The Nigerian Army has confirmed a series of coordinated operations across the country that led to the killing of a notorious terrorist commander, the rescue of kidnapped victims and the recovery of a cache of dangerous weapons in a move that underscores its renewed resolve to keep the nation secure.
In a statement released by the Army spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Apollonia Anele, the high-profile breakthrough came on 7th August 2025, when troops of 3 Battalion, stationed at the Forward Operating Base in Rann Kala, Borno State, repelled a fierce attack by ISWAP/JAS terrorists in Balge Local Government Area. At daybreak, the aftermath revealed the bodies of three insurgents, including their feared commander Amirul Fiya, also known as Abu Nazir. Blood trails at the scene suggested several others fled with gunshot wounds. Soldiers recovered an AK-47 rifle, two rocket-propelled grenades, unexploded ordnance and other battle gear.
The momentum continued two days later on 9th August, when a joint team of soldiers and the Civilian Joint Task Force/Hybrid Force located another terrorist’s corpse and seized a QJC 88-barrel gun, AA gun tripod, ammunition belts and other items in a follow-up raid.
In Zamfara State on 8th August, troops of the 1 Brigade Combat Team 2 acted on credible intelligence, intercepting terrorists along the Gusau–Kaura Namoda Road in Unguwar Sariki Musulmi. The gunmen fled under pressure, leaving behind two kidnapped victims who were swiftly rescued and reunited with their families.
Meanwhile, in the Southeast, the Army intervened in a deadly communal clash between Iyimagwu and Ekpomaka communities in Ikwo LGA, Ebonyi State, on 9th of August. Troops of the 24 Special Engineer Regiment came under sudden fire from an abandoned building but returned fire, neutralizing an armed assailant. A search of the scene yielded a G3 rifle, several rounds of ammunition and four hand grenades.
From the dusty battlefields of Borno to the tense roads of Zamfara and the volatile communities of Ebonyi, these successes paint a picture of an Army on the offensive that is determined to deny criminal elements the space to operate.
The Nigerian Army, working in close synergy with other security agencies, has pledged to sustain its aggressive operations, with a focus on safeguarding civilians and securing lasting peace across the country.
