OPEP Commander Moves to End Revenge Killings, Misinformation in Mangu

By Zagazola Makama

The Commander, Operation ENDURING PEACE (OPEP), Major General W.M. Dangana, has called on the Mwaghavul Youth Movement (MYM) in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State to abandon the cycle of revenge attacks and work with security agencies towards restoring lasting peace in the state.

Major General Dangana made the call on Sunday, August 23, 2026, during a stakeholders’ engagement with the executive members of the MYM at the Multipurpose Hall of the Tactical Headquarters, Joint Task Force OPEP, in Mangu.

The meeting formed part of the command’s non-kinetic efforts to address the underlying causes of insecurity and strengthen community cooperation within the Joint Operations Area.

The engagement was aimed particularly at addressing recurring retaliatory attacks between indigenous communities and Fulani residents, as well as the spread of misinformation capable of escalating tensions.

Addressing the youth leaders, the OPEP Commander urged them to set aside differences and collaborate with security agencies to restore peace and stability across Mangu and Plateau State.

He challenged the youths to become peace ambassadors within their communities and use their influence to discourage violence, retaliation and the dissemination of unverified information.

The commander also encouraged the youth movement to support the actualisation of rural security initiatives designed to strengthen early warning mechanisms, community engagement and cooperation with security agencies.

Major General Dangana further used the engagement to clarify what he described as several misconceptions surrounding ongoing security operations in Mangu.

He assured the MYM executive members that Operation HARD KNOCK would serve as an important tool in consolidating peace and security in Mangu Local Government Area.

The commander stressed that military operations alone could not guarantee sustainable peace, noting that the cooperation of communities, particularly young people, remained critical to preventing violence and rebuilding trust.

He urged the youth leaders to reject narratives capable of inflaming ethnic tensions and instead promote dialogue, reconciliation and peaceful coexistence.

The meeting was attended by the Special Adviser on Security to the Plateau State Government; the Chairman of Mangu Local Government Area; the Chief of Staff, Headquarters Joint Task Force OPEP; members of the Mwaghavul Youth Movement and representatives of the National President of the MDA, among other stakeholders.

The stakeholders’ engagement emphasizes OPEP’s increasing emphasis on combining kinetic operations with community dialogue, confidence-building and early intervention mechanisms to address the persistent security challenges in Plateau State.

The Military high command said sustained collaboration between security agencies, traditional and community leaders and youth organisations remains essential to breaking the cycle of violence and creating conditions for lasting peace in Mangu and the wider Plateau State.

OPEP Commander Moves to End Revenge Killings, Misinformation in Mangu

Troops Intercept Three Canoes Procured by Terrorist Kingpin, Disrupt Logistics Plan in Zamfara

By Zagazola Makama

Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have intercepted three disassembled canoes reportedly procured by a notorious terrorist kingpin, Shehu Bagewaye, to facilitate the movement of his fighters across riverine areas of Zamfara State.

The operation, conducted on Sunday, August 23, 2026, followed credible intelligence indicating that the terrorist leader had arranged for the procurement of the canoes from Yauri Local Government Area of Kebbi State for onward movement into Zamfara.

According to a statement by the Joint Task Force Media Information Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, intelligence indicated that the canoes were intended to help the terrorists overcome river obstacles restricting their movement and enhance their mobility for criminal activities against vulnerable communities.

Acting on the intelligence, troops of Sector 2 conducted a covert operation along identified areas of interest and intercepted the three disassembled canoes while they were being transported towards their intended destination.

The individuals conveying the items reportedly abandoned the canoes and fled after sighting the troops.

The recovered items have been taken into military custody, while efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend those involved in the attempted movement.

The interception is the latest in a series of intelligence-led operations by Operation FANSAN YAMMA aimed at disrupting terrorist logistics and denying criminal elements the resources required to expand their mobility and operational reach.

The Joint Task Force said the operation underscores the importance of timely intelligence in identifying and disrupting terrorist logistics networks before they can be deployed against communities.

It reiterated its commitment to sustaining pressure on terrorist and criminal networks by targeting their logistics, movements and operational capabilities across the Joint Operations Area.

The task force also urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security forces, stressing that community cooperation remains critical to preventing terrorist activities and protecting lives and property.

Troops Intercept Three Canoes Procured by Terrorist Kingpin, Disrupt Logistics Plan in Zamfara

Chad Accuses Sudanese Forces of Crossing Border, Bombing Convoy Deep Inside Chadian Territory

By Zagazola Makama

The Chadian General Staff has accused the warring parties in Sudan of violating Chad’s territorial integrity after aircraft and drones allegedly pursued and bombarded a convoy more than 100 kilometres inside Chadian territory.

The incident reportedly occurred at about 8 p.m. on Thursday, August 20, 2026, near Chad’s common border with Sudan, particularly around the Mourdi Department in the Ennedi-Est Province.

In a communiqué issued to the national and international public, the Chadian General Staff said aerial and ground assessments conducted throughout Friday, August 21, confirmed that the fighting in Sudan had once again spilled into Chadian territory.

According to the military authorities, aircraft and drones identified as belonging to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and/or forces supporting them were involved in the pursuit of a convoy.

The Chadian military said the operation initially took place on Sudanese territory but subsequently extended deep into Chad, with the convoy reportedly pursued and bombarded more than 100 kilometres inside Chadian territory.

The military authorities did not provide details on the identity of the convoy, the nature of its cargo, or the circumstances that led to the pursuit across the border.

However, the Chadian General Staff described the incident as a fresh violation of the country’s territorial integrity and warned all parties involved in the Sudan conflict against attempting to extend the war into Chad.

“Although no Chadian casualties have been recorded to date,” the military said, it strongly condemned what it described as the latest violation of Chad’s territorial integrity.

The General Staff issued a stern warning to the Sudanese belligerents, saying continued attempts to expand the Sudanese conflict into Chadian territory could have serious consequences.

It described such actions as a “suicidal risk” for those seeking to bring the Sudanese war onto Chadian soil.

The latest incident comes amid the continuing conflict in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which has increasingly generated security concerns for neighbouring countries.

Chad shares a long and porous border with Sudan, particularly along its eastern frontier, where the security situation has remained fragile due to the movement of armed groups, refugees, weapons and combatants fleeing the Sudanese conflict.

The Chadian military said its defence and security forces remain on the highest level of alert to prevent further violations and protect the country’s population.

It further assured citizens that the security forces are prepared to respond forcefully to any threat capable of undermining the peace and security of the Chadian people.

The statement did not indicate whether Chad had identified the specific aircraft or drones involved through direct visual confirmation, radar data or other intelligence means, but said assessments conducted through aerial and physical means established that the operation had crossed into Chadian territory.

The development raises concerns over the potential regionalisation of the Sudan conflict, particularly as fighting and military operations continue to take place close to Sudan’s borders with Chad and other neighbouring countries.

For Chad, the alleged incursion represents a particularly sensitive security issue given the country’s proximity to the conflict and the potential for cross-border military operations to trigger a broader confrontation.

The Chadian authorities have therefore placed their forces on heightened alert while warning the Sudanese belligerents that further violations of its territory could provoke an energetic response.

The Chadian General Staff stressed that its priority remains the protection of the country’s territorial integrity and the safety of its citizens amid the continuing instability along its eastern border.

Chad Accuses Sudanese Forces of Crossing Border, Bombing Convoy Deep Inside Chadian Territory