The root causes were never addressed. Poverty, illiteracy, and unemployment drive the socio-economic conditions for armed banditry — alongside elite political manipulation and the underdevelopment of rural areas. The gun filled the vacuum the government left behind.

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with reports that traditional rulers and politicians took their cut from the chaos.Peace deals failed spectacularly. Armed banditry in Zamfara resulted in over 15,000 cattle rustled since 2011. Peace deals between the government and bandits collapsed due to lack of political will

The Nigerian state had a parallel military force living in its own forestsGold made it worse. The descent from artisanal mining to organised banditry in Zamfara was well-documented illegal gold mines became bandit financing hubs.

The forest became a fortress. There are believed to be as many as 30,000 outlaws operating in more than 100 gangs across the Northwest, with the largest groups able to field up to 2,000 fighters — roughly the size of two Nigerian Army battalions.

The numbers were staggering. Between 2011 and 2019, over 100,000 people were displaced, 2,619 killed, 1,190 kidnapped, and ₦970 million paid in ransom. Over 14,000 animals were rustled. And those are only the reported figures.

The ethnic fault line deepened. Zamfara's farmers are predominantly Hausa, while the bandits carried a predominantly Fulani identity. What began as criminal enterprise calcified into something that looked like ethnic war — a cycle of raids and revenge with no end in sight.

It escalated fast. Gang members grew in number and acquired weapons. By 2016, they began drawing recruits from Niger, Mali, and Chad — mostly Tuaregs with links to Sahelian rebel networks. This was no longer local crime. It was a regional insurgency in slow motion.

One murder lit the fuse. In Apr 2013, a Hausa-dominated vigilante group (the Yansakai) extra-judicially killed a prominent Fulani leader in Maru LGA, alleging he harbored cattle rustlers. His followers mobilized fighters, invited affiliated gangs, and launched reprisal attacks.

It started with cattle.Banditry in Zamfara had its roots in the growing demand for meat in Nigeria's cities, which made cattle rustling extremely lucrative. Thieves originally targeted remote Fulani forest camps. Then it spread — AK-47s, M-bikes,hundreds of cattle gone overnight.

Zamfara Banditry: A Thread1/ The oldest known bandit incident in Northwest Nigeria dates to 1901; a trade caravan of 12,000 camels was raided and 210 traders killed. This wasn't new.The land has always had a violent underbelly.But what happened a century later would be far worse

Anyone who ignores lawful warnings and attempts to trespass further may be subject to the use of force in accordance with established security protocols and rules of engagement.

What this individual hoped to achieve by attempting to enter an Air Force Base (AFB) remains unclear. An AFB is a restricted military installation, and unauthorized entry constitutes a serious security breach.

I commend all our patriotic front-line soldiers in the fight against terrorism in all forms. You stand as a shield between innocent citizens and those who seek to destroy the peace, safety, and dignity of our communities. In the forests, on the roads, at forward operating bases, in the air, creeks, and across difficult terrains, you carry the burden of national protection so that millions of Nigerians can sleep, work, worship, farm, trade, and raise their children in hope. This fight has not been easy. It has come with pain, pressure, and sacrifice. But your courage has remained firm. Your service is acknowledged. Your sacrifice is honoured. Your country does not take you for granted. To every officer and soldier of our Armed Forces, to the Police, DSS, Civil Defence, intelligence services, local security formations, and all who work day and night to keep Nigeria safe, I say thank you. I also acknowledge the families behind the uniform. Many of you have endured long absences, anxious nights, and the emotional cost of duty. Nigeria remembers that sacrifice, too. We honour those who have paid the supreme price in defence of our country. Their names may not always trend, but their courage lives on in rescued communities, protected families, and the survival of the nation they served. The fight against terror is not only a military operation. It is a national duty. Citizens must support our security forces by providing timely, useful information. When you see something, say something. When you know something, report it. Nigeria will not surrender to fear. We will not allow terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, or violent extremists to define who we are as a people. Their violence is not our identity. Their hatred does not represent Nigerians of any faith, creed, or community. To our troops and all front-line patriots, thank you for your courage. Thank you for your vigilance. Thank you for your service. May the Almighty protect you as you protect our country. Bola Ahmed Tinubu President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces Federal Republic of Nigeria

TROOPS OF OPERATION SAVANNAH SHIELD APPREHEND SUSPECTED BANDITS/TERRORISTS INFORMANTS RECOVER COMMUNICATION DEVICES AND CASH IN NIGER STATE Troops of Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Savannah Shield (OPSS) have apprehended five suspected bandits/terrorists informants in separate operations conducted in Niger State. The operations led to the recovery of communication devices, cash, and other items linking the suspects to criminal activities. The troops, while conducting a routine fighting patrol along the Doro axis in Wawa, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, apprehended three suspected bandits/terrorists informants on 6 June 2026. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects were members of a bandit group operating in Duru, along the fringes of Kainji Lake National Park. Items recovered from the suspects included two Tecno keypad phones, one MP3 device containing recorded propaganda and inciting messages claiming the abduction of an individual in Kaduna State and the collection of a ransom of Sixty Million Naira (₦60,000,000.00), as well as a cash sum of One Hundred and Thirteen Thousand, Four Hundred Naira (₦113,400.00). The suspects and recovered exhibits are currently in custody for further investigation, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the criminal network. Similarly, troops of 221 Battalion under JTF-NC OPSS, while on routine patrol along the cantonment perimeter fence, apprehended two suspected bandits/terrorists informants. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects had been deployed as reconnaissance elements to gather information on the cantonment. Further examination of one of the suspects' mobile phones led to the discovery of a photograph showing a beheaded individual, dated 2 May 2026, indicating possible links to terrorist activities. Items recovered from the suspects included one Android mobile phone, one Tecno keypad phone, one motorcycle, and a cash sum of Eighty-Six Thousand, One Hundred Naira (₦86,100.00) only. The suspects and recovered exhibits remain in custody for further investigation. The successful arrests underscore the commitment of troops of Operation Savannah Shield to dismantling criminal and terrorist support networks across the Joint Operations Area. The Task Force remains resolute in its mandate to deny criminal elements freedom of action and sustain pressure on all threats to peace and security within the region. JAMILU MUHAMMED YAHAYA Captain Acting Media Information Officer Headquarters Joint Task Force (North Central) Operation SAVANNAH Shield 7 June, 2026

OPERATION HADIN KAI EXECUTES UNPRECEDENTED INTELLIGENCE-LED RESCUE OPERATION, FREES 360 ABDUCTEES FROM JAS STRONGHOLD IN THE MANDARA MOUNTAINS In one of the most significant hostage rescue operations conducted in the North East Theatre in recent times, troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), comprising Special Forces and troops of Sector 1, have successfully rescued 360 abductees from a heavily fortified Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) enclave deep within the Mandara Mountains area of southern Borno State. The operation, which was the culmination of weeks of painstaking intelligence preparation, covert reconnaissance, and operational planning, resulted in the safe recovery of men, women, and children who had been held in captivity under harsh conditions after being abducted from several communities, particularly within the Ngoshe axis. The successful rescue underscores the growing operational reach, intelligence dominance, and tactical superiority of OPHK in denying terrorists freedom of action and protecting vulnerable populations across the theatre. The operation was initiated following the receipt of credible and corroborated intelligence from multiple sources indicating the precise location of the hostages and the existence of an elaborate insurgent support network sustaining the enclave. OPHK intelligence elements subsequently launched an extensive target development process involving the integration of Human Intelligence (HUMINT), Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), and persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations conducted through unmanned aerial systems and long-range reconnaissance patrols. Through sustained intelligence collection and analysis, commanders developed a comprehensive understanding of the terrain, insurgent disposition, defensive arrangements, movement patterns, and the condition of the abductees. This intelligence-driven approach enabled the force to accurately map the objective area, identify vulnerabilities within the terrorist network, and significantly reduce risks to the hostages during the rescue mission. A decisive breakthrough was achieved through the successful penetration of the terrorist network by carefully cultivated intelligence assets operating under the supervision of OPHK military intelligence personnel. These assets provided timely and actionable intelligence regarding the exact locations of the abductees, the disposition of insurgent commanders, internal security measures, and planned relocation routes. Simultaneously, carefully coordinated information and psychological operations created uncertainty and mistrust within the insurgent ranks, degrading their cohesion and disrupting command and control arrangements. The resulting intelligence advantage provided OPHK with unprecedented situational awareness and enabled commanders to shape the operational environment well before the commencement of the assault phase.

Our Troop are mopping up these b@stards. ISWAP/Boko Haram fighters abandoned their motorcycle in the forest and fled. More strength to our patriotic troops.

ISWAP/Boko Haram fighters abandoned their motorcycle in the forest and fled. Could it be that they are running out of supplies due to disruptions to their logistics caused by Nigerian troops?

Citizens of Benin republic celebrating Nigeria Army soldiers after a major operation targeting JNiM terrorists. The operation carried out on Saturday/Sunday in coordination with Benin military and vigilante backed by Nigeria Air Force eliminated over 150 terrorists.

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