Soldiers kill terror kingpin, recover weapons

The Defence Headquarters said troops have neutralised several terrorists, including a notorious kingpin known as Mai Dada and recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition.

According to a statement on Sunday by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, the coordinated operations took place between June 25 and 26, 2025, and involved multiple theatres in the North East, North West, North Central, and South South regions.

Kangye said in the North West, troops of Operation Fasan Yama under 1 Brigade killed Mai Dada, a notorious terror leader, during a counterattack in Maru LGA of Zamfara State.

“In a well planned and executed operations across various theatres, the Armed Force if Nigeria in conjunction with other security agencies recoreded significant successes in the fight against terrorism, banditry, and other forms of criminal activities across the country, with the recovery of arms, ammunition, and arrest of several suspects between 25 and 26 June 2025.

“Troops of 1 Brigade of Operation FASAN YAMA in Zamfara State neutralised a terrorist kingpin identified as Mai Dada during a counterattack in Maru LGA, while in Edo State, a criminal suspect at Etsako Central LGA was arrested with a pump-action gun and cutlasses, “he said.

He said in Kaduna State, 2 Battalion troops on escort duty in Birnin Gwari recovered an AK-47 rifle loaded with 30 rounds after repelling an ambush by armed men on motorcycles.

In the North East, Kangye said troops of the Land Component of Operation HADIN KAI from the 82 Division Task Force Battalion, supported by the Air Component, conducted a fighting patrol in Ngoshe, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

He said they recovered 408 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition, 1,200 rounds of 7.62mm, and two 40mm RPG bombs along a known withdrawal route used by insurgents.

Also in Borno, Kangye said troops of the 21 Special Armoured Brigade raided a terrorist hideout in Bama LGA, killing three fighters, seizing a Dane gun, and destroying life support structures.

“In a related development, troops of Sector 3 in Monguno, Borno State, intercepted a vehicle conveying supplies suspected to be terrorist logistics supplies. One suspect was arrested, while items recovered from him included 65 litres of PMS, 4 bags of rice, 5 bags of groundnuts, 4 bags of NPK fertilizer, some tubers of yam, 7 motorcycle headlights, 10 solar lights, 2,000 empty cement bags, 4 solar panels and one mobile phone”, he added.

Meanwhile, in Benue State, he said troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE stationed at Jooter/Kyado rescued five kidnap victims during a firefight along the Peykia–Wukari Road in Ukum LGA.

“Following a firefight, the kidnappers abandoned the victims and fled into the bush. Troops rescued 5 passengers and recovered one vehicle. The abductors fled into the bush, abandoning their captives and a vehicle, ” the statement added.

In the South South, he said troops of 5 Battalion arrested two suspects in Otueke, Bayelsa State, with locally made pistols and a round of 9mm ammunition, adding that in Edo, a criminal suspect was arrested in Etsako Central LGA with a pump-action rifle and cutlasses.

“Relatedly, troops of JTF Operation SAFE HAVEN conducted offensive operations at TANGUR, KWAKAS, HOROP, TULUS, JINAK, and HOKK villages in BOKKOS LGA of PLATEAU State. During the operation, troops exploited the mountainous areas in the communities with the aid of UAV/drone and recovered one Dane gun abandoned by the criminals on sighting troops”,  he stated.