Troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested 27 suspected illegal miners in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and eliminated three terrorists during coordinated military operations carried out across the country within the last 24 hours.
A senior military source disclosed that soldiers of the 7 Guards Battalion, operating under Operation MESA, raided an illegal mining site at Iddah in Bwari Area Council of the FCT.
During the operation, the troops apprehended 27 suspects and dismantled camps used by the illegal miners. Recovered items included a locally made dane gun, four motorcycles and various mining tools. Troops also established roadblocks along the Bwari–Ushafa–Dutse corridor to prevent further criminal activity in the area.
According to the source, the three terrorists were neutralised during a series of coordinated offensive and response operations as troops sustained pressure on criminal groups across multiple regions.
In the North-East, forces under the Joint Task Force, operating within Operation Hadin Kai, continued offensive actions under Operation Desert Sanity V across Sectors 1 to 4. The troops carried out aggressive patrols and routine security activities within their areas of responsibility, recording no major security incidents.
Similarly, troops deployed under Operation FANSAN YAMMA in Sectors 1 to 3 sustained offensive and stabilisation operations aimed at consolidating earlier gains and restricting the movement of criminal elements.
Under Operation Enduring Peace, soldiers responded swiftly to a kidnapping incident in Rantya, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, where a wounded gateman was rescued and taken to a medical facility for treatment.
In Kaduna State, troops intervened in a case of youth unrest at Mabushi village in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area, arresting four suspects and restoring calm to the community.
In the South-South region, troops under Operation Delta Safe arrested a suspected armed robber in Delta State, recovering a locally fabricated pistol and live ammunition.
Also in Rivers State, soldiers apprehended two suspected illegal oil bunkers at Bonny Island, where several drums of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) were recovered.
The military source reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to sustained operations against terrorism, banditry and other criminal activities, assuring the public of continued efforts to protect lives and property across the country.