- Military Eliminates 20 Top Terrorist Commanders, Rescues 2,336 Kidnap Victims in 2025
- Arrestest 4,375 suspects
- Says security situation in the Northeast remained relatively stable
The Nigerian military, working alongside other security agencies, neutralised at least 20 terrorist commanders and several foot soldiers across different theatres of operation in Northern Nigeria in 2025.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that among the top insurgent leaders killed during the period were Aminu Kanawa, Dan Bokolo, Bello Buba, Dan Inna, Halilu Sabubu, Abu Dan Shehu Jabbi, Dogo Bashiru Yellow, Abba Allai, also known as Amirul Khalid of Alafa, and Amir Abu Fatimah. Others included Kingpin Auta, Abdul Jamilu, Salisu, Malla Jidda, Talha, Mallam Umar, Abu Yazeed, Kabiru Bebe, Maiwada, Mai Dada, and Nwachi Eze, also known as Onowu. Several notorious bandits identified by pseudonyms such as Dosso, Suleiman, Jagaban, and Danja were also eliminated.
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In addition to the killings, troops arrested 4,375 suspects during the year, while 1,616 terrorists and their family members surrendered to security forces. A total of 2,336 kidnapped victims were successfully rescued across the affected regions.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed these details on Wednesday while presenting a review of the military’s operational achievements in the outgoing year.
According to Onoja, out of the total arrests recorded in the North, 1,323 suspects, including collaborators, gunrunners, sympathisers, and informants, were apprehended in the Northeast. He added that 1,616 terrorists surrendered in the zone, while 498 abducted persons were rescued.
He noted that the security situation in the Northeast remained relatively stable, with Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa Province remaining the primary threats.
Although the terrorist groups have been significantly weakened through sustained joint operations, Onoja said they still carry out isolated attacks on civilian and military targets, conduct remote operations, and deploy Improvised Explosive Devices to obstruct troop movements.
He, however, assured that the military remains vigilant and continues to refine its tactics, techniques, and procedures to counter evolving threats.
During operations in the Northeast, troops also recovered assorted arms, ammunition, vehicles, equipment, and N32 million in cash. Several terrorist camps and hideouts were destroyed, actions which, according to Onoja, severely degraded the operational capacity of the insurgents and forced many to surrender.
He said the improved security situation has helped to revive commercial and agricultural activities, facilitated the return of local government authorities, and enabled Internally Displaced Persons to resettle in their communities.
In the Northwest, Onoja said troops killed scores of terrorists, arrested 669 suspects, and rescued 966 kidnapped victims. Security forces also intercepted and recovered arms, ammunition, equipment, and large sums of money intended for ransom payments, weapons procurement, and other criminal activities.
He added that modern combat assets, including Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles and other high calibre weapons, were deployed in the zone to strengthen operational effectiveness.
Commenting on the joint Nigeria United States airstrikes carried out in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State, Onoja said the precision strikes targeted 2 major Islamic State terrorist enclaves in the Bauni Forest axis.
He explained that intelligence reports identified the locations as critical assembly and staging points for foreign Islamic State operatives infiltrating Nigeria from the Sahel region to collaborate with local terror groups.
According to him, a total of 16 GPS guided precision munitions were deployed using MQ 9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles, successfully neutralising the targeted terrorists attempting to enter Nigeria through the Sahel corridor.
The defence spokesman declined to provide further details on the operation, describing it as classified. He assured that Nigerians would be fully briefed at the appropriate time.
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