…troops of Operation Whirl Stroke neutralised a violent extremist and rescued ten abducted passengers along the Kyado–Wukari highway.
ABUJA, NIGERIA – The iNews Times | In a series of nationwide offensives, troops of the Nigerian Army have killed scores of terrorists, arrested 25 suspects, and rescued 16 kidnapped victims, in what authorities described as a strategic escalation against insurgency, banditry, and criminal networks.
A senior military source at the Army Headquarters, who briefed the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) under condition of anonymity, revealed that the large-scale operations spanned the North East, North West, North Central, South East, and South South regions of the country.
According to the source, significant gains were recorded in Borno and Adamawa states, where troops dismantled Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) and JAS terrorist cells in Kolori and Karumi communities of Konduga Local Government Area, and Madagali LGA respectively. In a separate bust in Mafa LGA, soldiers intercepted a key logistics courier with 23 cans of petrol disguised in a bag.
In Mubi North, Adamawa, vigilant troops halted an attempt to smuggle petrol and fertilisers – substances often linked to bomb-making.
Meanwhile, in Garkida, a detained suspect reportedly confessed to participating in earlier attacks in Damboa.
Among the items recovered in these raids were one M70AB2 assault rifle, four magazines, and 150 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition.
In the North West, troops of 1 Brigade repelled repeated terrorist incursions in Maradun, Tsafe, and Anka LGAs of Zamfara State. Six kidnap victims were safely rescued, and several motorcycles used by the assailants were seized.
In Kaduna State, a notorious kidnap kingpin was apprehended in Mayir Village, Sanga LGA, following precision intelligence tracking.
Further south, in Benue State’s Katsina-Ala LGA, troops under Operation Whirl Stroke neutralised a violent extremist and rescued ten abducted passengers along the Kyado–Wukari highway. In Kwara, soldiers freed three kidnap victims near Eruku town and recovered a getaway motorcycle.
Troops also made headway in curbing drug trafficking. In Nasarawa State, soldiers intercepted a vehicle packed with hard drugs and arrested two suspects, including the alleged consignee.
In the South East, two cultists were arrested in Mgbidi, Imo State, with a pistol, mobile phones, and a motorcycle recovered. Meanwhile, in Anambra’s Orumba North LGA, troops disrupted suspected IPOB/ESN activities, after the group detonated three improvised explosive devices (IEDs) before fleeing into the bush.
In the oil-rich South South region, security forces confiscated two locally fabricated double-barrelled shotguns and 27 cartridges. Joint operations with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) led to the arrest of 19 drug dealers across Delta and Bayelsa States. Substances recovered included cannabis, tramadol, diazepam, pentazocine, and high-grade Canadian Loud.
Additionally, over 1,200 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and crude oil were seized in Rivers and Bayelsa States, and four suspected kidnappers were arrested in Delta’s Oshimili North LGA.
Across the various operations, a combined cache of weapons, explosives, smuggled fuel, communication devices, motorcycles, and illicit drugs were recovered – a haul military authorities say reflects the growing complexity of criminal alliances nationwide.
“The Nigerian Army remains fully committed to intensifying pressure on terrorists, kidnappers, and their supply chains. These operations are only the beginning,” the source said.
Security experts say the coordinated scale of these actions reflects a shift towards simultaneous multi-theatre disruption of insurgent and criminal cells – a strategy aimed at dismantling the interlinked logistics supporting these groups.
As of press time, the military operations remain ongoing.
