Nigerian police neutralize 6 terrorist leaders in southeast; bandits kidnap 22 victims in north

By Kabir Adeniyi

LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) - Police in Nigeria confirmed Saturday that six terror leaders responsible for destabilizing the southeastern area of the country have been neutralized.

Police spokesperson Henry Okoye reported that the terrorists were killed during a gunfight in Imo State when security forces raided a hideout in a forest in Ihube in the Okigwe Local Government Area (LGA).

The group, members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which was declared a terror organization last April, was linked to violent activities.

Okoye confirmed that security forces recovered weapons and materials, including five AK-47 rifles, 552 rounds of ammunition, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), communications gear and eight operational motorcycles.

"Prior investigations had revealed the involvement of the group in several high-profile crimes, including the attack on the Owerri Correctional Center on April 5, 2021, the killing of five policemen in Umunna, Okigwe, on Dec. 12, 2022, and the burning of Arondizuogu Police Station on Feb. 8, 2022," he said. "The group was also involved in multiple kidnappings, including those of West African Examinations Council (WAEC) staff on June 5, 2023, four reverend sisters on Aug. 21, 2022, and four Chinese nationals on Dec. 6, 2023."​​​​​​​

The southeastern region, considered the safest of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones in 2012, has become increasingly unsafe because of IPOB’s actions, leaving residents unable to return to their homes. Recently, one of IPOB’s prominent leaders, Simon Ekpa, was arrested in Finland on charges of supporting terrorism in Nigeria.

In a separate incident, armed bandits abducted 22 people in attacks on the Kugauta and Kitanda communities in Geshere in the Kumana Chiefdom, within the Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, according to sources and media reports.

Twelve people were kidnapped from Kitanda, while 10 were taken from Kusheka. A relative of one of the victims told Anadolu that efforts are underway to secure the release of the hostages.

Northern Nigeria continues to grapple with widespread violence, with numerous killings and kidnappings in recent years. The military has been actively conducting operations against perpetrators.

The defense headquarters reported on Jan. 26 that 79 terrorists were killed and 67 hostages freed in a week-long operation.

The security situation in the north, however, remains unstable, and the government is still faced with the challenge of addressing the underlying causes of the violence.