The Nigerian Army has neutralised two terrorists, arrested 20 others, and rescued 17 kidnap victims in a series of coordinated operations conducted across several regions of the country within the past 48 hours.
A top military source, who disclosed this to The Nation yesterday, said the operations also led to the surrender of three fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Borno State.
According to the source, the surrendered insurgents were identified as Fannami Ari (also known as Abu Dujana), Hussaini Hassan Modu (also known as Abu Yusuf), and one unnamed trainee.
The source said troops of 192 Battalion, in collaboration with the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), launched a well-coordinated offensive against ISWAP and Jama’at Ahl as-Sunnah (JAS) fighters at Hudugum village in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, resulting in the death of two terrorists.
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“Three terrorists identified as Fannami Ari (aka Abu Dujana), Hussaini Hassan Modu (aka Abu Yusuf) and another trainee surrendered to troops in Kukawa and Damboa Local Government Areas, citing disillusionment with terrorist leadership and deteriorating living conditions within their enclaves,” the source added.
In the North West, troops of 1 Brigade thwarted two kidnap attempts in Zamfara State, rescuing 11 hostages in separate operations along the Magami–Jan Gemi and Kucheri–Bilbis routes. The rescued victims have since been reunited with their families, while troops maintain aggressive patrols to deny terrorists freedom of movement and dismantle their logistics networks.
Across the North Central zone, combined clearance operations under Operations ENDURING PEACE and WHIRL STROKE in Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, and Kaduna states led to the arrest of 15 suspected kidnappers, cultists, and cattle rustlers. Four additional kidnap victims were rescued, and several weapons and rounds of ammunition were recovered during the raids.
In the South-South region, troops of 29 Battalion uncovered and destroyed two illegal oil refining sites at Biseni in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, disrupting the operations of oil thieves in the area. Similarly, troops of 34 Artillery Brigade intercepted 62 sacks of stolen crude oil—estimated at over 3,000 litres—at Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State.
According to the military source, the ongoing nationwide offensives reflect the Nigerian Army’s renewed determination under its current leadership to eradicate terrorism, curb criminal activities, and consolidate peace across the country.
“These sustained operations underscore the Army’s unflinching resolve to dismantle terrorist networks, decimate criminal elements, and restore enduring peace and stability nationwide,” the source said.