By Bayo Onanuga
Some Nigerians and armchair analysts are often quick to criticise the Federal Government for perceived shortcomings in security, highlighting isolated incidents such as kidnappings, improvised explosive devices, suicide bombings, and attacks in parts of the country.
Such perceptions, however, tend to downplay and discount the heroic exploits of members of the Nigerian armed forces, saddled with the responsibility of countering the evil machinations of God-forsaken non-state actors, who operate like guerrillas.
My position is reinforced by the security reports I receive daily from Zagazola Makama, a journalist who has emerged as a counter-insurgency expert in Nigeria. This past week alone, Zagazola inundated me with reports from multiple theatres, indicating that our troops are making significant gains in the asymmetrical war against insurgents, terrorists, ISWAP, Boko Haram, IPOB, bandits, kidnappers, and crude oil thieves.
Let’s begin with some heartening news that made headlines on Monday.
A few days ago, some newspapers sensationally reported that gunmen kidnapped 14 passengers of a Benue Links bus travelling from Makurdi to Otukpo. Seventeen passengers were in the bus, among them eight youngsters going to write the UTME. Three of the passengers escaped from the clutch of the abductors.
On Sunday, April 19, troops of Sub-Sector 1B, OPWS rescued the remaining 13 passengers following a search-and-rescue operation conducted in a forested area in Ohimini Local Government Area.
“Security sources,” according to Zagazola, “clarified that the perpetrators were local criminal elements in Benue and not Fulani bandits as initially speculated in some quarters. The media hastily attributed the attack to external groups without proper verification”.
Those rescued include Hycent Oko (56), Elaiguli Joshua (25), Orili Raphael (29), Sunday Augustine (18), Emmanuel Elaicha (21), Gbile Nguyor Daniel (18), Ukacha Tersoo (18), Nyikwagh Aoridakator (22), Iornav Ngukuhan (18), Nyikwagh Benjamin (18), Buker Agatha (19), Paul Wende (29) and Akor Jessica (19).
The victims were evacuated to the General Hospital in Otukpo for medical attention, as some of them sustained varying degrees of injuries during their captivity. Later, some of the victims had a photo-op with Governor Hyancinth Alia, who appealed to JAMB to set another examination for the traumatised youngsters.
The incident illustrated a growing trend of locally grown criminality, where local elements exploit familiar terrain and community networks to carry out abductions.
On Saturday night, April 18, troops were alerted by gunshots along the Kpashio-Ansa Road in Bassa LGA of Plateau State. They rapidly responded and found three wounded victims of the gun attacks by the roadside. They were travelling on a motorcycle when they came under a burst of gunfire. The gunmen stole the motorcycle. The troops evacuated the three victims to a nearby hospital. One died, and two survived.
On the same April 18, troops under Sector 1 of Operation Enduring Peace arrested two suspects in Jos North Local Government, one of them, Khalid Usman, for stabbing a police inspector. The other suspect, Ali Izang, was arrested at about 0615 hrs near the Correctional Centre. He had a round of 7.62mm ammunition.
Troops of Operation Enduring Peace also arrested nine ethnic militiamen responsible for targeted killings. They recovered arms and ammunition following an operation in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, amid ongoing security concerns linked to recurring attacks and cycles of violence in the area.
The suspects were arrested at about 0135 hours on April 18, 2026, when troops deployed at Ganawuri responded to reports of the suspects moving towards the Danwal area.
The troops intercepted and apprehended the suspects, who were found with blood stains on their bodies, raising suspicion of recent involvement in silent killings.
Items recovered from them include three motorcycles, one pistol, one submachine gun, one locally made revolver rifle, 20 rounds of pistol ammunition, and one locally fabricated rifle, among other items.
The arrest came amid sustained insecurity in parts of Plateau State, where communities in Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, Mangu and surrounding areas have witnessed repeated incidents of violent attacks and reprisals. Across these flashpoints, the patterns are consistent, which suggests that perpetrators of violence are not faceless outsiders operating in isolation.
“Sources said that the suspects were currently in custody, providing information, and are responsible for carrying out a series of attacks in recent months, which have escalated violence and reprisal attacks in Plateau State,” Zagazola reported.
In recent months, security reports have indicated a pattern of violence involving Fulani bandits and armed elements of the Berom operating within local communities.
