Troops Kill 18 Boko Haram Fighters in Sambisa Offensive, Recover Weapons

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

Troops of the Northeast Joint Task Force under Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have killed at least 18 Boko Haram insurgents during coordinated operations in the Timbuktu–Bulabulin axis of Sambisa Forest spanning Borno and Yobe states.

The military said the offensive, led by troops of Sector 2, took place around Azir Bridge and the Bulabulin forest along the 85-kilometre Damboa–Biu road, where fighters were engaged in intense combat backed by air support.

In a statement issued on Wednesday in Maiduguri, the OPHK Media Information Officer, Sani Uba, said the operation—codenamed Operation Desert Sanity V—resulted in significant battlefield successes through two coordinated assaults.

He explained that troops, working closely with the Air Component Command, carried out simultaneous strikes in the Azir Bridge (Timbuktu axis) and Bulabulin forest areas, leading to heavy insurgent losses.

According to him, ground forces, alongside elements of the Stabilisation Force and the Civilian Joint Task Force, cleared several terrorist hideouts in Mar, Subdu, Yaro Lawanti, Yaro Shuwari and surrounding communities.

Uba added that troops made contact with insurgents at Malam Shiri village, where they executed a tactical flanking manoeuvre that led to the elimination of 11 fighters, while others escaped with injuries.

“Following the engagement, troops destroyed terrorist structures and recovered nine AK-47 rifles, three PKT machine guns, five motorcycles, ammunition and materials used for Improvised Explosive Devices,” he said.

In a related operation along the Wajiroko–Sabongari corridor in the Timbuktu axis, troops again confronted insurgents, killing seven more fighters after a sustained exchange.

Recovered items from the second encounter included rifles, RPG tubes, communication gadgets and a large cache of ammunition.

The military credited the success of both operations to strong coordination between ground troops and the Air Component Command, which provided intelligence, surveillance and precision strikes on identified targets.

Air operations, according to the statement, helped track fleeing insurgents and deliver accurate bombardments that weakened their positions and disrupted their movements.

Troops have since launched follow-up operations across the Forfor, Multe and Wajiroko areas to hunt down fleeing fighters and prevent regrouping.

The Military High Command commended the troops for their bravery and urged them to maintain pressure on insurgent groups to sustain security gains in the North-east.

The latest offensive underscores renewed efforts by Operation Hadin Kai to degrade terrorist capabilities and restore stability in the region.

 Military Turns to Veterans for Peacebuilding as New Mediation Initiative Takes Off

By Auwal Ahmad

The Nigerian military has initiated a new strategy to involve retired service personnel in tackling the country’s growing wave of violent conflicts, with a focus on dialogue, mediation and grassroots peace efforts.

This development was unveiled by the Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, during the inauguration of a specialised training programme on mediation and conflict resolution for ex-servicemen in Abuja.

The capacity-building exercise, organised by the Retired Members of Nigeria Armed Forces in partnership with the Mediation Training Institute and Defence Headquarters, is designed to equip veterans with contemporary skills in negotiation, dispute resolution and community engagement.

Speaking at the event, Oluyede said the initiative marks a deliberate shift towards strengthening non-military approaches to security challenges, especially as many conflicts across the country stem from communal disagreements and local tensions.

He explained that while military operations remain important, they are not sufficient on their own to ensure lasting peace, stressing the need for proactive measures such as dialogue and early intervention.

According to him, retired military personnel bring valuable experience, discipline and public trust, making them well-suited to mediate disputes and de-escalate tensions at the community level.

“Sustainable peace cannot rely solely on force. It requires a balance of both security operations and non-kinetic strategies. Our veterans understand the realities of conflict and are in a strong position to foster reconciliation and restraint within communities,” he said.

The defence chief added that the programme would also contribute to strengthening early warning mechanisms by improving the flow of information between communities and security agencies, while remaining supportive of, rather than replacing, existing security structures.

Also speaking, the President of the Coalition of Concerned Veterans Association, Isaac Oguntuyi, described the initiative as an extension of national service, encouraging participants to extend the knowledge gained to other retired personnel nationwide.

He reaffirmed the commitment of former service members to national peace and stability, noting that their role in safeguarding the country does not end after retirement.

In the same vein, the National Coordinator of REMENAF, Abiodun Durowaiye-Herberts, highlighted the unique advantage veterans possess in intelligence gathering and community relations due to their operational background.

He noted that their involvement in peacebuilding efforts would help prevent conflicts before they escalate into violence.

The initiative underscores a growing focus within Nigeria’s security architecture on preventive and community-driven solutions, aimed at easing the burden on frontline troops while addressing the root causes of unrest.

Analysts say the programme could significantly boost local mediation capacity and contribute to reducing violent clashes through sustained engagement and non-violent conflict resolution strategies.

Nigerian Army to conduct live-fire training in Bauchi, urges calm

By Ahmed Muhammad, Bauchi

The Headquarters of the 33 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army has announced plans to hold a range classification exercise at the Shadawanka Small Arms Range in Bauchi State.

The exercise, according to a statement issued on Friday by the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Lt. Esther Fagbolagun, will run from April 27 to April 30, 2026, between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. daily.

Ms Fagbolagun said the exercise forms part of the brigade’s routine training aimed at improving soldiers’ proficiency in weapon handling and marksmanship.

“The exercise is part of our annual training programme designed to enhance troops’ efficiency in weapon handling and the application of marksmanship principles,” she said.

She added that personnel would undertake live-fire drills to evaluate their readiness.

“It will involve accurate shooting drills and test firing of personal weapons to assess the overall battle readiness of our personnel,” she said.

The army advised residents of Shadawanka and neighbouring communities to expect increased troop movement and intermittent gunfire during the period.

Ms Fagbolagun, however, reassured the public on safety.

“All necessary safety measures have been put in place to ensure that there is no threat to lives and property during the exercise,” she said.

She urged residents not to panic.

“We appeal to members of the public to remain calm and go about their lawful activities. We also call on community leaders and stakeholders to help disseminate this information for wider awareness,” she added.