Military Rescues 25 Kidnap Victims, Kills 11 Terrorists in Nationwide Operations
Nigerian troops have killed 11 suspected terrorists, arrested 22 suspects and rescued 25 kidnapped victims during military operations across the country in one week.
The operations also led to the recovery of firearms, ammunition and other items, while several suspected terrorists and their family members surrendered to security personnel.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed the developments in a weekly operational update covering military activities across the country.
According to him, seven terrorist fighters and members of their families surrendered during the period, handing over weapons and ammunition to troops in some locations.
Troops Arrest Suspected Terrorist Collaborators in Borno
In the North-East, troops of Operation Hadin Kai recorded several successes during operations in Borno and Adamawa states.
On October 9, troops received Iyakura Umar, a suspected terrorist family member, who surrendered alongside her one-year-old daughter at Dikwa–Gulumba in Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State.
The following day, troops working with the Civilian Joint Task Force arrested two suspected terrorist logistics suppliers, Abubakar Modu and Alhaji Bura, in Monguno.
The suspects were allegedly transporting supplies intended for Kwatan Dowoshi in Kukawa Local Government Area.
On October 12, troops arrested three suspected terrorist collaborators in Gubio, Borno State. The operation also resulted in the seizure of three vehicles.
Military personnel subsequently received three individuals who surrendered with an FN rifle, two magazines and 14 rounds of ammunition at Miyanti in Bama Local Government Area.
Another operation in Benisheikh, Kaga Local Government Area, on October 13 led to the arrest of five suspected collaborators and the recovery of a locally made Dane gun.
In Monguno, two individuals identified as Abacha Akura and Abba Bukar surrendered to troops on October 13 and 15, respectively.
Abacha reportedly escaped from a terrorist camp in Tumbunma Village, near Bukar Meriam in Marte Local Government Area, with an AK-101 rifle and 31 rounds of ammunition.
Troops also received two surrendered fighters and their spouses from Bula Daloye in Bama on October 14. The group handed over two AK-47 rifles, four magazines and 14 rounds of ammunition.
Eight additional terrorist family members surrendered at Banki Junction in the same local government area.
Military Repels Attack in Adamawa, Rescues Abducted Persons
In Adamawa State, troops responded to an attack by suspected terrorists approaching from the Lar axis on October 12.
The soldiers repelled the attackers, killing one suspected terrorist and recovering an AK-47 rifle.
Subsequent searches uncovered a PKT machine gun, ammunition, six AK-47 rifles, 11 magazines, a 60mm mortar bomb and other military equipment.
Four additional bodies believed to be those of terrorists were discovered during patrols in the area.
On October 14, troops conducting a clearance operation in Nguma village, Biu Local Government Area of Borno State, killed a suspected terrorist who allegedly attempted to escape.
The following day, soldiers rescued two abducted persons, identified as Bello Ibrahim and Ibrahim Adamu, around the Kuranabasa axis in Gwoza Local Government Area.
Kaduna, Sokoto Operations Yield Arrests, Weapons
In the North-West, troops of Operation Fansan Yamma rescued a kidnapped person after confronting three suspected terrorists in the Galadimawa area on October 9.
The suspects abandoned their victim and fled after soldiers engaged them.
On October 10, troops responding to an attack on a resident travelling between Dogon Dawa and Takama Village in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State recovered an AK-47 rifle and 15 rounds of ammunition.
Further tracking led to the arrest of Yusuf Iliya Sani at Maraban Kakini.
The suspect was allegedly involved in kidnapping, extortion, sexual assault and killings in Birnin Gwari.
On October 12, troops conducting patrols around Farin Dutse in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State discovered an AK-47 rifle loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition.
In Sokoto State, troops responding to a distress call in Soruro Village, Tangaza Local Government Area, killed one suspected terrorist and recovered an AK-pattern rifle, a magazine and 27 rounds of ammunition.
A separate clearance operation in Waria Forest, also in Tangaza, on October 15 resulted in the death of another suspected terrorist.
Troops recovered two AK-47 rifles and two magazines during the operation.
Plateau Troops Arrest Suspected Arms Fabricator
In the North-Central region, troops of Operation Enduring Peace arrested a suspected arms fabricator during a covert operation in Mangu and Barkin Ladi local government areas of Plateau State.
Three other suspects were also arrested over alleged involvement in illegal arms trafficking.
Items recovered included a locally fabricated revolver rifle, a fabricated pistol, an AK-47 barrel, a magazine and 42 rounds of ammunition.
On October 10, troops arrested Yusuf Suleiman at Barkin Ladi Main Market over his alleged connection to the September 24 attack on Kassa community.
He was also suspected of involvement in kidnapping, armed robbery and the killing of a resident identified as Mr Gyang on April 16.
Two additional suspects were arrested on October 14 during a raid on a suspected kidnappers’ hideout in Ruga, Methodist Kisahyip, Agingin, Bassa Local Government Area.
Eighteen Kidnap Victims Rescued in Kwara
Troops of Operation Savannah Shield also recorded successes during operations in Niger and Kwara states.
On October 9, troops took custody of Sidi Kamaki, who voluntarily surrendered at Audu Fari in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
Kamaki reportedly claimed to have spent about two years with an armed group he described as part of Darul Salam associated with the Shekau faction.
He also claimed to have participated in six operations in Borgu and the Republic of Benin.
In Kwara State, troops working with local security groups responded to reports of an abduction in the Eruku–Egbe–Koro Forest area of Ekiti Local Government Area on October 10.
The soldiers pursued the suspected kidnappers, who abandoned their victims and escaped into the forest.
The operation led to the rescue of 18 kidnapped persons. Troops also recovered two AK-47 magazines containing four rounds of ammunition.
Troops Rescue Kidnap Victims in Edo
In the Niger Delta, troops of Operation Delta Safe rescued two abducted persons during separate operations.
On October 11, soldiers on routine patrol along the Okene–Okpella Road rescued a woman identified as Mrs Halima Ibrahim after her kidnappers fled upon sighting the approaching troops.
On the same day, security personnel operating in Sasaro Forest, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, rescued another abductee, Prince Michael Akao.
The operation followed intelligence received by security agencies.
Three suspected kidnappers were killed during the encounter, while troops recovered three locally fabricated firearms, nine cartridges and other items.
Three Suspects Arrested in Abia
In the South-East, troops of Operation Udoka arrested three suspects at Atan–Ihechiowa Village in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State on October 14.
The suspects were identified as Ozioma Mark, described by the military as a suspected Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) kingpin, Kalu Obasi and Kamba Igwu Ogbonna.
Two motorcycles and cash were recovered during the operation.
In a separate development, local security volunteers handed over a suspected IPOB member to troops in Lilu, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Defence Chief Urges Security Agencies to Sustain Operations
Onoja said the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, commended military personnel for their resilience and urged them to sustain the gains recorded during the operations.
Oluyede also called on security agencies to strengthen intelligence sharing and cooperation to improve efforts against terrorism, kidnapping and other criminal activities.
He urged the media to report security developments accurately and responsibly, while encouraging traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders to support military operations by providing information about criminal activities.
The Defence Chief maintained that protecting national security requires collective responsibility and sustained cooperation among security agencies and communities across the country.
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