Troops of Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Savannah Shield (OPSS) have arrested five suspected bandits and terrorist informants across two separate operations in Niger State, recovering mobile phones, a motorcycle, and over ₦199,000 in cash.
In the first operation on June 6, soldiers conducting a routine fighting patrol along the Doro axis in Wawa, Borgu Local Government Area, apprehended three suspects believed to be members of a bandit group operating in Duru, along the fringes of Kainji Lake National Park.
Among the seized items was an MP3 player containing recorded propaganda and messages claiming the abduction of an individual in Kaduna State and the collection of a ₦60 million ransom.
Items recovered from the three suspects included two Tecno keypad phones, the MP3 device, and a cash sum of ₦113,400.
In a separate incident, troops of 221 Battalion under JTF North Central apprehended two additional suspects near the cantonment perimeter fence during a routine patrol. Investigators believe the pair had been deployed as reconnaissance elements tasked with gathering intelligence on the military facility.
A search of one suspect’s mobile phone uncovered a photograph showing a beheaded individual, dated May 2, 2026, a finding military authorities say indicates possible links to terrorist activity. Items seized from the two suspects included one Android phone, one Tecno keypad phone, one motorcycle, and ₦86,100 in cash.
All five suspects and recovered exhibits remain in custody pending further investigation. The JTF said efforts are ongoing to identify and arrest other members of the criminal networks.
In a statement, the Task Force said the arrests reflect its commitment to dismantling criminal and terrorist support structures across the Joint Operations Area, and that it “remains resolute in its mandate to deny criminal elements freedom of action.”
