Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Troops of the Nigerian Army have destroyed suspected terrorist hideouts in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, dealing a significant blow to criminal networks operating along the state’s volatile border with Niger Republic. The operation, conducted by the 22 Brigade, Sector 1 of Operation Safe South-South (OPSS), began around 6:00 a.m. on Friday, April 24, 2026, when soldiers departed their harbour area in Kamenji and advanced toward Tungan Mariga. During the clearance exercise, troops discovered and dismantled makeshift camps at Nuku village, believed to be used by suspected terrorists and armed bandits who have plagued farming communities in the area for months. Six Dane guns were recovered from the camps, highlighting the persistent challenge of small arms proliferation in the North-Central region.
Military sources told a counter‑insurgency publication that the operation was conducted without resistance and ended successfully. The troops later proceeded to Woro village, where the commanding officer addressed personnel and assessed the progress of the operation. The raid followed a directive from the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, who earlier this week ordered troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA and other formations to intensify operations against bandits and criminal elements in the North-West and North-Central regions. Additional military support, including an armoured personnel carrier mounted with a QJC weapon system, was deployed to enhance operational effectiveness and maintain pressure on criminal groups.
The clearance operation in Kaiama comes amid a resurgence of violent attacks across the local government area. On April 20, 2026, suspected bandits launched a pre‑dawn assault on Kemanji community, killing at least three soldiers, two vigilantes, and carting away weapons, motorcycles, and an army gun truck. The same week, bandits also attacked Nuku village, killing five members of the National Forest Guard. In the deadliest incident in the area this year, armed assailants raided Woro and Nuku communities on February 3, killing scores of residents and abducting over 170 villagers, many of whom remain in captivity. The Kainji National Park, which straddles the border between Kwara and Niger states, has been identified by authorities as a major hideout for bandits and terrorist groups. The Department of State Services had earlier warned of planned attacks on communities near the park, and security forces have since intensified patrols along the corridor.
The raid in Kaiama reflects a broader military push to secure rural communities as Nigeria approaches the 2027 election season. General Oluyede, during his operational visit to the Headquarters of Operation FANSAN YAMMA in Gusau earlier this week, charged troops to remain resolute and professional, declaring that “Nigeria must be made safe at all costs.” The directive has led to a flurry of activity across multiple theatres, including ambushes and clearance operations in Kaduna and Zamfara states, where troops have neutralised terrorists, destroyed camps, and rescued kidnapped victims.
Military authorities have stated that clearance operations will continue in identified hideouts to deny criminal elements freedom of action within the area. The deployment of an armoured personnel carrier with a QJC weapon system to the Kaiama axis underscores the military’s determination to prevent further attacks and reassure displaced residents. As troops consolidate their gains, the challenge remains to hold cleared areas, rebuild intelligence networks, and address the underlying grievances that have allowed armed groups to thrive in one of Nigeria’s most strategic agricultural zones.
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