Troops capture wanted militia leader in Nasarawa, foil terror attacks
By Uzair Adam Troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested a notorious militia leader, Haruna Abdulhamid, during a covert operation in Gidan Waya, Nasarawa State.
According to a reliable source, the operation was carried out by personnel of Sector II, Operation Whirl Stroke, deployed to Nasarawa Eggon.
The arrest followed actionable intelligence that led troops to the suspect, who was reportedly on his way to collect cash from a criminal deal.
Abdulhamid had long been on the radar of security agencies for his involvement in multiple criminal acts, including attacks on communities, kidnapping, and illegal arms trade.
He is currently in custody undergoing further interrogation.Elsewhere in the North East, troops working with local hunters and Hybrid Forces engaged terrorists during a patrol in Pambula Village, Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
One terrorist was neutralised, and troops recovered a weapon along with four abandoned motorcycles.
Troops deployed in Bama, Borno State, also engaged insurgents in a gunfight, neutralised one, recovered weapons, and destroyed makeshift terrorist camps and shelters.
During the operation, three family members of the ISWAP/JAS faction—an adult woman and two children—surrendered.
Additionally, an unexploded 40mm mortar bomb was discovered during a patrol along the Damboa–Azir road in Borno.
The area was immediately secured, and the bomb was safely recovered by an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team.
In the North West, troops in Kebbi State conducted an ambush at River Kaa, rescuing six kidnapped victims and recovering four rustled cattle after a clash with terrorists.
Meanwhile, in the South East, soldiers arrested a suspected member of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) at a checkpoint in Ehime Mbano, Imo State.
The suspect is believed to have links with previous attacks on security personnel and government facilities.
In the South-South region, troops from 34 Artillery Brigade and 197 Special Forces Battalion uncovered an illegal refining site in Delta State.
The site contained 60 cooking drums, 15,000 litres of stolen crude oil, and reservoirs of illegally refined products, which were dismantled in line with Operation Delta Safe guidelines.
Similarly, troops from 3 Battalion, working with Tantita Security Services, intercepted boats carrying 1,720 litres of suspected illegally refined petroleum products along the Jeddo Waterways in Warri South.
The suspects fled on sighting the troops, and the recovered items were secured.
The source reaffirmed the military’s continued commitment to national security through sustained and coordinated operations across all regions.