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Trump’s threat spurs intensified operations — Nigerian security forces step up offensive against terrorists and bandits
By: Fabian Apechihin
Following last week’s stark warning from U.S. President Donald Trump — who redesignated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” and threatened possible action over alleged religiously-motivated killings — Nigeria’s security agencies have visibly stepped up counter-terrorism operations across the country.
A DAILY POST review of posts from the Nigerian Army and other official sources shows a series of coordinated raids and interdictions targeting terrorist enclaves, kidnap gangs and illegal oil refineries. Below are some of the key operations carried out over the past fortnight:
- Benue (Zaki-Biam–Wukari axis) — Troops from Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) foiled a kidnap plot on November 3 and rescued 10 abductees after intelligence indicated gunmen operating a fake police checkpoint. One rescued victim was identified as Warrant Officer John Richard of the 6 Brigade Band, Jalingo; two others remain missing as searches continue.
- Borno (Mallam Fatori) — Forces under Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) repelled a coordinated Boko Haram/ISWAP attack on Forward Operating Base Kangar. The insurgents used armed drones and mortars; military reinforcements backed by Nigerien aircraft overpowered the attackers. Six terrorists were neutralised and weapons, drone bombs and ammunition were recovered.
- Kano (Shanono LGA) — Soldiers thwarted a large-scale bandit incursion at Ungwan Tudu and nearby villages on November 1, killing 19 assailants after an intense firefight. Two soldiers and a local vigilante were killed; several motorcycles and phones were seized.
- Kogi (Itobe–Adumu–Ejule axis) — Troops from 12 Brigade rescued two kidnap victims and recovered ₦3.8 million in ransom during a clearance operation after credible intelligence of ongoing abductions.
- North East (Kukawa, Gwoza, Limankara) — OPHK reported crushing multiple terror attacks and preventing infiltration attempts, destroying a vehicle-borne explosive device in Kukawa and intercepting smuggled fuel and weapons in Adamawa. Five suspected collaborators were arrested in Madagali.
- Nationwide raids (Oct 31–Nov 2) — Simultaneous operations across the North East, North West, North Central and South-South resulted in the neutralisation of terrorists, the rescue of 17 kidnapped victims and the arrest of around 20 suspects. In Zamfara, 1 Brigade freed 11 abductees; coordinated efforts in Benue and Plateau recovered four more victims and saw 15 arrests.
- Bayelsa & Imo — Security teams dismantled illegal oil refining camps, recovering stolen crude and refining equipment.
- Makurdi (Benue) — OPWS raided a suspected cultists’ hideout in the North Bank area, arresting seven suspects and recovering firearms, ammunition, a laptop and traditional charms.
Officials say these operations have disrupted criminal networks, recovered materiel and rescued dozens of victims, but the security picture remains fluid. The military has increased patrols around reclaimed areas while follow-up clearance missions continue.
Commenting on the wider context, John Usanga, deputy spokesman for the League of African Ambassadors, urged stakeholders to look beyond easy religious or ethnic explanations. Speaking on Arise TV, he argued the violence also reflects territorial grabs, forced displacement and struggles over land and resources — dynamics that make the conflict resemble guerrilla warfare rather than a conventional battlefield campaign.
Usanga warned that such tactics — hit-and-run attacks where perpetrators melt back into civilian populations — require nuanced responses that minimise collateral damage. “If you try to eliminate these people without protecting communities, you risk far-reaching harm,” he said, urging focus on root causes and better intelligence-led operations rather than purely kinetic responses.
Security sources say the recent surge in operations is intended both to restore order and to signal that Nigeria will act decisively to protect its communities — a response partly inspired by the international scrutiny that followed President Trump’s comments.
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Benue Killings: Tiv Youths Give Politicians, Governments 90-Day Ultimatum
The Tiv Youths Organisation (TYO), Worldwide, has issued a 90-day ultimatum to political aspirants across all parties and to governments at the local, state and federal levels to put an end to the ongoing killings by suspected herdsmen in Benue State.
The warning was issued by the Acting President General of the organisation, Comrade Patrick Terfa Angbagh, amid continued attacks, loss of lives and the displacement of Tiv communities. He described the situation as a clear failure of leadership and governance, stressing that the blood of Benue people must no longer be reduced to political statistics.
According to Angbagh, the Tiv people have endured prolonged suffering marked by repeated attacks, mass burials and what he described as “empty condolences.”
“The Tiv people and Benue citizens have suffered enough pain. If within the next 90 days these killings do not stop, then no aspirant—regardless of party affiliation—should expect to campaign or seek votes in Benue State ahead of the 2027 elections,” he said.
The organisation warned that political ambition without a commitment to protecting human lives was unacceptable, adding that Tiv youths across the state were ready to mobilise peacefully to resist any attempt to normalise insecurity for electoral gain.
Angbagh emphasised that security should not be treated as a campaign slogan but as a constitutional responsibility. He called on the Federal Government to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve security deployment and ensure accountability among security agencies.
He also urged the Benue State Government to move beyond rhetoric and take concrete action, while charging local government authorities to assume responsibility for community protection and the establishment of effective early-warning systems.
The Tiv Youths Organisation cautioned that silence, indifference or political exploitation of the crisis would no longer be tolerated, warning that Benue must not be turned into a killing field ahead of future elections.
“Any aspirant who cannot defend the lives of the people has no moral right to ask for their votes,” Angbagh stated.
The group reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful advocacy, justice and the protection of Tiv ancestral lands, and called on traditional rulers, religious leaders and civil society organisations to join in demanding urgent action to end the killings.
“Enough is enough. Benue lives matter,” the organisation declared.
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Woro Bandits’ Attack: Kwara Gov sets up seven-person committee
Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has approved the appointment of a seven-person committee to interface with Woro community on humanitarian support that the Governor announced earlier on Thursday.
In a statement on Friday, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Rafiu Ajakaye said the Chairman of the Committee is Hon. Ahmed Kiwozi, a former lawmaker from Kaiama Local Government Area.
Other members are the Vice Chairman of the Local Government Council Aisha Abubakar Sadiq; Alhaji Abubakar Mora; Woro Village Head Alhaji Umar Bio Saliu; and a representative each of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP); and a representative of the Office of the Secretary to the State Government who should be a female.
The Committee, which has four weeks to carry out its assignment, will interface with the community leaders on rebuilding efforts, areas of need of the survivors, and other outstanding issues.
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Tinubu Holds High-Level APC Meeting at Presidential Villa
Fabian Apechihin
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday met with top stakeholders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to review preparations for the party’s forthcoming convention and congresses.
The closed-door meeting brought together members of the APC national leadership, state governors, and key figures from the party’s caucus in the National Assembly.
Among those present were Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma; Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin; House of Representatives Majority Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere; Chief Whip of the House, Usman Bello Kumo; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; and APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Bashiru.
Speaking after the meeting, APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, described the engagement as brief but productive, noting that it focused on aligning preparations and strengthening unity within the party ahead of the convention and congresses.
According to Yilwatda, discussions centred on deepening collaboration between the party’s national leadership, sub-national governments, the National Assembly, and the party structure. “It was a brief meeting to review our preparations for the convention and congresses and to strengthen synergy among all arms of government,” he said.
He added that the party’s rapid growth, marked by the influx of new members, governors, and lawmakers, made inclusivity a key priority. “The party is expanding every day. We are growing beyond bounds, and we want to ensure that in the process of this growth, nobody is left behind,” Yilwatda stated.
The APC chairman also praised President Tinubu’s leadership, describing him as a seasoned politician whose guidance continues to shape the party’s strategic direction. “Mr President is a very experienced politician. His advice was remarkable, and his deep understanding of the political cycle is driving the strength and expansion of the party,” he said.
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