The Nigerian military has arrested a notorious bandit leader, Adamu Buba, popularly known as Mai Pankshin, along with 13 of his gang members.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) confirmed the development on Friday, disclosing that the group was responsible for several deadly attacks and violent crimes across Plateau and Kaduna States.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, said the arrests followed coordinated raids by troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) on terrorist camps and criminal hideouts in Plateau State—Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Jos South, Bassa, and Jos North—as well as Jaba and Zangon Kataf in Kaduna.
Troops also recovered guns, ammunition, and motorcycles during the operation. According to the military, interrogations are ongoing.
Meanwhile, on August 17, 2025, OPSH Commander Major General Foluso Oyinlola handed over 220 assorted weapons and 1,874 rounds of ammunition recovered from criminals to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Jos.
Between August 13 and 20, the Armed Forces launched multiple operations across the country under different task forces.
In the North Central and North West, troops of Operation Whirl Stroke conducted raids in Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, Kogi, and the Bwari Area Council of the FCT, where they neutralized terrorists, arrested suspects—including a gunrunner—and rescued kidnapped victims.
In the North East, under Operation Hadin Kai, combined ground and air offensives targeted Boko Haram and ISWAP hideouts in Monguno, Gwoza, Konduga, Damboa, and Bama (Borno and Yobe States). The military reported that several terrorists were killed, nine collaborators arrested, and three kidnapped victims rescued. Weapons, ammunition, motorcycles, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and ₦191,700 cash were also recovered.
Additionally, in the North West, under Operation Fagge Yamma, troops recorded further successes in Zamfara, Katsina, and Sokoto States, killing terrorists, arresting 11 suspects, and rescuing 46 kidnapped victims.
