Troops rescue 34 kidnap victims, arrest ISWAP informant, recover arms, South-east militants surrender weapons

According to the report, troops immediately deployed a quick reaction force, engaged the terrorists and forced them to abandon the victims and flee with one motorcycle left behind.

“In another operation, troops of 145 Battalion conducted a fighting patrol to the Turoh general area of Damasak in Mobbar Local Government Area.

“The terrorists reportedly fled on sighting the troops, leaving behind two motorcycles and illicit drugs recovered during exploitation of the area.

“Also, troops of 232 Battalion Tactical apprehended a suspected ISWAP informant at Garaha Market in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa,” it said.

In the North-west, the report showed that troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA engaged terrorists moving with rustled cattle in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara.

It added that the troops’ superior firepower forced the terrorists to withdraw in disarray during the encounter.

The report also revealed that troops of Operation MESA rescued a kidnapped woman and her two children along the old Obajana-Jakura-Tajimi road in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi.

According to the report, preliminary investigation revealed that the victims were abducted on 29 July from a Ruga settlement in the Gada-Biyu area of the same local government.

“In Plateau State, troops of Operation Enduring Peace responded to reports of an attack on a herder in Bassa Local Government Area.

“The assailants had fled before the troops arrived, while the deceased and recovered cattle were handed over to the victim’s family,” it added.

In the South-east, the report said the troops of Operation UDO KA recorded a breakthrough with the arrest of three suspected terrorists linked to the ambush of troops in Imo on May 4.

It added that the operation, conducted in Delta and Imo states, followed intelligence obtained from earlier arrested suspects.

According to the report, troops recovered four AK-47 rifles, one FN rifle, a pistol, 11 AK-47 magazines, two FN magazines, 239 rounds of assorted ammunition, a fragmentation jacket and other military items from terrorist camps.

“The recovered weapons included rifles earlier carted away during the May ambush on troops, while further exploitation led to the discovery of another terrorist camp containing additional arms and ammunition,” it said.

South-east militants surrender

In a related development, the Nigerian Army, Sunday, said  sustained military operations in the Southeast  forced members of a militant group to surrender their weapons, while additional arms and an improvised explosive device  were also recovered by troops  during separate intelligence-led operations.

In a statement posted on its official X account, it described the latest successes as a reflection of the effectiveness of its combined kinetic and non-kinetic strategy.

The feat recorded by troops of the 82 Division/Joint Task Force South East, Operation UDO KA,  it said, was a demonstration of the  evidence that ongoing military operations are degrading the operational capacity of criminal groups in the region.

“The Nigerian Army has recorded another significant operational breakthrough in the South East as sustained offensive operations by troops of 82 Division/Joint Task Force South East, Operation UDO KA (OPUK), compelled members of a militant group to voluntarily surrender arms, while separate intelligence-led operations resulted in the recovery of additional weapons and an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

“The latest successes further underscore the effectiveness of the Nigerian Army’s integrated kinetic and non-kinetic approach in dismantling criminal networks and restoring lasting peace and security across the region,” the statement said.

The Army further said the breakthrough followed sustained pressure mounted by troops of the 34 Artillery Brigade, combined with the recent arrest of suspects linked to the killing of a soldier.

 “The breakthrough followed sustained operational pressure mounted by troops of 34 Artillery Brigade and the recent arrest of suspects linked to the killing of a soldier.

“Unable to withstand the relentless military offensive, members of a militant group operating within Egbema and its environs voluntarily began surrendering their weapons.

 “One of the suspects, who disclosed the location where the group’s weapons had been concealed and hidden, led security team to exhume the site,” the Army further added.

It listed the items recovered from the criminal elements to include one AK-47 rifle, two AK-47 magazines, 54 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition and four locally fabricated firearms.

In separate operations, the statement said “troops of Sector 5 OPUK, acting on credible intelligence, conducted a follow-up operation that led to the successful recovery of two General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), 45 rounds of 7.62 mm x 51 ammunition and one Improvised Explosive Device (IED), further denying criminal elements the capability to threaten public safety and security in the region.”

It said: “The Nigerian Army assesses the voluntary surrender of arms as clear evidence that sustained operational pressure, reinforced by strategic engagement initiatives and collaboration with other security agencies, is yielding tangible results by compelling criminal elements to abandon violence and renounce their criminal activities.

“The Army remains resolute in sustaining the current operational momentum until all criminal networks are dismantled and enduring peace and stability are fully restored across the South East.”

“The Nigerian Army reiterates its unwavering commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty and protecting the lives and property of all citizens through intelligence-driven operations conducted in close collaboration with other security agencies and critical stakeholders,” the statement further added.

 …NSA backs additional 1,000 Forest Guards

Meanwhile, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, has expressed support for the Kaduna State Government’s request to recruit an additional 1,000 Forest Guards, following what he described as the successful training of the state’s pioneer batch of operatives.

 Ribadu gave the assurance Saturday at the passing-out-parade of the first batch of Armed Forest Guards in Kaduna.

He was represented by the Director of Internal Security in the Office of the National Security Adviser, Malam Sani Sani.

The NSA commended the Kaduna state government for the quality of training provided to the Forest Guards, saying the programme had emerged as the best evaluated so far in the country.

“From the evaluation that we carried out across the country, the training in Kaduna State has been recorded as the best at the moment.

“The Office of the National Security Adviser will not have any doubt in granting another request to Kaduna State to continue this kind of training if the governor wishes to do so,” he said.

Ribadu said more than 1,000 Forest Guards had undergone intensive training in weapons handling, physical fitness, combat readiness, civil-military relations, community engagement, cooperation with security agencies and adherence to the rule of law.

 He said the operatives were expected to serve as first responders in their respective communities by strengthening local resilience against criminal elements pending the arrival of conventional security forces.

“The beneficiaries of this training are expected to return to their communities and establish a first line of community resilience to resist every invading enemy of the state as first responders before the arrival of various security agencies,” he said.

The NSA recalled that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu launched the Armed Forest Guard initiative on May 24, 2025, to train indigenous personnel to secure forests, protect biodiversity and deny criminal groups safe havens in ungoverned spaces.

According to him, the initiative forms part of a broader security architecture designed to dominate forest areas and curb the activities of terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements.

Speaking at the event, Governor Uba Sani thanked the National Security Adviser for supporting the programme and formally requested the approval of another 1,000 Forest Guards for the state.

“I also want to use this opportunity to formally make an additional request for another 1,000 Forest Guards in Kaduna. In our state, security remains one of the top priorities of this administration,” the governor said.

Uba Sani said the security situation had improved significantly since he assumed office in 2023, noting that several local government areas previously inaccessible due to insecurity could now be reached without police escorts.

“Many local governments were not accessible due to insecurity when we came into office in 2023. Today, people can travel to those local governments without police escorts, and that, in my opinion, is progress,” he said.

The governor cited Birnin Gwari, Giwa and Kachia as frontline local government areas that had witnessed significant improvements through sustained collaboration between the Kaduna state government, the Federal Government and security agencies.

He expressed confidence that the federal government would approve the state’s request for additional Forest Guards to consolidate the gains recorded in the fight against insecurity.

 “We have no doubt that the National Security Adviser and Mr President will give favourable consideration to this request as we continue working together to secure our communities,” he said.