Military
Troops Intensify Offensive, Neutralize Scores of Boko Haram/ISWAP Terrorists, Clear 25 Camps

Troops Intensify Offensive, Neutralize Scores of Boko Haram/ISWAP Terrorists, Clear 25 Camps
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have successfully neutralized scores of Boko Haram/Islamic State of the West African Province (ISWAP) fighters during a significant week-long offensive against terrorists in the northeast of Borno State.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama, a counterinsurgency expert and security analyst in the Lake Chad region, that the land and air offensive, which began on January 7, 2024, as part of Operation Desert Sanity III, also resulted in the clearance and destruction of over 25 terrorist camps in the Sambisa Forest and the Timbuktu Triangle.

The sources reported that during one of the fierce offensives by the troops of the 21 Armored Brigade in Bama, they encountered terrorists in Ukuba, Sambisa, and engaged them with heavy firepower. As a result of the encounter, 11 ISWAP fighters were neutralized, which caused the remaining terrorists to scatter and flee in disarray. During the clash, one gun truck loaded with ammunition exploded and burned.
The troops recovered various weapons and equipment, including one anti-aircraft gun, one rocket-propelled grenade tube, one general-purpose machine gun (GPMG), two RPG chargers, five AK-47 rifles, a terrorist flag, two pickup vans, and one grinding machine mill, among other items. Continuing their offensive operations deeper into the Sambisa Forest, the troops cleared areas such as Garin Abu Umaru, New/Old Mjimia, Garin Munzo, Alafa 1, and Alafa 2. An alleged Amir of Garin Munzo and five other fighters were intercepted and neutralized, while newly established camps were discovered and destroyed.

The source highlighted the team’s bravery and commitment, which significantly contributed to the dislodgement of terrorists from numerous locations, including New Goske, Garin Abbas, Garin Ba’aba, Korege, Arra, Garin Abu Amina, Garin Noma, Garin Malam Ma’azu, Garin Fallujah, Ukuba, Sabil Huda, Garin Munzo, Garin Abu Umaru, New Njimia, Garin Adamu, and a farmland in Dure at Balar, Yaro Bulamari, Yaro Goni Krumidi, Yaro Lawanti, and Yaro Umaradi, among others.
However, while en route to clear these locations, a patrol team triggered an IED around 1530 hours near Alagarno. Fortunately, no casualties were sustained, but the armored personnel carrier sustained damage to its rear track and two turbochargers.
Simultaneously, the troops of the 26 Task Force Brigade advanced and cleared Boko Haram enclaves in Amadaga Madachi and Amadaga villages in Gwoza LGA. The suspected terrorists fled upon noticing the troops’ advance. The troops continued toward Gobara, where they made contact with the enemy, who fled with injuries as evidenced by traces of blood.
In another encounter, the troops of the 159 Battalion and 199 Special Forces Battalion, in conjunction with the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), cleared terrorist enclaves at BBalar, Yaro Bulamari, Yaro Goni Krumidi, Yaro Lawanti, and Yaro Umaradi. No contact with the enemy was made during this operation.
In Yobe State, the troops of the 27 Task Force Brigade continued their advances and cleared the area of Gol. They discovered and safely detonated one IED. The terrorists fled the scene, abandoning 67 bags of assorted grains in an underground storage facility along with ammunition.
Additionally, the troops ambushed and neutralized two ISWAP terrorists at Katarko along the road to Yobe State University and recovered two AK-47 rifles.
As the offensive persisted, troops of the 29 Task Force Brigade cleared Galengi and Dusuri. About 2 kilometers ahead of Tobolo, contact was made with enemy combatants. The troops engaged the terrorists in a gunfight, killing two and recovering their weapons.
The troops also cleared Arimarim and Koborori villages. Before reaching Galengi, they encountered and neutralized one terrorist, recovering a Dane gun. A terrorist camp was set ablaze during the operation.
Despite facing challenges such as difficult terrain, IED threats, and other issues, the troops have maintained their momentum, focusing on and remaining determined to pursue and decimate the fleeing terrorists wherever they are found in the Sambisa Forest.
According to the source, ISWAP commanders, including Abu Aisha (Khaid) and four assistant commanders (Munzir)—Bako, Mallam Abubakar, Abu Ibrahim, and Hanzala (also a Khaid)—are currently on the run. Nevertheless, the troops are resolute in their determination to hunt them down.
Troops Intensify Offensive, Neutralize Scores of Boko Haram/ISWAP Terrorists, Clear 25 Camps
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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