Diplomatic row with Washington ignites a nationwide security surge — six major operations in days as army vows to “flush out” militants
Last week’s public warning from U.S. President Donald Trump — issued after Washington designated Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over alleged religious persecution and terrorism concerns — set off a fierce and fast-moving security reaction at home. What began as a diplomatic provocation, widely denounced in Nigeria as neo-imperialist, has coincided with an unmistakable intensification of military operations across the country.
Pioneer News checks of the Nigerian Army’s official Facebook page and defence briefings show the military has launched at least six successive, high-intensity operations aimed at dismantling terrorist enclaves, rescuing abductees and crippling bandit networks. The strikes — carried out between late October and early November — span the North-East, North-West, North-Central and South-South regions.
“We are not taking threats lightly,” a senior military source told said. “The objective is to uproot terrorist cells and restore security — swiftly and decisively.”
FLASHPOINTS: A WEEK OF RAID, RESCUE AND RETALIATION
Troops foil kidnap plot — 10 rescued, impostors in police uniforms exposed (Benue)
On November 3, credible intelligence triggered a rescue along the Zaki-Biam–Wukari road in Benue State where kidnappers posing as police officers had mounted a fake checkpoint. Operation Whirl Stroke troops stormed the scene, freeing 10 victims — among them Warrant Officer John Richard of the 6 Brigade Band, Jalingo. Two victims remain missing as search teams continue to comb the area.
Borno base repels drone assault — six terrorists neutralised (Mallam Fatori)
In the early hours of Tuesday, troops of Operation Hadin Kai beat back a coordinated Boko Haram/ISWAP assault on Forward Operating Base Kangar in Mallam Fatori, Borno State. Insurgents employed armed drones and mortars in the strike; reinforced defenders, backed by Sector 3 and Nigerien air support, repelled the attack after intense fighting. The military confirmed six terrorists neutralised, and recovered weapons, drone bombs, ammunition and grenades.
Kano ambush turned on its head — 19 bandits killed in fierce firefight (Shanono LGA)
Acting on intelligence on November 1, soldiers intercepted a bandit incursion at Ungwan Tudu and surrounding villages in Kano State. The attackers — arriving on motorcycles — were met with heavy resistance; 19 assailants were killed. Tragically, two soldiers and a local vigilante lost their lives. Several motorcycles and mobile phones were recovered from the scene.
Kogi ransom rescue — two victims freed, N3.8m recovered (Itobe–Adumu–Ejule axis)
12 Brigade troops acting on November 2 intelligence disrupted a kidnapping operation en route to Achigili Forest in Kogi State. After an exchange of gunfire the kidnappers fled, leaving behind the abductees and N3.8 million in abandoned ransom money. The rescued victims are now in safe custody pending debriefing.
North-East sweep: multiple terrorist plots foiled; VBIED destroyed (Borno & Adamawa)
Between October 25–31, Operation Hadin Kai units crushed a string of infiltration attempts and neutralised insurgents in Kukawa, Gwoza and Limankara. Soldiers destroyed a vehicle-borne explosive device in Kukawa, seized smuggled fuel and weapons in Adamawa, and detained several suspected collaborators.
Nationwide clearance yields arrests, rescues and environmental wins
In coordinated raids across regions, Nigerian Army units reported neutralising terrorists, rescuing 17 abductees, and arresting 20 suspects within a 48-hour window ending November 2. Notable gains: 11 people freed in Zamfara by 1 Brigade, four victims rescued in Benue and Plateau, and illegal oil refining camps dismantled in Bayelsa and Imo with recovered crude and equipment.
Benue cultist den smashed — seven arrested (Makurdi)
On October 30, Operation Whirl Stroke raided a suspected cultists’ hideout on Makurdi’s North Bank, arresting seven suspects and seizing firearms, ammunition, electronic devices and ritual charms. The suspects are being interrogated and will face prosecution.
ANALYSIS: BEYOND THE RELIGIOUS NARRATIVE — A WAR FOR TERRITORY, NOT JUST FAITH
John Usanga, Deputy Spokesperson of the League of African Ambassadors, urged a broader view of the violence on Arise Television. He warned that over-reliance on religious or ethnic explanations risks missing deeper drivers: land seizure, forced displacement and territorial capture by armed groups.
“This is not a regular war,” Usanga said. “It is guerrilla warfare — they strike quickly, melt into the population and aim to dislodge communities. If we focus only on religion and ethnicity, we will ignore efforts to take land and resources.”
He cautioned against heavy-handed responses that could produce collateral damage and further alienate communities — a risk he suggested might lie behind external calls for sweeping military solutions.
DIPLOMATIC AFTERSHOCKS: RISK OF ESCALATION
President Trump’s remarks — and Nigeria’s CPC designation — have provoked sharp reaction in Abuja and beyond, creating a diplomatic row that analysts say could complicate cooperation on counterterrorism. Nigerian authorities, however, have signalled they will neither be intimidated nor distracted: the current operations demonstrate a determination to confront non-state actors on Nigeria’s terms.
As the military presses its onslaught across multiple fronts, the central challenge remains the same: how to rout insurgents and bandits without inflicting further harm on civilians or ceding community trust — a balance that will test Nigeria’s security strategy in the weeks ahead.
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