Troops of the 22 Armoured Brigade, Nigerian Army, with substantial support from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), have sustained coordinated offensive operations against terrorist elements within the Joint Operations Area (JOA) in Kwara State, recording significant successes between 23 and 29 January 2026.
The operations, code-named Operation Igbo Danu (Operation Forest Flush), were conducted under the leadership of the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division Nigerian Army and Commander Sector 3, Operation FANSAN YAMMA (OPFY), Major General Chinedu Nnebife, in conjunction with the Commander, 22 Armoured Brigade, Brigadier General Nicholas Rume. The coordinated effort demonstrated high operational responsiveness and a firm resolve to dismantle terrorist networks in the area.
During the operations, troops, in collaboration with ONSA, carried out fighting patrols across several identified bandits’ enclaves. The troops neutralised a terrorist, while others fled into surrounding forests with suspected gunshot wounds. Several hideouts and camps were destroyed, effectively dislodging the criminal elements from their strongholds.
In a related operation, troops cleared Garin Dandi, a known bandits’ enclave in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, leading to the destruction of logistics bases and supply routes used by the criminals.
The troops also penetrated remote camps previously inaccessible to security forces, where multiple abandoned camps and logistics enablers were destroyed, significantly degrading the terrorists’ sustainment and operational capabilities.
Despite the difficult and restrictive terrain, the troops maintained an aggressive posture throughout the forested areas, denying the bandits freedom of movement. Fleeing suspects were intercepted at designated blocking positions, resulting in the arrest of several suspected bandits. The operations further led to the rescue of numerous kidnap victims from various camps across the state.
Findings from the operations revealed that the bandits receive support from collaborators within nearby communities who provide intelligence on troop movements, enabling early withdrawal from targeted locations. Nonetheless, the successes recorded underscore the determination and operational effectiveness of 2 Division Nigerian Army in degrading terrorist elements and restoring security in Kwara State.
The GOC, 2 Division Nigerian Army, has called on members of the public to continue providing credible and timely information on terrorists and their collaborators to support ongoing operations, adding that Operation Igbo Danu remains ongoing to decisively neutralise all criminal networks operating within the state.