The Nigerian Army has commenced a coordinated military offensive, codenamed Operation Igbo Danu, also referred to as Operation Forest Flush, resulting in the neutralisation of terrorists and the rescue of abducted persons in parts of Kwara State.
The development was made public in a statement released on Friday via the Nigerian Army’s X handle. The statement was signed by Captain Maureen Ogbuka, on behalf of the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 2 Division Nigerian Army.
According to the army, troops of the 22 Armoured Brigade, working in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser, carried out sustained offensive operations within the Joint Operations Area between January 23 and 29, 2026.
The operations were led by the General Officer Commanding 2 Division Nigerian Army and Commander Sector 3, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Major General Chinedu Nnebife, alongside the Commander of 22 Armoured Brigade, Brigadier General Nicholas Rume.
“In the engagements, troops conducted fighting patrols in several bandits’ enclaves and successfully neutralised terrorists, while others escaped into the forest with suspected gunshot wounds,” the statement said.
It added that several hideouts and camps belonging to the terrorists were destroyed, compelling them to abandon their locations.
The army further disclosed that troops successfully cleared Garin Dandi, identified as a major bandit enclave in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
“Troops cleared Garin Dandi, a known enclave of bandits in Ifelodun Local Government Area, leading to the decimation of the bandits’ logistics bases and supply systems,” Ogbuka said.
The statement also noted that soldiers advanced into remote camps previously inaccessible to security forces, where abandoned camps and logistics facilities were destroyed, thereby weakening the terrorists’ operational strength.
Despite the difficult terrain, the army said troops sustained aggressive operations across forested areas, restricting the movement of bandits.
“Troops intercepted fleeing elements at various blocking positions, leading to the arrest of suspected bandits, while numerous kidnap victims were rescued from different camps,” it added.
The army observed that some of the bandits were aided by collaborators within surrounding communities.
“Observations from the operations indicate that bandits receive support from collaborators who provide intelligence on troop movements, enabling early withdrawal from targeted locations,” the statement said.
Calling for increased public support, the General Officer Commanding urged residents to provide timely and credible information to assist ongoing military operations.
“The operation is ongoing to deal decisively with all terrorist networks operating within Kwara State,” the statement added.
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