Nigerian Military Kills 92 Terrorists, Arrests 111 in One Week…Governor Rules Out Talks with Terrorists…Militants Warn of Attacks on Oil Installations Over Political Crisis…Nigeria Among World’s Most Terrorism-Affected Nations
- Nigerian Military Kills 92 Terrorists, Arrests 111, Rescues 75 Hostages
Nigeria’s military killed 92 terrorists, arrested 111 suspected terrorists, and rescued 75 hostages in the past week, according to Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, Director of Defense Media Operations.
At a Thursday briefing in Abuja, Kangye said troops recovered 117 assorted weapons and 2,939 rounds of ammunition, including 58 AK-47 rifles and 11 RPG bombs.
In anti-oil theft operations, troops arrested 18 suspects and foiled thefts worth ₦521.8 million (about $348,000). They recovered 452,396 liters of stolen crude oil and dismantled 47 illegal refining sites.
In the Northeast, 101 terrorists, including women and children, surrendered. Troops also killed 25 terrorists, including Abba Alai, a commander, and rescued seven hostages.
- Governor Rejects Negotiations With Terrorists, Offers Reintegration for Surrendered Fighters
Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda has reaffirmed that his administration will not negotiate with terrorists but is open to reintegrating those who voluntarily surrender and renounce violence.
Katsina in Northwest Nigeria has been grappling with significant security challenges, including armed banditry and kidnappings. In a recent incident, a military airstrike targeting rebels in the Safana area resulted in civilian casualties, highlighting the complexities authorities face in addressing these threats.
“We will not seek out terrorists in the forest to negotiate. However, if they voluntarily surrender, renounce violence, and choose to become law-abiding citizens, we are open to reintegrating them into society,” Radda said, according to The Guardian.
He commended local officials and security agencies for their ongoing efforts to combat insecurity.
- Militants to Federal Government: Release Rivers Funds or Face Oil Attacks
A militant group, Niger Delta Rescue Movement, has threatened to attack oil installations in Nigeria’s Niger Delta over the political crisis in Rivers State.
The tension stems from a power struggle between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The crisis escalated after the Supreme Court last Friday upheld a lower court ruling directing the Central Bank of Nigeria to withhold Rivers State’s allocation.
The feud has led to divisions in the state assembly, with lawmakers loyal to Wike issuing a 48-hour ultimatum for the governor to present the 2025 budget, which expired at midnight Wednesday.
In a viral video on Thursday, armed militants accused the federal government of starving the state of funds. “If the federal allocation due to Rivers State cannot be released promptly, we will have no choice but to take decisive action, including hitting oil production,” a letter by the group, cited by The Punch, stated.
The group also warned non-indigenes in Rivers State to leave, fueling fears of violence. “We urge all non-indigenes to consider their safety and leave the state promptly as the situation may escalate,” they said.
- Nigeria Ranks Sixth in Global Terrorism Index, Military Questions Report
Nigeria has climbed to sixth place in the 2025 Global Terrorism Index (GTI), marking a rise from eighth place in the past two years. The index, released on March 5, recorded 565 terrorism-related deaths in Nigeria in 2024, a 34 percent increase from 2023.
The Sahel region accounted for 51 percent of all terrorism-related deaths globally in 2024, with Nigeria facing increasing attacks from IS-Sahel, which carried out 16 attacks in the country.
However, Nigeria’s military has questioned the GTI report, reports The Punch. Major General Markus Kangye, Director of Defence Media Operations, stated, “Something is happening in my house… which one would be more correct? The one I tell you as the head of the house or the one Kuma Shi (someone else) is reporting from outside?”
He urged the media to verify security reports from Nigerian authorities to avoid misleading narratives.
Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
