Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
In a targeted security operation in Nigeria’s Ondo State, troops of the 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army have killed two suspected armed terrorists and recovered an assault rifle, ammunition, and other materials following a gunfight along the Akunu-Auga Road in the Akoko North-East area on 14 February 2026. The operation, conducted in collaboration with the Ondo State Security Network Agency and local vigilantes, reflects intensified efforts by security forces to counter criminal and terror-linked activity in the region.
According to an official statement released by Major Irabor Njoka, Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the 32 Artillery Brigade, troops attached to the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Auga mobilised on credible human intelligence regarding the movement of armed suspects in the Akoko corridor. As soldiers intercepted the group, the suspects engaged them in a firefight, resulting in the neutralisation of two individuals while others reportedly fled with gunshot wounds.
The items recovered at the scene included one AK-47 rifle with two magazines and 61 rounds of ammunition, three mobile phones, a jackknife, torchlight, suspected illicit substances, charms, and ₦39,000 in cash, alongside other personal effects. Military officials described these recoveries as indicative of the mixed criminal and terror-linked profile of the group encountered during the clash.
Officials emphasised that the joint operation underscored the Nigerian Army’s commitment to denying criminal and extremist elements freedom of movement and to protecting lives and property across Ondo State. The statement noted ongoing clearance and exploitation missions, enhanced patrols along known criminal corridors, and strengthened cooperation with other security agencies and community stakeholders to sustain security gains. Citizens were urged to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to aid further operations.
Ondo State, situated in Nigeria’s southwest region, has not historically been a stronghold of Islamist insurgency, which is more concentrated in the country’s northeast, particularly around Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states. However, the region has experienced rising security challenges in recent years, including sporadic attacks, kidnappings, and criminal gang activity. Notably, the state was the site of the deadly 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, which claimed scores of lives and was linked by authorities to extremist networks, although no group formally claimed responsibility at the time.
Beyond the specific incident on February 14, coordinated security responses involving the Amotekun Corps, police, civil defence, and intelligence services have resulted in the arrest of dozens of suspected criminals across Ondo’s 18 local government areas, including suspects involved in kidnapping, burglary, illegal mining, and other offences. These arrests, numbering at least 95 suspects, were reported in parallel to the military operation and reflect a broader escalation of joint security efforts in the state.
Security analysts view such operations as part of a larger recalibration of Nigeria’s internal security strategy, driven by the need to pre-empt the spread of insurgent tactics and hardened criminal elements into regions previously regarded as relatively stable. The dense forests and rural terrains of Ondo’s Akoko area present logistical and surveillance challenges, often exploited by armed groups to stage ambushes or evade law enforcement. This has prompted a sustained emphasis on intelligence-led missions and multi-agency coordination.
For the Nigerian Army, the February operation complements ongoing counter-insurgency and anti-crime efforts across the country. In the northeast, for example, operations under Operation Hadin Kai and other task forces continue to engage groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), leading to the neutralisation of high-profile commanders and recoveries of weapons in separate clashes. Though these dynamics differ from the situation in Ondo, they underscore the multi-front nature of Nigeria’s security landscape.
The presence of local vigilante groups such as Amotekun has also become a more regular feature of domestic security, offering community-based support to formal forces. While these groups have contributed to arrests and surveillance efforts, they operate within a framework that requires close supervision and integration with federal agencies to maintain legal and operational accountability.
Amid these developments, the Nigerian Army and state security authorities maintain that persistent public cooperation remains vital. Residents’ tips and community reporting have been credited with facilitating swift interceptions and engagements like the one on Akunu-Auga Road. Yet, officials caution that isolated successes must be built upon with sustained vigilance to prevent resurgence or displacement of armed groups into adjacent areas.
Local leaders and community members, while expressing relief over the neutralisation of suspected terrorists, have appealed for continued security presence and economic support to address underlying vulnerabilities that may drive recruitment or harbouring of criminal elements. Farmers and traders in Akoko and surrounding districts often cite insecurity as a factor disrupting livelihoods and access to markets, intensifying calls for robust yet community-sensitive policing.
The military’s emphasis on robust partnership with local stakeholders, alongside tactical operations, reflects a broader strategic shift favouring integrated responses to security threats that blend kinetic action with civil engagement. This approach aims not only to respond to immediate threats but also to strengthen preventive measures that build resilience within affected communities.
As investigations into the identities and networks of the neutralised suspects proceed, authorities will likely analyse recovered materials for further intelligence leads, potentially shedding light on links between local criminal enterprises and wider terror networks that may be exploiting security gaps across regions.
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