Nigerian Troops Record Major Gains Against Terrorists and Bandits

Security forces have delivered a string of decisive blows to insurgents and bandits across several states in the past week, dealing major setbacks to groups that have long troubled communities in the North-East and North-West.

A security analyst has praised the surge, pointing directly to the coordinated leadership of National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as the driving force behind the improved results.

NaijaChoice News reports that the Office of the National Security Adviser has fostered tighter teamwork among the Army, Air Force, Police, and civilian volunteers, allowing simultaneous operations that hit targets hard and fast.

In Borno State, troops of Operation Hadin Kai clashed with ISWAP fighters trying to overrun positions around Kukawa in Borno. They neutralised a senior commander identified as Malam Bako Gorgore, also known as Abou Mustapha, a key figure in the group’s logistics and attacks near Lake Chad.

Nearby in the Buratai and Banki axis of Bama Local Government Area, ground troops backed by Nigerian Air Force jets repelled a large ISWAP assault on a military base. The militants scattered without breaching the perimeter, thanks to swift intelligence and air support.

In neighbouring Yobe State, soldiers from the Joint Task Force foiled another ISWAP push in Goniri, eliminating over 20 terrorists. Security operatives also arrested a suspected member carrying motorcycle parts from the Timbuktu triangle smuggling route, further choking supply lines to the insurgents.

Banditry networks in the North-West suffered equally. Troops arrested the notorious ‘Sule Yellow’, a bandit known for posting ransom videos and kidnapping proceeds on TikTok. The Nigerian Army picked him up during a targeted raid, dismantling part of a gang that used social media to recruit and intimidate.

Across the country in the last 24 hours alone, forces neutralised 18 terrorists, arrested 37 suspects, recovered weapons and rescued nine kidnapped victims, according to military updates.

In Delta State, soldiers stopped a kidnapping attempt along the Patani-Ughelli Road and freed passengers. In Zamfara, Operation Fansan Yamma teams, with local vigilantes, killed a bandit trying to snatch students at the College of Science and Health Technology in Tsafe and cleared threats on the Dansadau-Magami road.

Benue State saw Operation Whirl Stroke recover arms after militias fled in Gboko, while police in Kwara arrested 32 suspected bandits in forest hideouts around Kaiama, Patigi and Babanla, seizing four AK-47 rifles.

These operations cut across different terrains and threats, from lake-shore insurgent bases to rural kidnapping routes, showing how forces are adapting quickly.

What stands out this week is the level of joint planning coming from the National Security Adviser’s office. Ribadu’s push for real-time intelligence sharing and resource allocation has turned separate unit actions into a national strategy hitting multiple fronts at once.

Security sources told NaijaChoice News that this approach has reduced response time, cut down on friendly overlaps and boosted morale among troops operating under tough conditions.

The analyst, Anosike Chukwuma, who follows developments from Lagos, described the results as a clear sign that unified command is finally yielding the upper hand against terror and bandit groups.

Communities long hit by these threats are breathing easier, with farmers in Zamfara and traders in Borno reporting safer movement on key roads.

Continued support through better funding, training and community intelligence will be needed to lock in these gains and push insecurity further back.

Nigerian troops have once again shown their commitment in the face of difficult odds. With sustained coordination under Ribadu, the country is edging closer to a period of lasting stability and renewed development.