Nigerian Military, Other Forces Record Successes in Fighting Insurgency

The Nigerian military in collaboration with the Office of National Security Adviser and other hybrid forces has conducted fighting and confidence-building patrols, raids, ambushes, and clearance as well as search and rescue operations with resounding successes.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye disclosed this during the weekly briefing of the ongoing military operations across the country in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

According to him, during operations across various theatres, several terrorists were neutralized, their collaborators were also apprehended, and some kidnapped victims were rescued.

General Kangye said that the week also witnessed the handover of rehabilitated terrorists to the Borno State Government adding that gunrunners, oil theft collaborators, and other violent extremists were also apprehended.

He noted that several close air support, armed reconnaissance patrols as well as air interdiction missions were conducted by the Air Component during the week.

The Director noted that between 10th – 20th March 2025, scores of terrorists were neutralized while others were arrested.

“Troops also apprehended 23 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued some kidnapped hostages,” he said.

He stressed that in the South South, troops foiled oil theft estimated to the tune of about Four Hundred and Sixty One Million, Seven Hundred and Eighty Three Thousand, Eight Hundred and Sixty Eight Naira (N461,783,868.00) only.

The breakdown includes: 247,629 litres of stolen crude oil and 198,374 litres of illegally refined AGO.

Additionally, troops discovered and destroyed 36 crude oil cooking ovens, 42 dugout pits, 28 boats, 33 storage tanks, 65 drums and 21 illegal refining sites.

Other items recovered include pumping machines, tricycles, motorcycles, mobile phones and some vehicles amongst others.

In a related development, troops recovered a huge cache of assorted arms and ammunition during the week.

The weapons recovered include; AK47 rifles, locally fabricated guns, Dane guns, pump action, locally fabricated pistols and RPG tubes amongst others. The ammunition recovered include; various kinds of 7,62mm ammo as well as RPG bombs.

In the same vein, troops of Operation HADIN KAI scores of terrorists comprising adult males, adult females and some children surrendered to troops within the theatre of operation following the ongoing onslaught by the gallant troops in North East, Nigeria.

The Director said that “troops also intercepted and arrested 14 terrorist collaborators in Dikwa, Damboa, Gubio LGAs of Borno State as well as Gujba LGA of Yobe State.”

During the operations, some customized IED batteries, large quantities of PMS, engine oils, some mobile phones and large quantities of household items were recovered from them.

“On 10 March 2025, troops handed over a total of 75 persons comprising 7 adult males, 34 adult females and 34 children to the representatives of Borno State Government in the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council,” he added.

Similarly, following intelligence reports about terrorists’ activities in Chikun Local Government of Kaduna State as well as Zurmi LGA of Zamfara State, troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA in North West sprang ambushes against the terrorists.

During the encounters, some of the terrorists were neutralized, while some arms and ammunition as well as mobile phones were recovered from them amongst other achievements recorded.

In the same development, troops of Operation WHIRL Punch conducted fighting patrols in Tudun Wada LGA of Kano State as well as Kabba Bunu LGA of Kogi State, North West, Nigeria.

General Kangye said that “during combat, some terrorists were arrested. Recovered from them were locally fabricated rifles with some quantity of 7.62mm ammunition as well as 2 motorcycles.”

He noted that troops while on anti-kidnapping and anti-criminality operations responded to information about violent extremists’ activities in Abuja Municipal Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory and Esan North East LGA of Edo State.

According to him, during the operations, 3 kidnappers were arrested while 2 hostages were rescued.

One locally fabricated rifle, some live cartridges and the sum of N17,900.00 were recovered.

In a related development, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN while on fighting patrol, received an Ak 47 rifle from Sarkin Bangan in Kanam LGA of Plateau State, North Central, Nigeria.

The Director said that “the rifle was allegedly found in farmland abandoned by extremists”.

According to him, troops while on stop and search operation in Bokkos LGA of Plateau State intercepted a notorious gunrunner identified as Mr. Sengi David.

“The criminal was apprehended with some rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition and one AK 47 magazine in his possession,” he said.

Troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE in North Central during the period under review responded to information about activities of violent extremists and made contact in Zaki-Biam and Akwanga LGAs of Benue and Nasarawa States respectively.

During the operations, gallant troops neutralized some extremists and their cohorts identified as Abdullahi (aka Honour), Jagaban and Dan Danger among others. While searching their hideout, some arms and assorted ammunition as well as mobile phones, motorcycles, ATM cards, ID cards, SIM cards, POS machines and assorted charms were recovered.

Similarly, troops of Operation UDO KA during offensive operations made contact with IPOB/ESN terrorists at Ihiala and Ogbaru LGAs of Anambra State as well as Ohaozara LGA of Ebonyi State in South East, Nigeria.

Following a fire fight, troops neutralized some fighters of the terrorists, arrested others and rescued a kidnapped victim. They also recovered some arms and ammunition, including several IEDs and live cartridges.

He said that “troops and NDLEA team while on fighting patrol, responded to information about criminal activities in Aninri and Enugu North LGAs of Enugu State as well as Okigwe LGA of Imo State.”

They also conducted similar operations in Afikpo North and Ogbaru LGAs of Ebonyi and Anambra States respectively.

During the operations, many extremists were arrested while a locally made pistol and live cartridges were recovered.

The gallant men and women of the Armed Forces Nigeria would continue to carry out their constitutional responsibilities of protecting lives and properties of all Nigerians in line with their constitutional roles, Rules of Engagement and Code of Conduct for Internal Security Operations, General Kangye added.