The Nigerian Army has been named Africa’s Best National Army in Counter-Terrorism Operations for 2025 by African Security Watch.
The award was formally presented to Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu on Wednesday at Army Headquarters in Abuja.
Major General Teriworie Gagariga handed it over after receiving it on the Army’s behalf at the African Security Watch Awards Ceremony in Banjul, The Gambia. 
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What The Award Highlights
According to the Army, the recognition highlights its operational achievements, strategic leadership, and sustained efforts against terrorism and violent extremism.
African Security Watch specifically cited the Nigerian Army’s coordinated joint operations, intelligence-driven campaigns, civil-military cooperation, force development, and capacity building.
Receiving the award, Shaibu described it as a tribute to the courage, professionalism, and sacrifices of Nigerian Army personnel. He dedicated the honour to officers and soldiers who lost their lives in the line of duty and to their families.
He said the award validates the Army’s evolving counter-terrorism and counterinsurgency strategy and reaffirmed the military’s commitment to intelligence-led operations, better training, stronger collaboration with other security agencies, and improved welfare for troops.
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The Disconnection From Reality
However, this is only recognized on paper. The reality on ground tells a totally different story. It’s rather ironic that Africa’s best in counter-terrorism suffers frequent mass killings, kidnappings, and community attacks by bandits or “unknown gunmen”. Even the Federal Capital Territory of the country has not been spared. Recently, a senior military officer was killed in Abuja, reinforcing a sense that insecurity reaches into the heart of the country.
The gap between an official continental award and persistent violence makes the announcement sound perplexing to many citizens. Communities still lose people to midnight raids, travellers remain vulnerable to abduction, and security personnel themselves are targeted, hence, the claim of being “Africa’s best” at countering terrorism feels disconnected from everyday experiences of some average Nigerian.
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