Metro

Military Neutralises 52 Terrorists, Apprehends 60 – DHQ

Published

2 years ago

September 23, 2023

Troops of the armed forces in operations against criminal elements across the country, neutralized 52 terrorists and arrested 60 terrorists, kidnappers and oil theft perpetrators while 61 kidnapped victims were rescued in the last week.

Troops also discovered and destroyed 34 Illegal Refining Sites, 16 wooden boats, 57 storage tanks, 85 ovens and 34 dugout pits while seizing 296,250 litres of stolen crude oil, 53,400 liters of illegally refined AGO and 10 vehicles

Director Defence Media Operations, Major Gen Edwarx Buba who made this known on Friday said a total of 7 terrorists comprising of 5 adult males, one adult female surrendered to troops.

He disclosed that troops recovered a total number of 77 weapons and 658 assorted kinds of ammunition made up of 53 AK49 rifles including 2 AK47 rifles loaded with 8 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 18 locally fabricated rifles, 3 pump action guns, 650 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 50 AK47 magazines,15 vehicles, 12 motorcycles, 12 Bicycles, 5 mobile phones, 12 cutlasses, 133 livestocks and a sum of N602,000. and Airtel airtime worth N8,000.

Elaborating on the encounters, Gen Buba said, “In the North East,, troops of Operation Hadin Kai neutralized 60 terrorists, arrested 3 suspected terrorists and rescued 17 kidnapped hostages.

“Troops also recovered 4 Mobile phones, 3 bicycles, Airtel Recharge card worth N8,000.00, 32 AK 47 rifles, 22 AK 47 rifle magazines, 303 rounds of 7.62 mm Special ammunition and one vehicle.

“The operations including ambushes, raids, rescue, fighting patrols, attacks as well as cordon and search activities were conducted in Dikwa LGA, Gwoza LGA, Kondugha LGA, Bama LGA, Kaga LGA, Hawuli LGA, Nganzai LGA, Mongonu LGA, Damboa LGA, Magumeri LGA, Same LGA, Jere LGA and Mobber LGA all in Borno.

“In the North Central, troops of Operation Safe Haven conducted raids and arrest of terrorists at Afana village in Zangon Kataf of LGA of Kaduna State.

“Troops arrested a suspect for attack on civilian populace with a cash amounting to N28,150.00. Troops recovered 1 AK 47, one fabricated rifle 24 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunitions, 133 Cattles.

“Troops also rescued a kidnaped civilian and arrested 3 suspected cattle rustlers while a suspect was arrested in connection to a murder.

“Troops also arrested cattle rustlers in Dogo Nahawa Bush Jos South, Bokkos and Mangu LGAs of Plateau State. Troops recovered weapons at Kulben village in Mangu LGA of Plateau State.

“Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke conducted 22 operations; 13 fighting patrols, 6 confidence building patrols and one raid operation in Mbaayande, Mbamazu and Mbaagudu villages of Konshiga LGA of Benue State. Similarly, fighting patrol was conducted in Logo LGA while some arrests were made around Okpokwu LGA of Benue State.

“Troops of Operation Hadarin Daji in the North West intercepted 3 fleeing suspected terrorist collaborators operating within the Madachi Forest in Katsina State.

“The air component of OPHD conducted 12 missions in 13 sorties.

“Troops of Joint Task Force Operations Udoka and Operation Searcb and Flush in the South East region conducted raid operations on IPOB/ESN camps in Ohafia LGAs of Abia State leading to the recovery of one improvised 16 MBRL gun mounted on a vehicle with other arms and ammunition.

“Troops responded to foil kidnappers’ activities in Okigwe LGA of Imo State, conducted fighting patrol to Isu Onichain Onicha LGA of Ebonyi State and apprehended 5 suspected IPOB/ESN terrorists in Ikwo and Ihiala LGAs of Ebonyi and Anambra States respectively.

“Sadly, a joint patrol team of Operation Search and Flush (SAR) suffered a setback when responding to a distress call in Ehime Mbano LGA of Imo State.

“They were ambushed by members of the Proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliated Eastern Security Network (ESN).

Meanwhile, troop operations led to the rescue of kidnapped hostages and others.

“Troops of Operation Delta Safe denied oil theft of an estimated sum of Nine hundred and forty-six million, three hundred and eighty-seven thousand five hundred and seventy naira (N946,387,570.00) being the value of seizures.

“The operations in South-South resulted in the recovery of the following; 496,250 litres of stolen crude oil, 83,400 litres of illegally refined AGO, 1,200 litres of PMS, 4 pumping machines, 5 Speed Boats, 34 dugout pits, 57 storage tanks, 16 wooden boats, 85 ovens and 3 outboard engines.

VANGUARD

Metro

Nigerian Army Suspends Statutory, Voluntary Retirement For Specific Officers

Published

10 hours ago

December 7, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian Army has announced the indefinite suspension of all statutory and voluntary retirements for specific categories of officers.

According to an internal memo dated 3 December 2025, signed by Major General E. I. Okoro on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, this is in response to the nationwide security emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu.

Okoro explained that the measure is intended to preserve manpower, expertise, and operational readiness while the Armed Forces rapidly expand to tackle the escalating insecurity across Nigeria.

Citing the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service for Officers (HTACOS) 2024, the document pointed out that officers normally retire upon reaching the prescribed age for their rank, completing 35 years of service, or after repeated failures in promotion or conversion processes.

However, Paragraph 3.10(e) permits service extensions when it is in the interest of the military.

“Military service of a commissioned officer entails a period of unbroken service in the AFN from the date of enlistment or commissioning to the date of retirement. The period of service is determined by conditions enshrined in the HTACOS Officers 2024. These include attainment of age ceilings on various ranks, 35 years maximum length of service, and other criteria provided in Paragraphs 11.02(d) and 17.15, among extant regulations,” the memo partly read.

“Notwithstanding these provisions, Chapter 3.10(e) of HTACOS Officers 2024 allows for extension of service to officers in the interest of the service.

“The President and Commander-in-Chief declared a nationwide security emergency on November 26, mandating the expansion of the AFN and other security agencies. In line with this, and to rapidly expand manpower, it has become expedient to temporarily suspend all statutory and voluntary retirements from the Nigerian Army with immediate effect.”

According to the memo, the suspension affects Army officers in the following categories: Those who have failed promotion examinations three times, those passed over for promotion three times, those who have reached the age ceiling for their current rank, those who have failed conversion boards three times and those who have completed 35 years of service.

It explained that affected officers who wish to remain in service may apply for an extension beyond their original retirement dates.

However, the memo clarified that: “Officers in these categories who are not interested in extension of service are to continue with the normal retirement procedure. Officers desirous of extension should note that upon extension, they are not eligible for career progression, including promotion, career courses, NA sponsorship, self-sponsored courses, secondment, or extra-regimental appointments.”

Metro

NDLEA Seizes 7.6m Tramadol Pills, 76,273kg Cannabis In Nationwide Raids

Published

11 hours ago

December 7, 2025

Editor

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has announced the seizure of more than 7.6 million tramadol pills and 76,273 kilograms of cannabis strains in coordinated operations across several states, with multiple suspects arrested.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the seizures were made during intelligence-led raids between 1 and 6 December.

In Delta State, operatives recovered 3,874,000 tramadol pills and 252.2 litres of codeine syrup from a warehouse at Oko market, Asaba. In Imo State, 1.2 million tramadol tablets were intercepted from a vehicle driven by 35-year-old Kelechi Nwakocha along the Onitsha-Owerri road.

In Adamawa, officers stopped a Toyota Hiace bus travelling from Jos to Mubi with 1,577,112 capsules of tramadol and exol-5 tablets concealed in jumbo bags mixed with footwear. Two suspects, Kabiru Buba, 25, and Hamza Abubakar, 32, were arrested. Another suspect, Mudansir Rabiu, 27, was apprehended in Kano with 197,000 exol-5 pills.

In Ekiti, NDLEA destroyed 14,654 kilograms of skunk in Omuo forest and 54,300 kilograms in warehouses at Asin-Ekiti, Ikole Local Government Area. Two suspects were arrested in connection with the operations. In Ondo, 5,442 kilograms of skunk were seized in Igoba forest, Akure North, with five suspects taken into custody.

Further arrests were made in Niger State, where 500 kilograms of skunk were recovered from a van along Mokwa-Jebba road, and in Abuja, where 22 kilograms of synthetic cannabis known as Colorado were intercepted at Abaji expressway. A follow-up operation at Jabi park led to the arrest of a female receiver, Ali Blessing, 33. Another suspect, Aliyu Usman, 39, was arrested with 24 kilograms of skunk and 573,500 exol-5 pills along Kwali-Gwagwalada expressway.

In Lagos, 113 kilograms of Canadian Loud were recovered from Ezenwa Udoka at Ladipo market, while Izuchukwu Usulor was arrested with 351 kilograms of skunk in Onipanu. Susan Okoro was also arrested with 104.1 kilograms at Trade Fair complex, Ojo. In Edo, 447.5 kilograms of skunk were seized from two vehicles in Agho forest, Akoko Edo, and 315.8 kilograms were recovered from a warehouse in Isiefve community, Ohuwunde Local Government Area.

The Agency confirmed that sensitisation activities under its War Against Drug Abuse initiative continued during the week in schools, worship centres and communities across Kano, Benue and Rivers States.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers involved.

“Their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country, especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts, are well appreciated,” he said.
The Agency stated that investigations are ongoing and suspects will be prosecuted accordingly.