Military
FORCE COMMANDER MULTINATIONAL JOINT TASK FORCE PAYS OPERATIONAL VISIT TO AIR COMPONENT COMMAND AND 7 DIVISION (SECTOR 1) OPERATION HADIN KAI, DECORATES PERSONNEL WITH OPERATION LAKE SANITY MEDALS

FORCE COMMANDER MULTINATIONAL JOINT TASK FORCE PAYS OPERATIONAL VISIT TO AIR COMPONENT COMMAND AND 7 DIVISION (SECTOR 1) OPERATION HADIN KAI, DECORATES PERSONNEL WITH OPERATION LAKE SANITY MEDALS
The Force Commander (FC) Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) Major General Abdul Khalifah Ibrahim on Thursday 11 August 2022 paid an operational visit to the Air Component Command (ACC) and 7 Division (Sector 1) Operation HADIN KAI Maiduguri.
He was accompanied on the visit by Heads of Cells of the MNJTF. The FC paid glowing tribute to the courage and professionalism of the ACC whose pilots synergized effectively with the other Air Components of the MNJTF and inflicted heavy casualty on the insurgents, their equipment and locations noting that they have truly distinguished themselves.



He conveyed his special appreciation to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal IO Amao for his consistent support to the MNJTF while also commending the Commander of the Air Component, Air Commodore EP Efanga for his doggedness, determination and will to fight and win.
He urged him to continue in this line as plans for MNJTF Operation LAKE SANITY 2 had started. The FC thereafter decorated pilots who took part in the recently concluded Operation LAKE SANITY with the highly coveted Operation LAKE SANITY Medal.
At the Headquarters of 7 Division (Sector 1), the FC commended the General Officer Commanding , Major General W Shaibu and indeed all officers and troops of the Division for their contribution in the recently concluded Operation LAKE SANITY where the Division for the first time operated with Sector 1 MNJTF (Cameroon) under the auspices of the MNJTF and jointly cleared areas such as Arena Woje, Chikin Gudu, Bula kesa, Bagadasa, Tumbuma amoung other places.
The FC was earlier given an extensive brief on the operational achievements of the Division and thereafter witnessed the display of a short but impressive parade during which the FC decorated the leadership of the Sector, other senior officers and some soldiers with the Operation LAKE SANITY Medals.
He appreciated and thanked the GOC and his troops for their loyalty, gallantry and sacrifice in the course of the Operation and having also commanded the Division recently, he was impressed with the fighting and winning spirit being maintained by the Division. He urged the Division to improve on what they had achieved until total victory is secured in the near future.
The FC rounded up his operational visit by having a chat with members of the Press. He appreciated them for their role and described them as “partners in progress” who should always be balanced in their reportage.
He told them of the remarkable improvement in security in the Lake Chad Basin and in the North Eastern part of Nigeria where massive and unprecedented surrenders of over 80,000 terrorists and their families have been recorded and are ongoing daily. He said same though on a lower scale are being recorded in Chad, Cameroun and Niger.
He gave an update of areas where IDPs and Refugees had returned to their ancestral homes in the last one year and civil authority is being reestablished gradually which included Banki, Baga, Doron Baga, Cross Kauwa and Malamfatori among others in Nigeria as well as Baroua in Niger amongst other towns.


He equally mentioned Amchide and Kolofata towns in Cameroon as well as Madai in Chad. He said he is aware of plans by the political authorities in the MNJTF troop contributing countries working in synergy with the MNJTF and other critical stakeholders to return thousands of IDPs/ refugees to their ancestral homes.
He said the MNJTF would continue to partner with neighbouring Operations and other strategic partners in ensuring that total peace is restored to the Lake Chad Region.
He equally thanked the Chiefs of Defence Staff of the MNJTF Troop Contributing Countries and the Service Chiefs for their support and guidance. He appreciated the Theatre Commander Operation HADIN KAI Major General CG Musa and his team for the great synergy. He equally appreciated the African Union for donating equipment that would help in the current and future Operations of the Force. The events were adjudged successful and hitch free.
KAMARUDEEN ADEGOKE
Lieutenant Colonel
Chief of Military Public Information Office
HQ MNJTF N’DJAMENA
11 August 202
Military
Army troops, DSS operatives eliminate 45 bandits in Niger raid, foil attack on Kuchi

Army troops, DSS operatives eliminate 45 bandits in Niger raid, foil attack on Kuchi
By: Zagazola Makama
Joint security forces have neutralised at least 45 armed bandits in a coordinated security operation near Kuchi town in Munya Local Government Area of Niger State.
Zagazola Makama gathered that the operation, which took place in the early hours of Monday, was jointly executed by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and military tactical units acting on actionable intelligence.
The bandits, believed to be loyal to notorious kingpin Dogo Gide, were en route to launch coordinated attacks on communities around Kuchi before they were intercepted.
The source, who requested anonymity, disclosed that the insurgents estimated to be over 100 in number had mobilised from Bilbis forest in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara and other hideouts in Kaduna State.
“The intelligence we received showed that these fighters had assembled in numbers and were planning a large-scale assault on several villages in Munya LGA,” the source said. “The operatives moved in under cover of darkness and intercepted them before they could reach their targets.”
He added that the security forces engaged the bandits in a fierce gun battle at the outskirts of Kuchi, resulting in the elimination of no fewer than 45 of the assailants, with several others escaping with gunshot wounds.
The operation also led to the recovery of multiple motorcycles, arms, and ammunition. However, five DSS operatives sustained injuries during the exchange and are currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed medical facility.
The successful operation is the latest in a string of offensives targeting criminal enclaves linked to Dogo Gide, whose network has suffered repeated blows in recent months.
Security agencies have pledged to sustain the momentum and intensify pressure on armed groups threatening peace in the North Central and North West regions.
“The terrain is difficult, but the results are encouraging. We will not relent until these threats are neutralised,” the source added.
Army troops, DSS operatives eliminate 45 bandits in Niger raid, foil attack on Kuchi
Military
Nigeria Army’s new strategy shields NYSC members, commuters from kidnappers in North West – GOC

Nigeria Army’s new strategy shields NYSC members, commuters from kidnappers in North West – GOC
By: Zagazola Makama
For many young Nigerians participating in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the prospect of being deployed to the north-western states once synonymous with banditry and highway attacks had once triggered apprehension. But now, a sweeping change in the security landscape is restoring hope and confidence among corps members and the traveling public alike.
This transformation is being spearheaded by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division, Nigerian Army, and Commander Sector 2, Operation Fansan Yamma, Maj.-Gen. Ibikunle Ajose. Under his leadership, a robust security framework has been instituted to safeguard critical infrastructure, secure highways, and most significantly, protect the lives of NYSC members and civilian commuters traversing the region.
Ajose who disclosed this while interacting with a team journalists, said that since January, no corps member has been abducted or harmed within the division’s operational area, a feat he attributed to deliberate planning and synergy with other security agencies.
“We understand that corps members are a very vulnerable group,” Ajose said. “That’s why we initiated what we call the Secure Main Supply Route strategy not only to secure major supply routes but to ensure that our young patriots serving the nation are given topmost protection.”
The Secure Main Supply Route initiative, according to the GOC, includes the establishment of military checkpoints and forward operating bases along major routes in Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi and Katsina states. Corps members are mandated to report to the nearest base by 1700 hours if traveling. Thereafter, military escorts ensure their safe passage to their destination.
To facilitate coordination, dedicated WhatsApp groups have been set up across states where soldiers, corps members and NYSC officials maintain real-time communication. The initiative has also been extended to provide timely travel advisories and emergency responses.
“We’ve made it a point of duty. Once a corps member calls in, the nearest unit will respond. It’s part of our commitment to restoring public confidence and enhancing civil-military relations,” Ajose added.
Miss Joy Onoh, a corps member from Enugu State, shared her experience, saying she was initially scared about her deployment to the North-West but changed her mind after the journey.
“When we got to Gusau, the bus driver said we had to stop at a military checkpoint. They checked our manifest and asked if there were corps members. Immediately they arranged an escort vehicle for me and other corps members. I felt so safe. It was like a convoy,” she said with a smile.
Another corps member, Jide Akinjide from Osun State, described the presence of soldiers on the highway as “reassuring.”
“You don’t know what it means until you’re traveling through a bushy stretch and suddenly you see soldiers waving you down to confirm your identity and ensure your vehicle is okay. That alone gives you peace of mind,” Sule said.
He also praised the military for their respectful engagement with civilians, saying: “They don’t harass you. In fact, they give you cold water and even help if your vehicle breaks down.”
Beyond corps members, commercial drivers and ordinary travelers have also begun to enjoy the dividends of restored security on highways once plagued by ambushes and banditry.
Alhaji Usman Garba, a commercial driver who plies the Gusau-Sokoto route, said that road travel had significantly improved.
“Before, we used to fear that stretch near Isa. But since this operation started, the roads has become relatively safe. We did not heard of a single attack in the past two months. Soldiers are everywhere, and they even patrol at night,” he said. We thank the Nigerian Army for their support in ensuring safety of commuters on the road.
The protection of NYSC members and highways has emerged as a shining example of civil-military cooperation. The Army’s initiative is gradually transforming the narrative in the north-west.
Ajose has earlier disclosed that a special task force battalion comprising personnel from the Nigerian Army, Police, DSS, NSCDC, and others was constituted to protect the critical Sokoto-Kebbi Superhighway Project. This includes the 120km stretch in Sokoto and the 288km section in Kebbi State. We have not had any hitch since commencement. All project schedules have been met. Security of workers, engineers, and equipment has been 100% effective,” he noted.
In December 2024, the Minister of Works and Housing flagged off the Illelah–Bagagry stretch of the road, and the military immediately deployed to guarantee its uninterrupted progress.
The 1,068-kilometre Sokoto – Badagry Superhighway was designed to enhance Trade, Transport and Security as well as open route traversing Sokoto state through Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun and terminating in Lagos State.
“Not a single disruption has occurred on that project since inception. All schedules have been met on time,” he said.
Ajose further revealed that the welfare of troops had been enhanced under the leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede. Troop feeding allowances were recently increased from ₦1,000 to ₦3,000 daily, and new equipment including drones and protective gear continue to flow into the theatre.
“Like Napoleon said, ‘armies march on their stomachs.’ We’re ensuring our men are fed and equipped, so they can protect others,” Ajose emphasized.
“We believe safety should not be a luxury,” he said. “It’s the right of every Nigerian corps member or civilian. And we will continue to pursue the enemies of peace until the north-west becomes safe for all.”he said.
Zagazola Makama is a Counter Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in the Lake Chad.
Nigeria Army’s new strategy shields NYSC members, commuters from kidnappers in North West – GOC
Military
Army troops ISWAP Attack Repelled in Gajiram

Army troops ISWAP Attack Repelled in Gajiram
By: Zagazola Mamama.
Troops of the Nigerian military, late Monday night, repelled an attempted attack by suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) on Gajiram, headquarters of Nganzai Local Government Area of Borno.
Zagazola Makama gathered from security sources that the insurgents launched the attack at about 2200 hours but met stiff resistance from troops stationed in the area.
According to the sources, ISWAP fighters were unable to gain access into Gajiram town as they were engaged in a gun duel by security forces, leading to the foiling of the assault.
However, the attackers reportedly fired projectiles during the encounter, one of which landed in an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp within the vicinity, triggering an inferno.
Army troops ISWAP Attack Repelled in Gajiram
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