Troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Savannah Shield have arrested five suspected bandit and terrorist informants in separate operations across Niger State, recovering communication devices, cash, and other items allegedly linked to criminal activities.
According to a statement issued on June 7, 2026, by Captain Jamilu Muhammed Yahaya, acting Media Information Officer of Headquarters Joint Task Force (North Central) Operation Savannah Shield, three of the suspects were apprehended during a routine fighting patrol, along the Doro axis in Wawa, Borgu Local Government Area.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects were members of a bandit group operating in Duru, located along the fringes of the Kainji Lake National Park.
Items recovered from the suspects included two Tecno keypad phones, an MP3 device containing recorded propaganda and inciting messages, and a cash sum of ₦113,400.
The statement noted that the audio recordings contained claims of the abduction of an individual in Kaduna State and the collection of a ₦60 million ransom.
The suspects and recovered items are currently in military custody while investigations continue. Security forces are also pursuing other members of the criminal network.
In a separate operation, troops of the 221 Battalion under JTF-NC Operation Savannah Shield arrested two additional suspected informants during a routine patrol along the perimeter fence of a military cantonment.
Initial findings indicated that the suspects had allegedly been deployed to gather intelligence on the cantonment for criminal elements.
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A search of one suspect’s mobile phone reportedly uncovered a photograph of a beheaded individual dated May 2, 2026, suggesting possible links to terrorist activities.
Recovered items from the pair included an Android mobile phone, a Tecno keypad phone, a motorcycle, and ₦86,100 in cash.
The military said the successful arrests highlight ongoing efforts by Operation Savannah Shield to dismantle criminal and terrorist support networks operating within its area of responsibility.
The task force reaffirmed its commitment to denying criminal groups freedom of action and sustaining pressure on threats to peace and security across the North-Central region.
