The Nigerian Army has killed over 50 terrorists in coordinated offensives across Borno and Yobe States and arrested a notorious terror leader, Idris Idris, also known as Babawo Badoo, in Plateau State.
Military authorities said the multiple operations, conducted under Operation Hadin Kai in the North-East and Operation Enduring Peace in the North-Central, also led to the arrest of 37 criminal suspects and the rescue of at least 15 kidnapped victims.
Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, spokesperson for the Joint Task Force, North-East (Operation Hadin Kai), said in a statement that troops repelled simultaneous attacks launched by terrorists on military positions in Dikwa, Mafa, Gajibo, and Katarko between midnight and 4:00 a.m. on Thursday.
He said the troops, supported by precision airstrikes from the Air Component of the operation, neutralised over 50 terrorists and recovered 38 AK-47 rifles, seven PKT machine guns, five RPG tubes, and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
“In all instances, troops stood firm, fought gallantly and professionally repelled the attacks, dealing the terrorists a heavy, decisive and bloody blow,” Mr Uba said.
He added that more than 70 wounded terrorists were being pursued by ground troops, with the Air Component maintaining close surveillance to ensure total clearance of fleeing remnants.
Intelligence reports, he said, showed that the attackers who struck Dikwa and Gajibo came from the Cameroon border, while those who attacked Katarko emerged from the Timbuktu Triangle, a known terrorist enclave.
Some soldiers sustained injuries, he added, but were in stable condition.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, commended the troops for their gallantry and professionalism, describing their success as proof of the military’s determination to defend Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
Army Arrests Notorious Terror Leader
In a related development, troops of Operation Enduring Peace arrested Idris Idris, a wanted terror kingpin popularly known as Babawo Badoo, in a coordinated operation at Lugere Village, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
A senior army source told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Badoo, believed to be behind a series of deadly attacks and abductions in the North Central region, was apprehended on October 20 following credible intelligence.
“The suspect was arrested with an AK-47 rifle, a magazine loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition, a mobile phone and ₦12,000,” the source said.
Troops also apprehended 37 other suspects in separate operations across Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, and Kaduna states.
In the North-East, troops, working with the Department of State Services (DSS), captured an ISWAP informant and ransom collector in Borno, and neutralised two insurgents during an ambush in Gujba, Yobe State.
In Borno and Yobe, the military also arrested six suspected collaborators and logistics suppliers, recovering 33 jerrycans of petrol, food items, mobile phones, and fake identification cards allegedly used by insurgents under the Lake Chad Fishermen Association.
Meanwhile, troops rescued several civilians who escaped from terrorist enclaves in Kukawa, while others were freed during clearance operations in Kwara, Katsina, and Plateau states.
“The Nigerian Army remains fully committed to creating a secure environment that will enable economic recovery, boost agricultural productivity, and advance the Federal Government’s goal of food security and national stability,” the source said.
