The Nigerian Army has intensified its nationwide offensive against terrorists, insurgents, and economic saboteurs, recording major breakthroughs across multiple theatres of operation within the last 48 hours.
In a statement released on Sunday, the Army confirmed that troops successfully neutralized seven terrorists, arrested 27 suspects, and recovered arms, ammunition, and stolen crude oil in a series of coordinated strikes that cut across the country.
According to the report, the operations were simultaneously executed under various ongoing military campaigns — Operation HADIN KAI in the North East, Operation ENDURING PEACE in the North West and North Central, and Operation DELTA SAFE in the South-South.
In Borno State, troops of 192 Battalion ambushed fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) along the Gwoza–Limankara axis, killing three insurgents and recovering an AK-47 rifle with five rounds of ammunition. Similarly, in Anguwan Church, Monguno, twelve suspects linked to terror logistics and intelligence networks were apprehended and are currently being interrogated.
In Kaduna State, troops under Operation ENDURING PEACE raided a terrorist hideout in Kauru Local Government Area, where two insurgents responsible for recent attacks on rural communities were killed, and several others fled with gunshot wounds.
The offensive also extended to the South-South, where troops cracked down on illegal bunkering and mining operations. In Akwa Ibom, personnel of the 2 Brigade arrested three illegal miners engaged in black sand trading. Similarly, in Abia State, the 144 Battalion uncovered an illegal refining site containing over 1,000 litres of stolen crude oil, while the 34 Artillery Brigade in Imo State intercepted six drums of stolen crude and a canoe used for transporting the illicit product.
Army authorities said the intensified operations were carried out in compliance with the directive of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, who recently visited the North East theatre and charged troops to sustain aggressive momentum and maintain unrelenting pressure on terrorists and economic saboteurs nationwide.
“The Nigerian Army remains resolute in its mission to safeguard the territorial integrity of the nation and eliminate all threats to peace and national security,” the statement read.
Security analysts have described the coordinated actions as a sign of renewed strategic focus, linking military counter-terror operations with anti-crude theft and illegal mining enforcement. The approach, they say, aims to choke off both the financial and logistical lifelines sustaining insurgency and criminal enterprises across the country.
However, questions remain about the legal processes that will follow the arrests and whether these sustained operations will yield lasting stability in the affected regions.
For now, the Army’s message is clear — the gloves are off, and the offensive against insecurity and economic sabotage has entered a new, uncompromising phase.