In a significant 48-hour surge of coordinated military activity, Nigerian Army forces have struck multiple terrorist and criminal networks across the country, neutralizing over 14 combatants, intercepting a major ransom payment, and rescuing numerous kidnapped victims. The operations, detailed by a credible Army Headquarters source to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), underscore a multi-theatre approach to the nation’s complex security challenges.
Decisive Blows in the North-East Theatre
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI intensified pressure on Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’adati wal-Jihad (JAS) factions in Borno and Yobe States. Through a combination of ambushes, aggressive fighting patrols, and follow-up exploitation, they eliminated 11 terrorists in Bama, Konduga, and Guzamala Local Government Areas. Beyond the body count, the operations crippled logistical chains. Recoveries included weapons, ammunition, motorcycles, and bicycles, but also telling items like large caches of energy drinks and food, highlighting the army’s strategy to disrupt sustenance networks. In a critical interdiction, three suspected collaborators—logistics suppliers—were arrested on the Konduga-Bama road with 700 packs of energy drinks, mobile phones, and cash, demonstrating that the fight extends beyond the front lines to the supply routes that fuel insurgency.
North-West: Disruption and a Critical Financial Interception
In Zamfara State, under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, troops engaged terrorists in Zurmi and Maradun, forcing their retreat. The most pivotal success in this region, however, was financial. In Kaduna State, troops intercepted a vehicle carrying N9 million in ransom money, destined for the release of six children kidnapped in neighboring Katsina State. This interception is a major tactical victory, as it directly attacks the economic incentive for kidnapping-for-ransom—a primary funding mechanism for criminal-terrorist groups in the region. Denying these funds weakens their ability to pay fighters, purchase weapons, and sustain operations.
Widespread Impact: North-Central and South-South
The operational tempo extended nationwide. In the North-Central states of Plateau, Nasarawa, and Taraba, troops foiled kidnapping attempts, with criminals often fleeing upon sighting advancing forces, leading to the rescue of victims. Five suspected kidnappers were arrested in Kaduna, with operations ongoing to trace other cells and victims. Meanwhile, in the South-South, the focus shifted to economic sabotage. Anti-illegal bunkering operations in Akwa Ibom uncovered approximately 600 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), which was subsequently destroyed. This highlights the multi-faceted nature of national security, where oil theft funds broader criminal enterprises and undermines state revenue.
Analysis: A Coordinated, Multi-Domain Strategy
These simultaneous operations reveal a strategy moving beyond reactive engagements. The army is conducting concurrent kinetic, logistical, and financial operations. Killing combatants (kinetic) is paired with arresting suppliers (logistical) and seizing ransom (financial). This multi-domain pressure aims to collapse networks from within. The rescue of victims without payment—as seen in the North-Central—also serves to break the perceived inevitability of ransom payments, a crucial psychological battle in winning public confidence.
The Army Headquarters source reiterated the force’s commitment to “sustaining relentless operations to dismantle terrorist networks, curb criminality and protect lives and property.” While these 48-hour gains are significant, they represent snapshots in a protracted conflict. The true test will be the sustainability of this pressure and its translation into lasting security for affected communities. The interception of the N9 million ransom, however, stands as a particularly impactful blow against the criminal economy. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani
