Nigerian troops killed nine terrorists in a precision airstrike in Borno and apprehended six suspected kidnappers and terrorist logistics suppliers who were receiving treatment for gunshot wounds in Plateau.

A military operational report released on Friday stated that the successes were recorded during ongoing operations across the North-East, North-Central and other theatres.

It noted that an air interdiction mission, codenamed GUARDIAN, tracked three motorcycles conveying nine terrorists around Mai Hisari Arege in Abadam council area of Borno.

It added that the aircraft conducted a precision strike, destroying the motorcycles and neutralising all nine terrorists.

The report also revealed that troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN arrested six suspected kidnappers and terrorist logistics suppliers at a hospital in Jos South council area.

It said the suspects, who were receiving treatment for gunshot and machete wounds, are in military custody for further investigation.

“Troops also arrested a Fulani youth leader in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna over alleged links to a recent terrorist attack on Naridon Community. In Benue, troops conducting offensive operations in Ukum Local Government Area made contact with suspected terrorists, killing one while others fled.

“The troops recovered a locally fabricated pistol, a motorcycle and other items during the operation. Meanwhile, troops responding to an attack on herders in Guma Local Government Area of Benue arrested a suspect accused of macheting a herder; the injured victim was evacuated for medical treatment,” it said.

(NAN)

A former presidential candidate, Pat Utomi, has disclosed that he has been engaged in a political fight with a chieftain of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, Buba Galadima for the past 50 years but they are still friends.

Utomi made the disclosure in Abuja after NDC inaugurated the reconciliation panel to settle grievances and litigation from its congresses, convention and primaries ahead of 2027 elections.

The political economist assured that the party would reunite its aggrieved members before the general elections.

He said: “I feel humble and challenged by this assignment. I’m extremely privileged to be in the company I’m in. 

“Buba Galadima and I have been fighting for 50 years, and we are still very good friends. So it means that we can equally make other people become friends.

“It’s a privilege to be able to work with such people, which shows that it is possible for us to truly get this thing done for everybody to see the future.”

He insisted that the NDC is a political party for the future with its aim of engaging the youths.

“One of the things we have agreed on is that the NDC is a party of the future focused on the young people of this country. The median age of our country is 19.5 years,” he said.

The crisis in the NDC involves congresses, post-primary election disputes, among others.

To address the internal dissent ahead of the 2027 general elections, the party inaugurated the 23-member National Reconciliation Committee in Abuja on August 6, 2026.

The aim of the 23-member National Reconciliation Committee in Abuja is to unify the party.

The committee is chaired by Utomi with Galadima serving as co-chairman and they are tasked with mediating disputes and integrating aggrieved members before campaign deadlines.