Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
In a focused offensive against criminal networks responsible for kidnappings and banditry in northern Nigeria, troops of the Nigerian Army have killed a suspected kidnapper in Kaduna State during a targeted raid on a kidnappers’ hideout, authorities confirmed on January 2, 2026. The operation, part of a broader security crackdown under Operation Enduring Peace Shield, reflects intensifying efforts by the military and joint security forces to dismantle armed groups that have terrorised communities across the region and undermined public safety.
The military’s Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Enduring Peace, which coordinates anti-criminal campaigns in the area, disclosed that troops acting on credible intelligence pinpointed a suspected kidnappers’ encampment in Jagindi Kagom Village, Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State. According to an official statement issued by JTF, soldiers engaged armed criminals entrenched at the site in a confrontation that resulted in the death of one suspect, identified as Dahiru Adamu Barka, while other members of the group reportedly fled into surrounding bushland.
The statement, signed by Captain Joshua Atu John, Acting Military Information Officer for the operation, described the suspect as a key element within the broader criminal network responsible for abductions and other violent offences in the area. Military sources said troops continue to pursue the remaining elements of the group to ensure they face the full force of the law.
In his response to the operation’s outcome, Major General Emmanuel F. Oyinlola, the General Officer Commanding the Nigerian Army’s 3 Division and Commander of the Joint Task Force, commended the soldiers for their professionalism and courage. He reiterated the military’s unwavering commitment to neutralising threats to civilian security and stabilising volatile communities within the joint operation area. The general also appealed to residents to support security forces with credible information and intelligence, which he said had been crucial in identifying and dismantling armed hideouts.
The raid in Jagindi Kagom comes amid broader, nationwide efforts by Nigerian security agencies to clamp down on kidnappers, bandits, and other criminal elements that have inflicted widespread suffering on rural and peri-urban communities. These groups, often heavily armed and mobile, have been responsible for mass abductions, extortion, cattle rustling, highway robberies, and repeated attacks on villages and travellers. Kaduna State, in particular, has been among the regions most affected by such insecurity, with frequent reports of kidnappings and violent raids over recent years.
The military’s offensive aligns with a surge of coordinated operations across Nigeria in recent months, with security forces reporting several successes against armed gangs and terror-linked groups. These include the rescue of hostages, the neutralisation of criminals, and the recovery of weapons and ammunition caches during similar military actions in other states. Nigerian authorities have emphasised that these operations are driven by real-time intelligence and collaborations with local communities and other security agencies.
The problem of kidnapping in Nigeria has become a pervasive national security threat. Armed groups, often labelled “bandits,” have capitalised on porous borders, rugged terrain, and deep-seated socioeconomic issues to establish hideouts from which they launch attacks. These militants typically target remote communities, highways, and schools, abducting residents and travellers, and demanding ransoms that can run into millions of naira. The toll on families and local economies has been profound, prompting public outcry and urgent calls for more effective government action.
Kaduna’s local authorities have faced mounting pressure to improve security, especially in its southern senatorial district, where multiple communities have been besieged by repeated kidnappings and violence. Civic leaders and community groups have persistently appealed to federal and state governments for heightened protection and sustained patrols, arguing that many victims have been left vulnerable in isolated pockets where response times are slow and criminal elements operate with relative impunity.
In response, military and police commands in the state have ramped up patrols, checkpoints, and intelligence gathering measures, aiming to choke off the operational capabilities of armed groups and disrupt their networks. These efforts have been complemented by joint task forces that deploy units across difficult terrain and near known criminal bases. While these operations have produced several arrests and disrupted some kidnapping rings, security officials acknowledge that significant challenges remain, including logistics constraints, rough geography, and the adaptability of criminal networks.
Officials have stressed that the November and December periods typically witness heightened criminal activity as adverse weather conditions limit visibility and enable kidnappers to operate more freely in remote forests and farmlands. The federal government, together with security agencies, has responded by increasing air and ground patrols, investing in surveillance technologies, and encouraging community-based reporting channels to enhance situational awareness and pre-empt attacks.
Human rights organisations and civil society groups have welcomed the military’s intensified operations but have also urged greater emphasis on safeguarding civilian lives and human rights. These groups have called for transparent reporting on military engagements and insist that offensive actions must be accompanied by measures to protect non-combatants and ensure that innocent civilians are not caught in the crossfire. Critics also advocate for comprehensive strategies addressing the root causes of kidnapping and banditry, including poverty, unemployment, and weak governance structures in rural regions.
Families affected by kidnappings across Kaduna State have expressed cautious optimism about the recent military action. For many, the death of a suspected kidnapper and the continued pursuit of criminal elements signal a willingness by state and federal security forces to confront the insecurity head-on. At the same time, they stress the need for sustained pressure rather than isolated raids, fearing that let-ups in offensive operations could allow armed groups to regroup and resume attacks.
The Nigerian Army has underscored that its operations will continue unabated. The Joint Task Force and allied security agencies say they remain focused on degrading criminal networks, rescuing kidnapped victims, and restoring safe conditions for citizens. Residents hopeful for improved security outcomes have been urged to assist authorities with timely and actionable information, acknowledging that community cooperation often makes the difference in pre-empting attacks and safeguarding lives.
As this latest raid underscores, the conflict between security forces and kidnappers in Nigeria’s northwest and central regions continues to evolve, reflecting both the tenacity of criminal networks and the growing resolve of national institutions to counter them through sustained, intelligence-driven operations.
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