Military operations across Nigeria from July 9 to 16 yielded significant victories — foiled bribery, arrests of arms smugglers, surrender of terrorists' families, seizure of ₦30m in cash, and disruption of oil theft rings.
Nigerian troops have scored major victories in the ongoing war against criminal networks and terrorist cells, rejecting a ₦13.7 million bribe in Plateau State, killing bandits, and intercepting terrorist couriers across multiple states in a nationwide military crackdown between July 9 and 16, 2025.
The Defence Headquarters on Thursday revealed that troops of Operation Safe Haven intercepted a suspicious vehicle riddled with bullet holes along Jos–Sanga Road in Plateau State on July 9. The two occupants, identified as terror suspects, offered a ₦13,742,000 bribe to secure their release — but the soldiers declined.
According to Maj. Gen. Markus Kangye, Director of Defence Media Operations, the troops arrested the suspects and recovered weapons, ammunition, the vehicle, and the cash. Investigations are underway, with the seized items now in military custody.
In a separate operation in Nteng, Qua’an Pan Local Government Area, troops acting on intelligence laid an ambush for armed bandits planning an attack. The encounter resulted in the neutralisation of two bandits, while others fled with gunshot wounds. Dangerous weapons and ammunition were seized.
Maj. Samson Zhakom, spokesman of the Military Special Taskforce, confirmed the gun battle and stated that the fleeing suspects are being tracked.
In Borno State, troops arrested two National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) members — Isah Abdullahi and Abdullahi Mohammed — in Liya, Biu LGA, while receiving a waybill linked to terrorism-related logistics. The intercepted items included 13 military uniforms and high-voltage batteries, suspected to be for terrorist use.
Also, on July 13, troops arrested a 65-year-old logistics supplier, Shaibu Bulama, at Damasak Motor Park in Yobe State. Recovered items included arms, ammunition, several improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and a whopping ₦17,150,000 in cash.
In a positive development from the Northeast, sustained military pressure led to the voluntary surrender of 16 family members of terrorists, including four adult females and 12 children, to troops in Bama LGA, Borno State on July 14. Investigations revealed they fled from Bakura Jega village.
Between July 9 and 16, troops conducted offensive operations and patrols in Plateau, Kaduna, and Nasarawa States, resulting in the arrest of 12 criminals and militia members, the rescue of three kidnapped victims, and the recovery of weapons, ammunition, motorcycles, and vehicles.
Seven of the arrests occurred during routine patrols in Barkin Ladi, Jos South, Wamba, and Sanga LGAs. Seized items included illicit drugs in addition to arms and transport vehicles.
In the Niger Delta, troops of Operation Delta Safe clamped down on oil theft, arresting 42 suspects and recovering vast quantities of stolen crude and illegally refined petroleum products.
Recovered materials included:
201,345 litres of stolen crude oil
29,730 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel)
1,759 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene
18 illegal crude cooking ovens
19 illegal refining sites, boats, tanks, drums, and other refining equipment
Other items recovered included 13 vehicles, tricycles, motorcycles, and mobile phones used by the suspects.
Troops also apprehended a notorious cult leader, Prince Johnson Ishirim, also known as Commander Junior, alongside 13 suspected criminals and kidnappers during operations in Ahoada East (Rivers State) and Oshimili, Warri South, and Ukwani LGAs (Delta State). Recovered from the suspects were weapons, ammunition, motorcycles, and vehicles.
In Bayelsa’s Southern Ijaw LGA, 28 oil thieves and drug dealers were arrested following a raid on a criminal hideout on July 10.
Meanwhile, in the Southeast, troops arrested a tax agent working for the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), in Ihiala LGA of Anambra State. The suspect, allegedly sent to collect levies from residents, was found in possession of ₦1.5 million.
The Defence Headquarters stated that these operations form part of a sustained nationwide campaign to decimate terrorist operations, dismantle logistics networks, and restore peace and order across Nigeria.
0 Comments