In a coordinated nationwide crackdown, the Nigerian Army has arrested 199 criminal suspects and neutralised several terrorists in a sweeping offensive aimed at restoring peace and security across volatile regions. Sources at the Army Headquarters confirmed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the troops intensified their counterterrorism and internal security campaigns in synergy with sister security agencies, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), and local vigilante groups.
This large-scale operation led to the disruption of several criminal and terrorist networks, the recovery of arms and ammunition, and the seizure of illicit drugs, stolen petroleum products, digital crime tools, and large sums of money. In the North-East, troops of the 202 Battalion, alongside the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), staged a tactical ambush in the Bama area of Borno State, eliminating a suspected logistics courier for ISWAP/JAS terrorists. They also recovered a bicycle and mechanical parts believed to support enemy supply chains.
In Sokoto State, operatives of the 8 Division Garrison Strike Team intercepted a drug trafficking ring near Giginya Cantonment and Raymond Village. Four suspects were apprehended with narcotics, two motorcycles, a vehicle, ₦185,000 cash, ATM cards, mobile phones, and a POS machine. In Katsina State, a swift military response from the 17 Brigade repelled a deadly ambush on a police convoy in Malumfashi. The troops recovered a police Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) and arrested a notorious terrorist kingpin, Muhammadu Hamisu a.k.a Mamiyo, who was found with a motorcycle and multiple communication devices.
Troops in Kogi State, operating jointly with ONSA Hybrid Forces, apprehended a suspected kidnapper with links to an insurgent leader operating in Yagba East Local Government Area. In Edo State, soldiers of the 322 Artillery Regiment raided criminal hideouts in EMU Forest, capturing a major suspect and recovering a double-barrel gun, a fabricated pistol, 24 mobile phones, live cartridges, motorcycles, and over ₦500,000 in cash.
In the Federal Capital Territory, personnel from the 176 Guards Battalion and ONSA Quick Response Teams arrested three extremist informants during a snap checkpoint operation along the Lokoja-Abaji route. Meanwhile, in Plateau State, troops under Operation Safe Haven nabbed a wanted cattle rustler, Zaki Kabiru, and another suspect linked to a recent murder case in Mangu Local Government Area.
One of the most significant breakthroughs occurred in Delta State, where troops from the 3 Battalion uncovered a cybercrime training hub in Warri, believed to be responsible for large-scale internet fraud and youth radicalisation. This operation underscores the military’s commitment to disrupting both traditional and emerging threats to national security.
The Nigerian Army’s latest efforts mark a major milestone in its ongoing campaign to combat terrorism, banditry, and organised crime, while reinforcing public safety and confidence in the security forces.
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