Nigerian Army troops
In a series of coordinated operations, Nigerian Army troops have liberated 138 kidnapped individuals and detained multiple terrorist collaborators and informants across various regions.
The operations also led to the recovery of significant quantities of arms, ammunition, and materials used for constructing improvised explosive devices (IEDs), according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
A high-ranking military source, speaking to NAN, described these efforts as a testament to the army’s determined campaign against terrorism, banditry, and other criminal activities nationwide.
The operations spanned Zamfara, Borno, and Adamawa States, showcasing the military’s strategic and aggressive approach to restoring security.
In Zamfara, troops from 1 Brigade, working alongside local vigilantes, acted on reliable intelligence on July 20 to rescue 106 hostages near Mayanchi Village, close to the Bayan Ruwa axis. The group included eight women, 85 girls, and 13 boys.
The source noted that the terrorists abandoned the victims and fled under intense military pressure. The rescued individuals were handed over to the District Head of Mayanchi for documentation and family reunification.
On the same day in Zamfara, an additional 32 kidnapped victims—27 adult women and five young boys—were freed and transferred to a team from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). The troops also recovered five AK-47 rifles and a DUSHKA gun, which were handed over to the Sector Commander, SDS Zamfara. In a related operation, 1 Brigade arrested a suspected terrorist collaborator in Tofa Village, Maru Local Government Area, who was found to have facilitated ransom negotiations and supplied logistics to terrorist groups.
In the North East, troops from 144 Battalion, supported by Hunters/Hybrid Forces, ambushed ISWAP/JAS terrorists fleeing in Takaskala, Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa. The operation yielded critical IED components, including detonators, pressure plates, batteries, plastic explosives, and a bicycle used by the terrorists.
In Borno, troops from 242 Recce Battalion thwarted an infiltration attempt by ISWAP/JAS terrorists in Monguno Local Government Area, recovering six rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, an RPG bomb, an empty magazine, and other items. On July 20, a joint intelligence operation by Sector 3 troops and the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) led to the arrest of a suspected ISWAP informant in Abari, Monguno. Additionally, on July 19, troops from 145 Battalion in Damasak, alongside the CJTF, apprehended a suspected drug trafficker attempting to smuggle illicit substances, including tramadol and diazepam, into Damasak Town, Mobbar Local Government Area.
The military source emphasized that these successes reflect the Nigerian Army’s unwavering dedication to safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty and restoring peace in affected areas. The army expressed gratitude to local communities and security partners for their support and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property across Nigeria.
