of thousands of illegal firearms and rounds of ammunition.
It noted that these measures have restored access to farmlands, markets and major highways that were once no-go areas.
On the Abuja-Kaduna highway specifically cited by Baba-Ahmed, the group pointed to increased security outposts, ongoing concrete pavement reconstruction, and improved surveillance as evidence that the road is no longer the death trap it once was.
“The Armed Forces have restored security situations in key flashpoints. Communities that lived under the constant threat of abduction are gradually reclaiming their lives.
“To pretend otherwise is to insult the gallant troops who risk their lives daily and the families of those who have paid the ultimate price,” Prince stated.
“Baba-Ahmed’s attempt to paint a picture of total collapse while ignoring mass surrenders, large-scale rescues and the reopening of schools in several northern states is pure political mischief.
The facts on the ground contradict his narrative.”
The network also referenced President Tinubu’s recent directive to security chiefs to rescue all remaining abductees and ensure no terrorist or bandit camp remains anywhere in the country.
It said the administration’s combination of kinetic operations, special forces expansion and community engagement has produced measurable results that cannot be wished away.
The statement added that the cross-party movement would continue to defend verified progress while supporting further improvements in national security.
“Those who claim the President has nothing to show on security are either living in the past or deliberately choosing blindness for political convenience.
“Over 3,000 neutralised, over 120,000 surrendered and thousands of victims rescued are not failure. They are evidence of a government that is fighting and winning,” the statement continued.
“The Renewed Hope Labourers Network stands firmly with the Armed Forces of Nigeria. We reject any attempt to diminish their sacrifices and achievements.
“Security is being restored, communities are returning, and the trajectory is clear for those who care to look at the facts.”
