At least 12 suspected terrorists affiliated with a breakaway faction of Boko Haram, known as the Mahmuda group, have been apprehended by the Nigerian Army in Niger State
The arrests come amid ongoing military operations in the Kainji Lake National Park, which the group is believed to have infiltrated and used as a base for terror activities.
The group reportedly unleashed violence on border communities in Kwara and Niger States, particularly affecting residents in Baruten and Kaiama Local Government Areas in Kwara, and Borgu Local Government Area in Niger.
This development was revealed on Saturday by Major General Obinna Onubogu, General Officer Commanding, 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, during his operational tour of the region.
His visit was aimed at evaluating the welfare of troops and reviewing progress in the ongoing counter-insurgency campaign.
“Of the 12 suspects arrested, two are confirmed members of the armed terrorist group, while the remaining individuals are believed to be accomplices,” Onubogu stated, referencing the results of coordinated raids across the park and its adjoining communities.
Codenamed Operation Park Strike IV, the military campaign is designed to eliminate insurgents and restore safety in and around the expansive Kainji Lake National Park.
So far, troops have navigated more than 90 kilometres of terrain, from Kemanji into the park’s core, where a stronghold has now been established.
“The operation is achieving its objectives,” declared the GOC, adding that the troops have made significant gains in pushing out terrorists and restoring a sense of calm to the affected areas.
During his tour, Maj. Gen. Onubogu also met with traditional leaders, including the Emir of Kaiama, Alhaji Muazu Sheu Omar, and the Head of the Kemanji Community, Shao’ki Aliyu Siki-Muhammed.
He reaffirmed the army’s resolve to maintain security, uplift troop morale, and restore the trust of local residents.
His visit aligns with a directive issued by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Olufemi Oluyede, who had earlier given troops a one-month deadline to rid the park and surrounding territories of insurgent threats.
In response, the 2 Division has deployed personnel extensively throughout the forest and border regions spanning Kwara and Niger States.