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

2026-03-22 - 04:32

...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