Troops Neutralise Over 21 Boko Haram, ISWAP Terrorists in Adamawa Precision Strike

Nigerian troops and a special tactical team dismantle a terrorist camp in Hong LGA, recovering arms and destroying logistics infrastructure.

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai, in collaboration with a Special Tactical Team from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), have neutralised more than 21 Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists during a coordinated search-and-rescue operation in the Kopre Mountain area of Hong Local Government Area, Adamawa State. The troops also dismantled the terrorists’ camp and recovered a cache of arms and ammunition following the operation.

Acting Military Information Officer, Capt. Mohammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, saying the operation was conducted on August 27, 2026. He said the joint force comprised the ONSA Tactical Team and newly inducted troops of 226 Battalion, deployed to Sector 4, Adamawa State, under the directive of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu. According to him, the troops, acting on credible intelligence, carried out a stealth insertion into the area despite the difficult and rugged terrain before launching a precision strike on the terrorists’ camp in the early hours of Thursday.

Goni said the operation was part of sustained efforts to locate and rescue victims being held by terrorist elements, including persons abducted from Mussa community in May and the Lassa schoolchildren kidnapped in June. The Mussa abduction saw 42 pupils, including toddlers as young as two years old, taken from their classrooms on May 15, 2026, with parents expressing anguish over the continued absence of information about their children months later. The Lassa attack occurred on June 29, 2026, when suspected terrorists stormed Government Day Secondary School in Lassa, Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, killing a teacher and abducting students writing NECO examinations.

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He said the troops engaged the terrorists in two separate encounters, neutralising more than 21 of them, while several others escaped with gunshot wounds. The troops subsequently took control of the area, dismantled the terrorist camp and destroyed associated logistics infrastructure, further degrading the terrorists’ operational capability in the area. During exploitation of the location, several motorcycles, bicycles and jerrycans containing Premium Motor Spirit, believed to have been used to support the terrorists’ logistics and mobility, were destroyed. The troops also recovered several AK-47 rifles, magazines and a substantial quantity of 7.62mm Special ammunition.

Military sources indicated that one member of the hunter component supporting the operation was killed during the encounter, with no reported losses of military equipment. Goni said the operation demonstrated the joint force’s operational tempo, tactical proficiency, intelligence-gathering capability and combat effectiveness. He added that it further demonstrated the troops’ capacity to project combat power into difficult terrain, dismantle terrorist enclaves and deny the terrorists freedom of action within the theatre.

The Military High Command commended the ONSA Tactical Team and Operation Hadin Kai troops for their gallantry, professionalism, resilience and coordination during the operation. It reaffirmed the determination of the Armed Forces and other security stakeholders to continue pursuing and degrading terrorist elements wherever they seek refuge. The Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai, also assured the public that intelligence-driven operations would continue to locate and rescue abducted persons, dismantle terrorist strongholds, destroy their logistics and deny them the freedom to operate. The theatre command said the operations would be sustained until all abducted persons were located and rescued, while efforts continued to restore lasting peace and security across the North-East.

Troops Neutralise Over 21 Boko Haram, ISWAP Terrorists in Adamawa Precision Strike

Kaduna police arrest suspected kidnappers, gunrunners as 75 kidnapped travellers are rescued

The Kaduna State Police Command has intensified its crackdown on criminal networks across the state, arresting suspected kidnappers, armed robbers and gunrunners while rescuing 75 kidnapped travellers in separate security operations.

The operations were carried out in several parts of Kaduna State as the command stepped up efforts to dismantle criminal networks responsible for kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery and other violent crimes.

Commissioner of Police Mohammed Rabiu said the operations demonstrated the command’s determination to restore security and protect residents and travellers across the state.

He said the command had identified several criminal flashpoints and was taking proactive measures, including the redeployment of tactical teams, to prevent attacks and apprehend those behind them.

One of the major breakthroughs was recorded in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area, where police operatives rescued 75 people who had reportedly been abducted while travelling in commercial buses.

The victims, comprising men, women and children, were reportedly intercepted by armed men at Folwaya, near Birnin Gwari, before being taken into a forest.

The police received credible information from the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and immediately deployed a crack team from the Birnin Gwari Area Command.

The intervention forced the armed abductors to flee, allowing the security operatives to rescue all 75 victims.

The victims were reportedly rescued unharmed and taken to safety following the operation.

The Commissioner commended the NURTW members for providing the intelligence that enabled the police to respond quickly to the incident.

In another operation in Makarfi Local Government Area, police operatives, working with local vigilantes, reportedly dislodged bandits from hideouts around Gidan Mijin Gwaggo in Durum.

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Three kidnapped victims were rescued during the operation, while efforts continued to track other members of the criminal group.

The Ikara Police Division, also working with members of the vigilante service, arrested six suspected kidnappers after raiding a house allegedly being used as a holding facility in Dogon Pako.

The operation was part of efforts to identify locations being used by criminal groups to keep kidnapped victims and disrupt their activities.

The Kaduna Police Command also announced the arrest of 16 suspected kidnappers during intelligence-led operations conducted across the state.

Three suspected gunrunners were also arrested, with police authorities alleging that they were involved in the illegal movement and supply of firearms to criminal elements.

The command said the arrest of suspected weapons suppliers was crucial to efforts to weaken kidnapping and banditry networks because firearms remain a major tool used by criminal groups operating in the region.

Police also arrested six suspects allegedly linked to a counterfeit currency syndicate and recovered 170 suspected counterfeit US dollar notes.

One of the suspects, identified as Aisha, was arrested in Ramin Kura while allegedly attempting to exchange the suspected counterfeit dollars for naira.

According to the police, her arrest led investigators to two men allegedly involved in supplying the counterfeit currency.

The suspects are expected to face prosecution after the conclusion of investigations.

The security operations also resulted in the recovery of several items allegedly linked to criminal activities, including firearms, stolen property, suspected illicit drugs and other valuables.

The command said the operations formed part of a wider strategy to dismantle criminal networks by targeting their personnel, weapons, logistics and sources of funding.

The police have also continued to emphasise the importance of community intelligence in combating kidnapping and banditry, particularly in rural communities and along major transport routes.

The successful rescue of the 75 travellers in Birnin Gwari highlighted the importance of timely information from members of the public and transport operators.

The police urged residents, transport workers and community leaders to continue providing credible information on suspicious movements and criminal activities.

The command also advised residents against confronting armed criminals themselves, stressing that information should be passed to security agencies so that appropriate action can be taken.

The latest operations come amid persistent security concerns in parts of Kaduna State, where communities and major roads have remained vulnerable to kidnapping and other violent crimes.

The police said tactical teams would continue to be deployed to identified criminal flashpoints as part of efforts to prevent attacks and apprehend perpetrators.

The command maintained that the operations would continue until criminal networks threatening the peace and security of Kaduna State are significantly weakened.

For residents and travellers, the rescue of the 75 victims and the arrests recorded across different local government areas represent significant developments in the ongoing fight against kidnapping and banditry in Kaduna.

The police have, however, called for sustained cooperation from residents, saying effective intelligence sharing remains critical to preventing attacks, rescuing victims and bringing suspected criminals to justice.

Kaduna police arrest suspected kidnappers, gunrunners as 75 kidnapped travellers are rescued

NYSC, JAMB deepen collaboration on corps members’ mobilisation, data verification

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) have agreed to strengthen their collaboration, particularly in the mobilisation of prospective corps members, data sharing and the delivery of better services to Nigerian graduates.

The NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja when he received the JAMB Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Professor Segun Aina, at his office.

Nafiu described JAMB as a major partner in the NYSC mobilisation process, noting that the board provides important primary data required for the online registration and verification of prospective corps members.

He commended JAMB for its continued support and said the NYSC valued the credibility of the board’s records and its existing digital data-sharing arrangement with the scheme.

“We thank the Management of JAMB for their support over the years. We believe so much in the credibility of JAMB, and we have enjoyed seamless API data sharing with JAMB,” Nafiu said.

The NYSC director-general also congratulated Aina on his appointment as JAMB Registrar, expressing confidence that his professional background and previous experience as a corps member who served with JAMB would strengthen the relationship between the two organisations.

Aina, in response, called for deeper cooperation with the NYSC to improve the services available to corps members and create greater value from their national service experience.

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The JAMB Registrar said his own experience during the NYSC programme had played an important role in shaping his career and preparing him for his current position.

He also assured the NYSC that JAMB would continue to protect the integrity of its database by maintaining strict standards for requests involving changes to candidates’ records.

However, Aina said the board was prepared to show flexibility in genuinely exceptional cases arising from the NYSC mobilisation process, provided such adjustments did not undermine the credibility of JAMB’s records.

One of the key developments discussed during the meeting was a proposed data-change framework involving JAMB, NYSC and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

Aina disclosed that the three agencies were working on a framework that would make legitimate changes to candidates’ personal information more seamless.

The initiative is expected to improve coordination among government databases and potentially reduce the challenges faced by graduates when discrepancies occur in information such as names, dates of birth or other identifying details.

The proposed framework is also expected to provide a more coordinated process for resolving genuine data-related issues while maintaining safeguards against fraudulent alterations.

Beyond mobilisation and data management, JAMB is also seeking to make greater use of corps members in its customer service operations.

Aina requested that the NYSC consider deploying corps members to JAMB offices as customer service representatives, arguing that young graduates could help the board communicate more effectively with candidates and respond to their concerns.

“We want to speak directly to the young people, we want to speak the language of young people, and we need other young people to help us do it,” Aina said.

He added: “We want to build an army of customer service representatives by using Corps Members.”

The proposed arrangement could give corps members practical experience in customer service, communication and public administration, while helping JAMB improve its engagement with candidates.

This could be particularly useful given the volume of enquiries handled by JAMB on issues such as UTME registration, admission status, results, candidate records and data corrections.

The stronger relationship between the two agencies comes as the Federal Government continues to implement reforms aimed at improving the NYSC programme and making national service more relevant to the skills and career aspirations of young graduates.

The Federal Executive Council recently approved reforms to the NYSC, including changes designed to strengthen skills development, employability and productivity during the service year.

The reforms include a reorganisation of the orientation programme and the introduction of specialised areas intended to align corps members’ training with their academic backgrounds and career interests.

The broader changes are expected to position the NYSC as not only a platform for national integration but also an avenue for skills development, entrepreneurship and career preparation.

In this context, closer cooperation between NYSC and JAMB could help improve the transition from tertiary education to national service by ensuring that graduate records are accurately captured and verified before mobilisation.

The collaboration could also help reduce delays caused by discrepancies between records held by JAMB, tertiary institutions, NYSC and other government agencies.

For prospective corps members, accurate information remains particularly important because errors in admission or personal records can create difficulties during registration, verification and mobilisation.

The proposed involvement of NIMC could further strengthen the verification process by providing another layer of identity confirmation across government systems.

Both NYSC and JAMB are therefore expected to continue discussions on the proposed initiatives, with the focus on improving data integrity, reducing administrative difficulties and delivering more efficient services to Nigerian graduates.

The latest engagement also highlights the growing importance of inter-agency data sharing and digital verification in managing Nigeria’s large population of students and graduates.

As the government pursues reforms across the education and national service sectors, stronger coordination among JAMB, NYSC and NIMC could provide a more seamless pathway for eligible graduates from admission and graduation through mobilisation and national service.

NYSC, JAMB deepen collaboration on corps members’ mobilisation, data verification