Why bloody terror attacks spiked in one month— Gen. Oluyede, CDS 

…as military says terrorists given bloody nose, ‘80 wiped out’

•‘US army officers not in Nigeria for combat operations against insurgents’

By Kingsley Omonobi   

For once, after a long while, the Nigerian military has proved its mettle in its war against terrorists who have had a field day, visiting mayhem on hapless citizens, killing officers and soldiers, abducting scores of women and children and most times escaping into the bush, on the altar of unexplained socio-political factors including, as some said, religion (fasting).

This happened as the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, said the intensity of terror attacks over the last one month was not new as it is in the character of insurgents to launch relentless attacks during the holy month of Ramadan.

“As you aware in the last one month, there were attacks launched by terrorists, which is their usual tactic during the holy month of Ramadan”, Oluyede said in the aftermath of the bombings in Borno State last week.

“But this challenge is not new as we are on top of the situation”. 

In the early hours of Wednesday, March 18, 2026, Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists, in their numbers, embarked on a five-pronged coordinated and simultaneous terrorist attacks on troops locations at Malam Fatori in Sector 3, Borno State.

They advanced in large numbers on foot and deployed armed drones in their bid to breach the defences of troops.

The troops, comprising combined forces of the Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai and the Nigerian Air Force Air Component, rose to the occasion and allegedly took out more than 80 of the terrorists. 

Wanted terrorist commanders who led the attack and allegedly annihilated include Zarkawi Ba Bunu, Rawa Fannami, Abowor Suwurti, Bulama Mil, Abu Aisha, Abba Gana Kawiyya and Ahmodu Hirasama.

Exploitation of the engagement area, it was learnt, led to the recovery of 32 AK 47 rifles, 8 PKT machine guns, 7 RPG Tubes, 5 General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) 21 RPG Bombs, and over 3000 rounds of assorted 7.62mm ammunition.

In similar vein, troops allegedly demonstrated superior combat strength and tactical dominance while successfully repelling coordinated terrorist attacks by ISWAP fighters on multiple military positions in Njimtilo, Baga, Buratai, and Damboa.

The attacks, which occurred earlier on March 16, were mounted from several directions in a desperate attempt by the terrorists to gain propaganda advantage and overrun military positions.

“At Ajiri Cross, ahead of Njimtilo, terrorists attempted to infiltrate positions mounted by troops of Sector 1 but were swiftly detected and decisively engaged by the vigilant troops who had anticipated the move and prepared a deliberate offensive-defensive posture to defeat the assault”, a military source said.

“Through coordinated firepower and tactical manoeuvre designed to disrupt the attackers and cut off their withdrawal routes, the terrorists were routed and forced into a disorganized retreat while suffering heavy casualties.

“Similar desperate attacks at Baga, Buratai and Damboa were met with determined resistance as troops brought superior firepower to bear on the attackers.

“The engagements were further reinforced by timely close air support from the Air Component and the Nigerian Army Aviation, whose precision strikes disrupted the terrorists’ assault formations and compounded their losses as they attempted to withdraw.

“During the engagements, several terrorists were neutralized, including a key leader who spearheaded the Buratai assault, while many others sustained injuries as they fled along their withdrawal routes.

“Despite the intensity of the firefights, which resulted in the destruction of some equipment and a number of wounded personnel, troops remained resolute and maintained firm control of all locations while continuing exploitation operations to pursue the fleeing terrorists”.

Following the engagements, the source said troops conducted exploitation operations around Baga, extending to Korochara and Garin Giwa ahead of the Gidan Kaje general area.

“During the exploitation, troops recovered significant quantities of enemy weapons and equipment, including 3 PKT machine guns, 7 AK-47 rifles, 206 rounds of PKT ammunition, 418 rounds of anti-aircraft ammunition, 7 AK-47 magazines, 3 AK-74 magazines and 3 RPG bombs”.

Another source told Sunday Vanguard that the failed attacks further demonstrate the growing desperation of terrorist elements under sustained operational pressure from OPHK forces across the Theatre.

His words: “The successive defeats inflicted on the terrorists have significantly constrained their freedom of action and disrupted their attempts to create false propaganda narratives.

“Across the theatres, in the fight against insecurity, troops successes in the last weeks of February 2026 comprise the rescue of 376 kidnapped victims, arrest of 226 terrorists and interception of 416 bags of fertilizer to be used to produce IEDs for terrorists.

“Troops neutralized scores of terrorists, arrested 85 suspects, facilitated the surrender of over 60 insurgents and their family members, and rescued 104 kidnapped victims.

“A major engagement on 20 February 2026 in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State saw troops repel a coordinated terrorist assault involving gun trucks and motorcycles.

“Troops also intercepted logistics supplies intended for Boko Haram elements, including 416 bags of fertilizer in Yobe State, a material commonly used in the fabrication of improvised explosive devices (IEDs)”.

Illicit funding channels

 The source stressed that additionally, 42 suspected illegal miners were apprehended in Gujba Local Government Area, disrupting illicit funding channels.

“In the North-West, troops neutralized several terrorists, arrested 36 suspects, and rescued 251 kidnapped victims”, he said.

“Notably, 21 abducted persons were rescued in Musawa Local Government Area of Katsina State and safely handed over to authorities.

“In the North-Central region, Operation Enduring Peace and Operation Whirl Stroke sustained coordinated responses to terrorism and communal violence:with troops rescuing 22 hostages, arresting suspects, and recovering weapons in multiple engagements.

“Prior to Wednesday attack at Malam Fatori where they met their waterloo, the terrorists had conducted a suicide bombing spree in Maiduguri the previous Sunday, a day before President Bola Tinubu and his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu were schedule to embark on a state visit to the UK, prompting the President to direct the CDS and service chiefs to relocate to Borno. 

“Multiple explosions masterminded by BHT/ISWAP suicide bombers erupted at various location in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital with military and police authorities disclosing that 23 persons lost their lives during the explosions and over 108 others sustained various degree of injuries.

“The areas mostly affected were the Post Office area, Monday market area and the Main entrance of the University of Maiduguri, UMTH.

“A fortnight earlier, troops successfully conducted a defensive operation at Pulka and Madara-Girau strangulating terrorists logistics suppliers and crippling their financial and sustainment networks across the theatre.

“In this regard, troops of Sector 1, in conjunction with Vigilante forces, executed a well coordinated ambush along a known terrorist crossing route used by ISWAP elements transiting from Cameroon axis into Nigeria

“Subsequent exploitation of the contact area led to the recovery of a sizeable cache of critical logistics supplies assessed to be intended for terrorist resupply operations”.

Huge cash

 In a related development, Sunday Vanguard learnt that troops at the Forward Operating Base Chabbal Checkpoint intercepted a suspicious vehicle conveying five occupants.

“A thorough search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of approximately N37,000,000 carefully concealed in bags, alongside multiple mobile phones suspected to be linked to terrorist financing and coordination activities”, a top level security official said.

He stated that the Interception represents a significant breakthrough in efforts to dismantle financial conduits suspected to support terrorist logistics and operational activities within the theatre.

In what seemed like another successful offensive, troops reportedly foiled and defeated multiple coordinated attacks launched by ISWAP terrorists on military locations in Delwa, Goniri, Kukawa, Mainok and troops harbour position deep in the Sambisa forest.

 ”The attacks, which occurred during the night of Sunday 8 and Monday 9 of March 2026, were mounted simultaneously from several directions in an apparent attempt by the terrorists to overwhelm troop positions”, a source said.

“But undeterred by the intensity of the assaults and the heavy firepower employed by the terrorists, gallant troops remained firm and responded with exceptional determination.

“Fighting across multiple fronts, the ground troops in effective defensive coordination with, reinforcements from the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai provided timely and decisive support during the engagements.

“The terrorists were consequently met with overwhelming resistance and were forced into withdrawal after suffering significant casualties from several terrorist bodies left behind.

“Impressively, troops also recovered weapons and equipment abandoned during their retreat, including two PKT machine guns, six AK-47 rifles, eight RPG bombs, 4 mortar bombs, and assorted ammunition of various calibres.

“In the course of the engagements, sections of the defensive perimeters at Goniri and Kukawa were momentarily breached, while a number of structures within the bases and vehicles sustained damage due to the intensity of the firefights.

“Additionally, troops of Sector 2 deployed at Goniri in the early hours of 10th March 2026 successfully foiled coordinated attacks launched by ISWAP terrorists on their location in Goniri, Yobe State, killing many terrorists.

“The terrorists were initially detected through surveillance assets advancing simultaneously from Goniri village and the Ngamdu junction axis in an apparent attempt to encircle the military location.

“Reinforcements were promptly mobilized while the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai provided timely and decisive close air support, further degrading the terrorists’ combat capability.

“During the intense firefight, the terrorists were overwhelmed and forced to retreat in disarray, suffering heavy casualties.

“Over 20 terrorists were neutralized, including a senior terrorist commander identified as Abu Yusu, the Munzir of Dursula.

“Following the failed attack, troops recovered several terrorist bodies along with weapons and equipment abandoned during the retreat including multiple machine guns, AK-47 rifles, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), bombs, and assorted ammunition of various calibres.

“Further exploitation and clearance operations by troops in the general area of Gwaigomari within the Timbuktu Triangle led to the discovery of additional terrorist bodies during follow-up patrols conducted up to the early hours of Wednesday, 11 March 2026.

“Further successes were recorded when troops foiled coordinated attacks on March 14, 2026 on Baga town in Kukawa local government area and Maiduguri Metropolitan Council in Borno state, while in Yobe troops repelled terrorist ambush along the Longlari–Kanama road in Yunusari Local Government Area”.

 US specialist team

 A highpoint of the role of partnership in the successes recorded in the operations, according to a source, is the silent contributions of the US military specialist team from US AFRICOM whose training assistance in the areas of surveillance and intelligence support has enabled troops to track and monitor terrorists movement even in the dark and their assembly points, thereby enabling gallant troops to strategize and coordinate ambush operations against BHT/ISWAP fighters.

A general conversant with their roles in training support agreement to Nigeria against insecurity said, “They are still in Nigeria. They are engaged in what the agreement specifies for them to do”.   

However, despite these successes, the CDS, General Oluyede, has tasked residents of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states as well as all Nigerians to take ownership of the fight against Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists, noting that intelligence reports had indicated that some people chose to be complicit by sabotaging efforts of the ongoing military operations in the region.

Speaking in the aftermath of the suicide bombings in Maiduguri, Oluyede said: “We are here to review our strategies in the fight against Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in the North-East.

“As you aware in the last one month, there were attacks launched by terrorists, which is their usual tactic during the holy month of Ramadan.

“But this challenge is not new as we are on top of the situation. 

“It is unfortunate that most of the people perpetrating these heinous acts are from these states. They are our brothers, sisters and cousins. We know them.

“Let me give you an example. When Kukawa was attacked, while we were conducting cordoned and search afterwards, we discovered that two of the wounded terrorists were inside that village. Therefore the people must take ownership in this war.”

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