Troops recover command-wire IED along Maiduguri–Damasak road, avert potential attack

By Zagazola Makama

Troops of the Nigerian Army have recovered a command-wire improvised explosive device (IED) buried along a road in Kanguri village, Borno State, preventing what could have been another deadly terrorist attack.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that the device was discovered at about 3:00 p.m. on July 24 by troops of 149 Battalion while escorting a team from the Mine Risk Group (MRG), Maiduguri, on a mission to recover two trucks damaged in an earlier IED explosion by Boko Haram terrorists on July 4.

The command-wire IED was found concealed beneath the road at Kanguri village in Guzamala Local Government Area.

Following the discovery, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team of 149 Battalion safely recovered the explosive device without incident.

No casualties or damage to military equipment were recorded, while the escort and recovery mission was still ongoing at the time of filing this report.

Military sources said the recovery underscores the persistent threat posed by terrorist-planted roadside explosives in parts of the North East, even as troops continue clearance and route security operations to safeguard military movements and civilian traffic.

Troops recover command-wire IED along Maiduguri–Damasak road, avert potential attack

EMVC, Federal Polytechnic Offa Partner to Drive Indigenous Electric Vehicle Production, Skills Development

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria’s push to develop a homegrown electric vehicle industry has received a major boost as Electric Motor Vehicle Company (EMVC) and the Federal Polytechnic Offa, Kwara State, signed a landmark partnership aimed at accelerating indigenous electric vehicle production, battery technology research and technical skills development.

The agreement, described as the first collaboration of its kind between a Nigerian indigenous electric vehicle manufacturer and a polytechnic, is expected to bridge the gap between industry and academia while strengthening local capacity across the country’s automotive value chain.

Under the partnership, both institutions will jointly develop market-ready electric vehicles tailored to Nigerian and African road conditions, collaborate on battery technology research, including battery cell assembly and battery management systems, and promote the local sourcing of components.

The initiative will also provide structured training for students of the Federal Polytechnic Offa in electric vehicle design, assembly, battery systems and after-sales maintenance, while enabling both organisations to share laboratories, workshops, technical resources and research facilities.

Beyond the immediate collaboration, EMVC and the polytechnic outlined ambitious plans to establish a Centre of Excellence in Electric Mobility on the campus, develop specialised curricula and certification programmes in electric vehicle engineering, battery technology and renewable energy systems, and create internship and apprenticeship opportunities for students.

Other proposed areas of collaboration include faculty exchange programmes, joint research publications, patent development, entrepreneurship support for student innovators, deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure on campus, local fabrication of vehicle components, joint applications for research grants and community awareness campaigns to promote electric mobility across Kwara State and the North Central region.

Speaking on the significance of the partnership, EMVC Chief Executive Officer, Prince Mustapha Mona Audu, said the future of Nigeria’s electric vehicle industry depends not only on manufacturing capacity but also on developing the human capital needed to sustain it.

“This collaboration reflects EMVC’s belief that building a genuine electric vehicle industry in Nigeria requires more than manufacturing capacity; it requires a deliberate investment in people and knowledge. Partnering with Federal Polytechnic Offa allows us to develop vehicles and battery technology suited to our environment while training the next generation of Nigerian engineers and technicians who will sustain this industry long into the future,” he said.

The Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Offa, Dr. Kadiri Kamoru Oluwatoyin, described the partnership as a strategic step towards aligning technical education with the practical demands of Nigeria’s emerging clean energy and mobility sector, noting that it would expose students to real-world engineering, manufacturing and innovation.

Industry observers say the collaboration comes at a time when Nigeria is seeking to diversify its economy, reduce dependence on fossil fuels and build domestic manufacturing capacity in line with the global transition to cleaner transportation.

EMVC, a Nigerian-owned company, is currently focused on the design, assembly and manufacturing of electric vehicles suited to African conditions. Its operations cover two- and three-wheel electric vehicles, battery assembly and charging infrastructure, with plans to expand into four-wheel vehicle assembly as part of its broader vision of positioning Nigeria and Africa as producers, rather than merely consumers, of clean mobility technologies.

EMVC, Federal Polytechnic Offa Partner to Drive Indigenous Electric Vehicle Production, Skills Development

Rainy Season, Difficult Terrain Now Biggest Challenge as Terrorists Retreat into Remote Forests — Theatre Commander

By Zagazola Makama

The Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA (JTF NW OPFY), Major General W.B. Idris, has said that sustained military offensives have forced terrorists and armed bandits away from major highways into remote forests and isolated rural communities, where difficult terrain and the rainy season have become the principal operational challenges confronting security forces.

Major General Idris made the disclosure on Thursday during an interactive session with defence correspondents at the Headquarters of Operation FANSAN YAMMA in Gusau, Zamfara State, while responding to questions on the security situation across the North-West and the continued attacks on farming communities despite the military’s sustained operations.

The Theatre Commander explained that months of aggressive kinetic operations, intelligence-led raids and area domination patrols have significantly degraded terrorist capabilities along major road corridors, compelling criminal groups to alter their operational tactics.

According to him, the military now exercises effective control over most strategic highways and major transportation routes across the theatre, denying terrorists the freedom to operate openly as they once did.

“Our troops have dominated virtually all the major roads across the theatre. Trunk A and Trunk B roads are well secured through sustained military presence, patrols and offensive operations,” he said.

He noted that between January and April 2026, Operation FANSAN YAMMA consistently recorded significant operational successes on a weekly basis, including the recovery of weapons and the neutralisation of terrorists, forcing armed groups to abandon their traditional areas of operation.

“During that period, we recorded an average weekly recovery of about five weapons and the neutralisation of at least ten terrorists. The sustained pressure has forced them to modify their tactics and avoid direct confrontation with our troops,” he added.

Major General Idris said the terrorists have increasingly withdrawn into remote forests, rocky terrain and isolated settlements where they exploit the vast geographical landscape to evade military patrols.

Rather than attacking motorists on major highways, he explained, the criminals now target vulnerable farmers and rural communities located deep within the hinterland, creating the false impression that security forces are absent from those areas.

“They have realised that the major roads are no longer safe for them. They now move deep into the hinterland, where they attack isolated farmers and vulnerable communities. When such incidents occur, it sometimes creates the impression that security forces are not present, whereas the reality is that these attacks happen in extremely remote locations,” he said.

The commander observed that the current rainy season has further complicated military operations because the difficult terrain restricts the movement of heavy combat vehicles into remote areas where terrorists now seek refuge.

He explained that the Nigerian Army’s operational vehicles, including five-tonne, seven-tonne and ten-tonne tactical vehicles, are designed for demanding military tasks but face mobility challenges on waterlogged rural roads and soft terrain during periods of heavy rainfall.

“Our operational vehicles are heavy military platforms. During the rainy season, movement becomes extremely difficult because the terrain becomes soft and inaccessible. These are not vehicles that can easily traverse flooded or muddy routes leading into remote forests,” he explained.

According to the Theatre Commander, the operational limitations imposed by weather are not restricted to ground forces alone.

He said adverse weather conditions also affect aerial operations by limiting visibility and reducing the effectiveness of surveillance and air support missions, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms.

“We rely significantly on air support for operations in difficult terrain. However, weather conditions during the rainy season can also limit aerial operations. Nevertheless, we continue to adapt and maximise every available opportunity to sustain pressure on terrorist groups,” he noted.

Despite the seasonal challenges, Major General Idris assured Nigerians that Operation FANSAN YAMMA remains fully committed to maintaining the momentum of ongoing operations and pursuing terrorists wherever they attempt to establish safe havens.

“We are not relenting in our efforts. We shall continue to pursue terrorists wherever they are hiding, irrespective of the terrain or weather conditions,” he said.

The commander stressed that the command has adjusted its operational strategy to respond to the changing tactics adopted by terrorist groups.

He disclosed that increased reliance is now being placed on intelligence-driven operations, aerial surveillance, long-range patrols and modern technology to detect terrorist movements in forests and difficult terrain that are less accessible to conventional ground forces.

Major General Idris also highlighted the importance of unmanned aerial systems and aircraft in monitoring remote locations, noting that the command is expanding the use of technology to deny terrorists the freedom to regroup or launch attacks on farming communities.

He urged the public to appreciate the realities of military operations during the rainy season, explaining that the vast operational environment and changing tactics employed by terrorists require continuous adaptation rather than static deployment.

According to him, isolated attacks in remote villages should not be interpreted as a loss of military control but rather as evidence that sustained pressure has displaced terrorists from major population centres and strategic road networks.

“The terrorists have been denied the ability to operate freely on our highways. What we are witnessing now is their desperate attempt to exploit isolated communities and vulnerable farmers in remote locations. We are responding by adapting our operational approach to ensure they are denied even those remaining spaces,” he said.

The Theatre Commander reaffirmed that the Joint Task Force would continue to intensify long-range patrols, improve intelligence gathering, expand aerial surveillance and sustain offensive operations throughout the rainy season to protect farming communities and prevent terrorists from exploiting difficult terrain.

He added that the command remains focused on restoring normalcy across the North-West by maintaining relentless pressure on terrorist enclaves until they are completely dismantled, while assuring residents that every available operational resource is being deployed to safeguard lives, livelihoods and critical infrastructure across the theatre.

Rainy Season, Difficult Terrain Now Biggest Challenge as Terrorists Retreat into Remote Forests — Theatre Commander