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Defence and Security

Stop Referring To Terrorists As Bandits, Falana Cautions Media, Nigerians

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Human rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has asked the media and Nigerians to stop branding terrorists as mere bandits.

Mr Falana made the appeal in a statement on Sunday while reacting to the Federal Government’s seeming silence on the calls to declare bandits as terrorists.

He made reference to the Chibok situation, as well as IPOB among others who the government was “quick to proscribe” as terrorists and yet has continued to treat banditry ‘lightly’.

“It is public knowledge that the dangerous criminal elements who kidnapped the Chibok and Dapchi secondary school girls in the North East Zone in 2014 and 2017 respectively were not referred to as bandits.

“They were called terrorists by the Federal Government and the media. The description was correct as the abductions carried out by the criminal elements were acts of terrorism. But for reasons best known to the Federal Government the criminal elements who are currently involved in the brutal killing of innocent people and abduction of thousands of people including primary school pupils in the North West Zone are called bandits and not terrorists.

“Embarrassed by the reluctance of the Federal Government to deal decisively with the so-called bandits the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, in separate sittings, unanimously passed resolutions last weekend requesting President Buhari to declare the dangerous criminal elements as terrorists and proscribe them in accordance with the provisions of the Terrorism Prevention Act as amended without any further delay.

“The federal lawmakers also asked President Buhari to declare all the known leaders of the bandits wanted and track them wherever they are for arrest and prosecution. So far, the Federal Government has ignored the resolutions.

“However, as the Federal Government is not prepared to declare them as terrorists we call on the media and the Nigerian people to stop referring to terrorists as bandits,” the Senior Advocate said.

The Senate had during the plenary last Wednesday, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to declare bandits as terrorists.

The federal lawmakers also asked the President to declare all the known leaders of the bandits wanted and track them wherever they are for arrest and prosecution.

The resolutions followed a motion moved by the Senator representing Sokoto East, Senator Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir, and eight others.

There’s however, yet to be any reaction from the presidency.

The calls have come at a time when parts of the country are rife with banditry, wanton killings, and kidnap for ransoms.

But amid that is also the provision of amnesty for repentant bandits which has sharply divided opinions.

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Defence and Security

Nigerian Navy Intercepts 17,000 Litres of Suspected Illegally Refined AGO in Rivers

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August 8, 2026

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The Nigerian Navy has intercepted abour 17,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) in Rivers under Operation DELTA SENTINEL.

This is contained in an operational report by the Director of Naval Information, Capt Abiodun Folorunsho, on Saturday in Abuja.

Folorunsho said, personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER made the interception during ongoing anti-crude oil theft operations within its Area of Operation.

“During the operation, a speedboat conveying the suspected illegally refined petroleum product was intercepted along the Onne/Okrika waterways.

“The recovered speedboat and the suspected illegally refined AGO were handled in accordance with extant anti-crude oil theft procedures.

“Efforts are also ongoing to identify and apprehend those connected with the illegal activity.”

The naval spokesperson said that the latest operational success further demonstrated the navy’s sustained commitment to disrupting the illicit petroleum supply chain.

He said it also denied economic saboteurs freedom of action, while protecting Nigeria’s critical oil and gas infrastructure from criminal exploitation.

Folorunsho reaffirmed the navy’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations to combat crude oil theft, illegal oil bunkering and other forms of economic sabotage, while safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime environment and supporting national economic security.

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Defence and Security

8 Division Garrison Troops Foil Bandit Attack, Prevent Livestock Rustling in Sokoto Community

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August 6, 2026

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A terrorist attack has been foiled by troops of the 8 Division Garrison of the Nigerian Army, chasing away a gang of bandits attempting to rustle livestock in Asarara village in Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
A credible security source from the area disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Sokoto.
The source said the incident occurred on Wednesday when a gang of bandits attacked the community in an attempt to kidnap residents and rustle animals.
“The gallant troops engaged the bandits in a fierce exchange of fire, which forced them to retreat in disarray, while some of the bandits escaped with gunshot wounds.
“The quick response of the troops and continued vigilance saved the lives and property of villagers,” the source said.
The source, who pleaded anonymity, said he had no authority to speak to the press, and added that the bandits had been pushed back to the Gwangi community along the riverside in the area.
The credible source appreciated the cooperation of residents for sharing prompt information and urged them to sustain the effort.
“Proactive measures have been put in place to protect lives and property.
“The swift response, professionalism, and courage displayed by military personnel averted what could have been a tragic incident,” the source said.
The source appealed for continued support from residents, while stressing the need for more vigilance in farming communities.

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Coordinated Troops Operations Rescue 16 Kidnapped Victims, Nab Terror Collaborators

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August 5, 2026

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The Nigerian Army says troops rescued 16 kidnapped victims, recovered 281 rustled livestock and apprehended suspected terrorist collaborators and logistics suppliers in coordinated operations across Borno, Sokoto State, Zamfara and Plateau.

An operational report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday revealed that the operations were carried out in the last 24 hours.

The army said the operations also led to the interception of suspected Boko Haram family members, recovery of suspected hard drugs, mobile phones and other items linked to terrorist activities.

In the North-East, it revealed troops of 222 Battalion intercepted 20 suspected family members of Boko Haram insurgents comprising nine women, two men and nine children along the Gezuwa axis in Bama Local Government Area of Borno.

According to the army, the suspects said they escaped from the Gezuwa terrorist camp following an attack by rival ISWAP fighters and were handed over to military authorities for further profiling.

“Troops also arrested two suspected terrorist collaborators in Geidam, Yobe State, who allegedly supplied hard drugs to terrorists.

“Items recovered included substances suspected to be cannabis, 11 mobile phones and ₦14,530.

In Monguno, troops apprehended two suspected logistics suppliers to ISWAP terrorists.

“The suspects allegedly confessed to conveying food items to terrorists in Kukawa and were found with mobile phones, an assault knife, an ISWAP gate pass and ₦6,600.

“Troops also rescued a woman kidnapped by terrorists since November 2025 in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno and reunited her with her family after medical attention,” the army said.

The army also revealed that troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, rescued 14 kidnapped victims, recovered 281 rustled livestock and two motorcycles after engaging terrorists in Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

It added that separate operations in Sabon Birni, Sokoto, and Zurmi, Zamfara, also forced terrorists to abandon two kidnapped victims, one of whom sustained gunshot wounds and was evacuated to hospital.

The military said that troops also apprehended a suspect linked to attacks in Southern Kaduna during operations in Plateau.

“In Mangu, troops rescued injured farmers attacked by suspected herders, confiscated 27 cattle from fleeing attackers and arrested 19 suspects during follow-up raids in Riyom after two soldiers were killed in an ambush,” the army added.

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