Nigerian troops have killed at least 35 terrorists in separate military operations in Borno and Kebbi states, while rescuing several abducted persons and arresting suspected collaborators linked to terrorist activities.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed this in a statement issued at the weekend, detailing military operations conducted across different theatres between October 2 and 8.
According to Onoja, troops of Operation Hadin Kai killed 25 Islamic State of the West African Province (ISWAP) terrorists during an attempted attack on Kukawa town in Borno State.
He said the insurgents attempted to infiltrate the town on the night of October 6 but were confronted by troops, triggering an hour-long gun battle that continued into the following morning, with support from the Nigerian Air Force.
The troops subsequently recovered six AK-47 rifles, 10 magazines, 797 rounds of PKT ammunition, three rocket-propelled bombs, an anti-tank bomb and other military equipment.
In a separate operation in Kebbi State, troops of Operation Fansan Yamma killed 10 Lakurawa terrorists while repelling an attack in Maiyama Local Government Area on October 7.
Onoja said the attackers arrived on more than 100 motorcycles and were armed with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades. The surviving assailants reportedly abandoned their weapons and fled following the military response.
Recovered items included 17 motorcycles, a machine gun, an AK-47 rifle, assorted ammunition and a communication device.
Beyond the battlefield operations, the military reported several rescue missions targeting victims held by terrorist groups.
Onoja said troops rescued two female abductees around Kuranabasa in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State on October 4. Three people who escaped from terrorist captivity in Cameroon were also handed over to the Cameroonian Rapid Intervention Battalion at Kirawa the following day.
On October 8, troops rescued three abductees reportedly held captive for seven years around Armuda in Gwoza, while three additional victims were rescued in the Gava area of the same local government.
The military also reported foiling an attempted attack on Abakurari village in Yobe State, where one terrorist was killed and an AK-47 rifle recovered.
Other operations led to the recovery of weapons in different locations in Borno State and the arrest of 12 suspected collaborators and smugglers allegedly transporting fish from the Niger Republic at Kanama in Yobe State.
Security personnel also arrested a suspected logistics supplier at Mubi Market in Adamawa State, a high-profile terrorist in Magumeri, Borno State, and another suspected terrorist along the Pulka-Firgi Road in Gwoza.
The statement further disclosed that some insurgents and their associates had surrendered to troops. On October 5, a terrorist, two women and their children surrendered at Ngurusoye village in Bama Local Government Area, while another insurgent reportedly escaped from a camp in the Lake Chad region and surrendered in Monguno.
In another major development, the military confirmed the killing of Abdussamad Ohida, described as a senior ISWAP commander, in Owo forest, Ondo State, on October 2.
According to Onoja, Ohida was the deputy leader of ISWAP’s Central Nigeria faction and had assumed leadership responsibilities after the group’s leader was arrested by the Department of State Services in 2023.
The military said investigations indicated that Ohida had been planning large-scale attacks against civilians in some southern states during the forthcoming festive season.
The Defence Headquarters described his death as a significant setback to the group’s reported efforts to expand its operational presence in the country.
Commenting on the operations, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, commended military personnel for their courage and professionalism, while paying tribute to those who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Oluyede urged troops to sustain their vigilance and operational readiness, particularly as the festive season approaches.
He also called for stronger intelligence sharing and cooperation among security agencies, urging traditional rulers, community leaders and residents to report individuals suspected of providing assistance to terrorist groups.
The CDS assured Nigerians that the Armed Forces would continue military offensives against insurgents and other criminal groups until peace and security were restored across the country.
