In a series of decisive strikes aimed at restoring order across the country, Nigerian Army troops have apprehended 27 suspected illegal miners in the Federal Capital Territory and neutralized three terrorists in the last 24 hours. These operations, part of a wider crackdown on criminal activities, demonstrate the military’s renewed pressure on elements threatening national security.
The raid in the Federal Capital Territory was carried out by the 7 Guards Battalion under the umbrella of Operation MESA. Acting on intelligence, troops stormed an illegal mining site in the Iddah area of the Bwari Area Council. Beyond the arrest of the 27 suspects, the military successfully dismantled the miners’ makeshift camps. During the sweep, soldiers recovered a variety of items, including a dane gun, four motorcycles, and a significant amount of specialized mining equipment. To further secure the area, the Army has also established strategic roadblocks along the Bwari–Ushafa–Dutse axis.
Details reaching Reports reveal that the offensive extended far beyond the nation’s capital. In the North-East, the Joint Task Force under Operation Hadin Kai has continued its aggressive push through Operation Desert Sanity V. Across four different sectors, troops conducted high-frequency patrols to ensure that no major security breaches occurred, successfully keeping insurgents on the back foot.
The military’s presence was also felt strongly in the North-West and North-Central regions. Under Operation Fansan Yamma, troops worked to consolidate their previous gains by denying criminals the freedom to move or plan attacks. Meanwhile, in Plateau State, troops responding to a kidnapping call at Rantya in Jos South were able to intervene and evacuate a wounded security guard to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Kaduna State also saw active military intervention where troops moved quickly to quell a youth unrest in Mabushi village, located in the Zangon Kataf Local Government Area. Four suspects were taken into custody, and normalcy was reportedly restored to the community following the swift response.
The South-South region was not left out of the security sweep. In Delta State, soldiers arrested an individual suspected of armed robbery and recovered a locally made pistol along with live ammunition. In a separate operation on Bonny Island, Rivers State, two individuals were caught in connection with illegal oil bunkering, with troops seizing several drums of illegally refined fuel.
According to a military source who spoke with Reports, these coordinated actions are part of a broader commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property. The Army has reiterated its stance that it will remain relentless in its pursuit of terrorists and economic saboteurs, ensuring that there is no safe haven for criminal activity anywhere in the country.
