Nigerian Army’s troops said to have apprehend a notorious bandit leader, Idris Idris (alias Babawo Badoo), with 37 other suspects in a series of operations spanning the past three days.
In a statement on its social media handle on Thursday, also said own troops during the coordinated operations across the country rescued 15 kidnap victims, neutralized two terrorists and recovered assorted weapons, ammunition and logistics items.
The statement said the high-profile suspect, Babawo Badoo, was arrested on October 20, 2025, by troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE at Lugere Village in Barkin Ladi local government area of Plateau State.
The troops, acting on credible intelligence, apprehended the suspect and recovered one AK-47 rifle, a magazine loaded with 10 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, a mobile phone, and the sum of ₦12,000.
“The successful operation dealt a major blow to the network of violent extremists operating in the North-Central region,” it said.
Babawo Badoo and his accomplices have been terrorising communities in Plateau and neighboring States in the North Central region.
In a related development, troops of Sector 1, Operation ENDURING PEACE, in collaboration with the Nigerian Police and Civilian Joint Task Force, raided a suspected criminal hideout at Saya Village in Bassa local government area of Plateau State where 19 suspects were arrested, undergoing further investigation.
According to the reports, the successful operation dealt a significant blow to violent extremist networks operating in the North Central region.
On other troops’ breakthroughs in the North Central, the source said, Operations WHIRL STROKE and ENDURING PEACE in Benue, Nasarawa, and Kaduna States intensified clearance operations, arresting several violent extremist informants and recovering locally fabricated weapons.
In the North East theatre of operation, troops of Operation HADIN KAI and personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS) apprehended an ISWAP/JAS terrorist informant and ransom collector at the Customs IDP Camp in Jere Local Government Area, Borno State.
Additionally, troops ambushed and neutralized two terrorists at Ngirbuwa Village in Gujba Local Government Area, recovering one AK-47 rifle with three magazines.
Reports also revealed, “In further operations, troops arrested six suspected terrorist collaborators and logistics suppliers in Borno and Yobe States. Items recovered included 33 petrol-filled with 25 litres of jerrycans, food items, mobile phones and identification cards belonging to the Lake Chad Fishermen Association, used to conceal their criminal activities.
“Troops also rescued several victims who escaped from terrorist enclaves following an intense Military bombardment in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.”
On other troops’ breakthroughs in the North Central, the source said Operations WHIRL STROKE and ENDURING PEACE in Benue, Nasarawa, and Kaduna States intensified clearance operations, arresting several violent extremist informants and recovering locally fabricated weapons.
Troops also rescued four kidnapped victims in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, five in Dan Musa Local Government Area of Katsina State, and one in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, responding swiftly to a distress call.
Additionally, in Tafawa Balewa, Bauchi State, troops rescued two injured civilians who were attacked by unidentified criminals and evacuated them to a nearby hospital.
In Imo State, the source said, 34 Artillery Brigade apprehended a suspected IPOB/ESN member in possession of a locally made pistol and live cartridges, while 7 Guards Battalion troops in the Federal Capital Territory intercepted five illegal immigrants of Chadian, Cameroonian and Nigerien origin.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, upon being briefed on the developments, commended the troops’ resilience, operational efficiency and dedication.
He further urged them to sustain the momentum in the ongoing efforts to rid the nation of all forms of criminality.
Credits: THE NATION