The Nigerian Army has arrested twelve suspected terrorists linked to a Boko Haram splinter group known as Mahmuda, during a counterinsurgency operation targeting the Kanji Lake National Park and surrounding border communities.
The operation, codenamed Park Strike Four, is aimed at flushing out insurgents who have been terrorizing residents of Baruten and Kaiama Local Government Areas in Kwara State, as well as Borgu LGA in neighbouring Niger State.
Speaking during an operational assessment visit to military camps in the affected areas, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, Major General Obinna Onubogu, confirmed the arrests. He stated that the suspects were apprehended at various locations within the Kanji Lake National Park and nearby communities during ongoing military raids.
“Two of the arrested individuals have been confirmed as members of the terrorist group, while the others are believed to be accomplices aiding their operations,” General Onubogu revealed.
He noted that the troops, acting on directives from the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Olufemi Oluyede, have been systematically clearing the forested areas, covering over 90 kilometres from Kemanji deep into the Kanji forest, where the insurgents had attempted to establish a base.
“Our mission is to restore sanity to the park and provide safety and renewed hope to communities living in fear. So far, the troops have successfully dislodged the criminal elements and reclaimed the territory,” the GOC stated.
The Nigerian Army has intensified its presence in the region as part of a broader effort to combat terrorism and banditry in north-central Nigeria. Residents in affected communities have been urged to cooperate with security forces and report suspicious activity.