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Troops Foil Mass Abduction in Sambisa, Rescue 150 Civilians

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Troops Foil Mass Abduction in Sambisa, Rescue 150 Civilians

Troops Foil Mass Abduction in Sambisa, Rescue 150 Civilians

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

Troops of Sector 2 under Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have rescued 150 civilians from a foiled mass abduction along the Buratai-Kamuya axis of Sambisa Forest in Borno State, in what military authorities described as another major blow to Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters.

The civilians, mostly women and children, were travelling along the 130-kilometre Damaturu-Biu road when terrorists launched multiple attacks in a bid to seize them and take them deeper into the forest.

The OPHK Media Information Officer, Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Maiduguri, saying the troops acted swiftly to frustrate the terrorists’ plans and ensure the safe recovery of all the victims.

According to him, the operation took place on Monday, March 30, at about 2:50 p.m., when troops deployed to Dutse Kura, along the road corridor, came under attack while escorting dozens of civilians to Damaturu and Biu townships.

He said surveillance assets soon detected insurgents attempting to abduct a large number of civilians, including men, women and children, after forcing them into 17 vehicles and moving them towards the western fringe of Sambisa Forest.

Lt.-Col. Uba said the military responded immediately by deploying a Quick Reaction Force (QRF), which reinforced the troops already on ground and launched a pursuit towards Mangari area.

“Troops have demonstrated their counter-terrorism operational dominance and unwavering commitment to the protection of civilians by foiling a planned mass abduction by Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists,” he said.

He added that the pressure mounted by the advancing troops forced the insurgents to abandon both the kidnapped civilians and the 17 vehicles used in the operation.

“All the 150 rescued civilians were safely evacuated from the forest and moved to Buratai for onward movement to reunite them with their families,” he said.

The military spokesman noted, however, that the rescue operation was not without casualties.

He said troops encountered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) along the Bula Zarma-Mangari axis during the pursuit of the fleeing insurgents, resulting in injuries to five soldiers.

“Five personnel sustained severe injuries and were promptly evacuated for medical treatment,” he stated.

Lt Col Uba said the injured troops paid the price in the line of duty, adding that their sacrifice reflected the military’s determination to deny terrorists freedom of action and protect vulnerable communities across the North-East.

“The successful rescue,” he said, underscores the vigilance, rapid response capability, and sustained offensive posture of Operation Hadin Kai forces in the theatre.

He added that the latest operation should reassure residents about the military’s commitment to stabilisation efforts and civilian protection, especially as the Easter period approaches.

The Sambisa Forest and its surrounding corridors have long remained flashpoints in the insurgency, with troops continuing clearance operations to disrupt terrorist movements, protect road users, and restore confidence among communities affected by years of violence.

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Defence

Brigadier General feared killed in fresh Boko Haram attacks in Borno

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Brigadier General feared killed in fresh Boko Haram attacks in Borno

Brigadier General feared killed in fresh Boko Haram attacks in Borno

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

A brigadier general of the Nigerian Army has been feared killed in coordinated Boko Haram terrorist attacks in four communities of Banki Ruwa, Ngamdu, Benisheik and Pulka, a border area with Cameroon.

According to a credible military source on Thursday in Maiduguri, the multiple attacks simultaneously occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, targeting four communities located on the south fringe of Sambisa Forest.

According to reports, the first wave of assaults began at about 10:30 p.m. in Pulka and Bakin Ruwa, both in Gwoza Local Government Area.

The terrorists reportedly overran a military base in the area, adding that several military assets were also set ablaze at dawn.

ablaze. The attack also destroyed construction equipment belonging to the Borno State Government.

The attackers, according to the source, further looted food items from shops at Pulka village before withdrawing.

The military further revealed: “Hours later, by midnight, the insurgents launched another set of attacks on Benisheik and Ngamdu, 100 kilometres west of Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.

In Benisheikh, the terrorists reportedly overran the 29 Task Force Brigade, destroying multiple military vehicles.

The military explained that during the attacks, the Brigade Commander of an army base, Brig-Gen. O.O. Braimah, was killed while reportedly leading efforts to defend the base, his troops, and the civilians in the affected area.

The attackers also set several vehicles in transit along the Maiduguri-Damaturu Motorway on fire and continued to operate in the Ngamdu community for more than three hours.

Other security sources indicated that the assault on Ngamdu, located near Benisheik, may have been a diversionary tactic designed to delay reinforcement efforts. The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets were involved in the operation.

Similarly, the Pulka operation may have used the attack on Bakin Ruwa as a decoy.

As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian military is yet to issue an official statement regarding the attacks on the four communities in Borno State.

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Defence

Plateau Raids: Troops Kill Terror Suspects, Recover Ammunition in Wase, Qua’an Pan

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Army Intensifies Operations After Maiduguri Attacks

Plateau Raids: Troops Kill Terror Suspects, Recover Ammunition in Wase, Qua’an Pan

By Musa Garba, Jos

Troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE, operating under the special mandate of Operation WUTAN DAJI, have intensified security operations in Plateau State, killing suspected terrorists, recovering ammunition and dismantling criminal hideouts in coordinated raids across Wase, Qua’an Pan and Shendam local government areas.

The latest operations were disclosed in a press statement signed by Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE, on April 6, 2026.

According to the military, one of the major offensives took place on April 4 in Wase Local Government Area, where troops, working alongside local vigilantes, launched clearance operations around Babangida, Adua and Bokayi villages in the Dutsen Zaki forest, an area identified as a corridor for armed groups.

The statement said the joint team came under attack while advancing along the Babangida–Adua road, triggering a gun battle with suspected terrorists.

“The superior firepower of the troops resulted in the immediate neutralisation of two suspects, while several others retreated into the dense forest with various degrees of gunshot wounds,” the statement said.

After the encounter, troops reportedly combed the area and recovered one locally fabricated firearm, a belt containing 105 rounds of 7.62mm PKT ammunition, 30 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and a cutlass.

In a separate operation on Sunday, April 5, troops stationed in Namu District of Qua’an Pan Local Government Area acted on intelligence about the movement of armed men suspected to be involved in illegal arms trafficking and kidnapping activities.

The military said the troops moved swiftly and intercepted four suspected terrorists at about 7:45 a.m., adding that a search on the suspects led to the recovery of 100 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.

According to the statement, troops later moved to locate and destroy the suspects’ hideout but came under heavy gunfire from armed men believed to be their associates.

The military said the situation became chaotic during the exchange, and three of the four arrested suspects, who allegedly attempted to escape, were killed in the crossfire.

The statement claimed they were hit by gunfire from their fleeing accomplices.

In another operation carried out the same day, troops in Shendam Local Government Area, in collaboration with residents, arrested a suspected kidnapper at Gidan Mangoro village around 9:35 a.m.

The suspect is believed to be connected to a kidnapping incident reported in the community on April 3, according to the military.

Security officials said the suspect is currently in custody and will face further investigation and possible prosecution.

The military described the operations as part of a broader push to weaken armed groups and restore stability in Plateau communities affected by violent attacks, kidnapping and illegal arms movement.

It also urged residents to remain vigilant and continue to support security agencies with credible intelligence to help sustain the gains recorded in the ongoing operations.

 

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Defence

Troops Nab Terror Suspects, Arrest Armed Civilians, Detain Foreign National in Fresh Northeast Security Sweep

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Troops Nab Terror Suspects, Arrest Armed Civilians, Detain Foreign National in Fresh Northeast Security Sweep

Troops Nab Terror Suspects, Arrest Armed Civilians, Detain Foreign National in Fresh Northeast Security Sweep

By Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri

Troops from the Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), have achieved several security successes in Yobe, Borno, and Adamawa states by arresting suspected members of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), catching armed civilians connected to a deadly shooting, and detaining a suspected foreign national under unclear circumstances.

The operations, carried out by troops of Sectors 2 and 4 over the weekend, underscore renewed military pressure on insurgents and criminal elements operating within the North-East theatre.

In one of the major operations, troops arrested six suspected terrorists and logistics suppliers in the Geidam and Mubi North areas of Yobe and Adamawa states while also neutralising two insurgents along the Ngoshe–Pulka axis of the Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

Confirming the development in Maiduguri, the Media Information Officer of OPHK, Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, said the troops sustained offensive operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP elements across the theatre between March 31 and April 4, 2026.

According to him, the coordinated operations led to the disruption of insurgent logistics networks and the arrest of several suspects believed to be aiding terrorist movements and supplies.

Military sources said the troops, acting on credible intelligence and in collaboration with local security volunteers, intercepted the suspects in separate operations, while follow-up actions are ongoing to uncover wider terrorist support networks.

In a related development, OPHK also arrested five suspects in connection with the alleged illegal possession and discharge of firearms in the Ngomari Old Airport area of Maiduguri, an incident that reportedly led to the death of an innocent resident from stray bullets.

The military said the suspects were linked to the unlawful use of firearms during a social event in the community, prompting swift intervention by security personnel after the incident triggered outrage among residents.

Lt Col. Uba said the Theatre Command had taken decisive steps following the incident, stressing that investigations had already commenced to determine the full circumstances surrounding the tragic shooting.

He noted that the command would not tolerate reckless use of firearms or any action capable of endangering civilian lives, adding that those found culpable would face the full weight of the law.

Security officials said the suspects are currently being interrogated, while efforts are being intensified to trace the source of the weapons allegedly used during the event.

In another security development, troops of the 233 Tank Battalion operating along the Damaturu–Potiskum Motorway in Yobe State arrested a suspected foreign national identified as Abdulrazak Muhammad, 31, during a routine stop-and-search operation.

A military source said the suspect was intercepted in the early hours of April 3 at a checkpoint and found in possession of three mobile phones without SIM cards, a notebook and a small amount of foreign currency.

According to the source, the suspect, who allegedly claimed to be a Ghanaian from Accra, could not provide any valid means of identification at the time of arrest.

The source added that during preliminary questioning, the suspect reportedly gave conflicting accounts about his identity, nationality, and travel history, claiming ties to Ghana, Mali, and Nigeria at different times.

He was also said to have appeared confused when asked to explain his destination and purpose of travel, raising further suspicion among security personnel.

Military authorities said the suspect remains in custody as investigations continue to determine his true identity, his movement patterns, and whether his presence may have wider security implications.

The latest arrests and operations come amid intensified efforts by Operation Hadin Kai to tighten security across the North-East and sustain pressure on insurgent groups, criminal collaborators and other suspicious actors threatening peace in the region.

Security analysts say the developments reflect a growing emphasis not only on direct combat operations but also on intelligence-led arrests, community surveillance and pre-emptive action aimed at disrupting terror logistics and preventing avoidable civilian casualties.

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