The Humanitarian Times

By Abdulkareem Haruna Former Chief of Army Staff, retired Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has lauded the Nigerian Armed Forces for a series of “significant operational successes” that he claims have shifted the military from a reactive posture to a proactive offensive against terrorism and banditry.
In a statement released Sunday, Buratai underscored a renewed momentum within the various theaters of operation, particularly Operation HADIN KAI in the North-East and Operation FANSAN YAMMA in the North-West. He specifically pointed to the recent neutralization of a senior ISWAP commander, Abu Jarir, in Yobe State as a mark of the effectiveness of precision airstrikes and improved inter-agency synergy.
“The soldier must never be demoralised. There is no greater honour than defending one’s nation,” Buratai stated, urging the military to intensify its current pressure to deny weakened groups any opportunity to regroup.

Battlefield Gains: The Kukareta and Buratai Engagements

Buratai’s commendation comes on the heels of major battlefield victories. Following a repelled attack on the Kukareta community in Borno State—where 24 insurgents were initially neutralized—troops conducted follow-up exploitation operations.

• Military sources confirmed the discovery of seven additional freshly dug graves and two more ISWAP bodies along withdrawal routes.
• A massive cache of weaponry was recovered, including 18 AK-47 rifles, three General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), and two anti-aircraft guns.
  The offensive continued into the early hours of April 25, 2026, when troops of the 135 Special Forces Battalion used advanced surveillance systems to intercept a large-scale infiltration attempt in the Buratai District of Biu Local Government Area. The engagement resulted in two terrorists neutralized and the recovery of a motorcycle and ammunition.

Economic Sabotage: Intercepting the Logistics of Terror

Beyond the frontlines, the military has successfully targeted the “nerve center” of insurgent operations: their supply chains.

• Explosives in Zamfara: Troops intercepted a logistics supplier along the Gusau-Magami road, seizing 394 water gel explosives, five electric detonators, and rolls of detonating cord.
• Ammunition in Palm Oil: In a sophisticated attempt to bypass security, a courier was arrested at Lalan Commercial Motor Park in Gusau with 324 rounds of mixed ammunition (Special and NATO) concealed inside a container of palm oil.
• Intelligence and Espionage: The 198 Special Forces Battalion apprehended a suspected spy conducting reconnaissance on troop dispositions in Borno, further crippling the insurgents’ intelligence-gathering capabilities.

A Regional Shift: The Mali Crisis

The security successes in Nigeria stand in stark contrast to the escalating volatility in the Sahel. The Front de libération de l’Azawad (FLN) has announced a major expansion of operations in northern Mali. The group claims to have captured the strategic city of Kidal and seized control of areas in Gao, while overtly calling for the overthrow of the regime in Bamako.

Communal Backlash

The prevailing security tension has also fueled instances of “jungle justice.” In Langtang North, Plateau State, an angry mob set ablaze three indigenes suspected of murdering a traditional ruler, Mr. Ponzhi Kwallak, after the suspects were caught attempting to sell the monarch’s stolen motorcycle.
As Nigeria navigates these complex security challenges, Buratai has called on citizens to avoid spreading unverified propaganda and instead support the troops through moral encouragement and timely intelligence. “With sustained military pressure and public support, Nigeria is on course to restoring peace,” he concluded.