In a significant blow to criminal networks in North-Central Nigeria, troops of the 22 Armoured Brigade, supported by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), have dismantled several terrorist enclaves and rescued numerous kidnap victims during a week-long intensive offensive across Kwara State.
The coordinated operations, which took place between January 23 and 29, 2026, were executed under the strategic leadership of Major General Chinedu Nnebife, the General Officer Commanding 2 Division and Commander of Sector 3, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, alongside Brigadier General Nicholas Rume, the Commander of the 22 Brigade.
The military high command described the mission as a demonstration of high operational responsiveness aimed at completely dismantling terrorist sustainment capabilities in the region.
During the engagements, Nigerian Army troops conducted aggressive fighting patrols into notorious bandit strongholds. In one encounter, soldiers neutralised a terrorist while several others fled into the dense forest with suspected gunshot wounds.
The military successfully destroyed these hideouts and camps, effectively dislodging the brigands from their bases. A breakthrough was recorded in the Ifelodun Local Government Area, where troops cleared Garin Dandi, a well-known bandit enclave, resulting in the total decimation of the criminals’ logistics bases and supply chains.
The offensive further extended into remote camps that were previously considered inaccessible to security forces. By storming these locations, troops destroyed abandoned logistics enablers, significantly degrading the terrorists’ ability to sustain their operations. Despite the restrictive and difficult terrain, the military maintained an aggressive posture, utilising strategic blocking positions to intercept fleeing elements and arrest several suspected bandits.
Military observations during the week-long sweep revealed a troubling trend of local collaboration. Officials noted that bandits have been receiving intelligence from informants within nearby communities, which has occasionally allowed suspects to withdraw shortly before troops arrive.
Despite these challenges, the Nigerian Army reaffirmed its resolve to restore total security across Kwara State, citing the rescue of several kidnap victims as a testament to the operation’s effectiveness.
Major General Nnebife has urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue providing credible, timely information regarding bandits and their collaborators. The military emphasised that Operation FANSAN YAMMA remains ongoing and will continue to deal decisively with all terrorist networks operating within the Joint Operations Area.
