In a significant victory for Nigeria’s Armed Forces, notorious terrorist leader Abubakar Bawa Ibrahim, also known as Habu Dogo, has been captured in Rumji Village, Illela Local Government Area (LGA) of Sokoto.
Habu Dogo, a high-profile target on both Nigerian and Nigerien security watchlists, is linked to cross-border terror operations, which have long destabilized communities in the Northwest and neighboring regions.
“The arrest, announced by the Nigerian military marks a crucial advancement in the nation’s intensified counterinsurgency efforts. As troops sweep through the Northwest to neutralize terror networks, Habu Dogo’s capture is expected to weaken the operational strength and morale of affiliated groups in the region.
“The ongoing counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations have continued to degrade the combat capacity of terrorists across the country,” stated Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations.
According to Gen. Buba, nationwide operations by the armed forces have led to the neutralization of 187 militants and the arrest of 262 individuals linked to various forms of insurgency, kidnapping, and oil theft over the past week.
The DDMO also revealed that parallel military efforts in Nigeria’s Southeast have yielded multiple arrests of operatives and commanders affiliated with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its militant wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
“Among those detained are key figures such as Dr. Nnamdi Chukwudoze and Chigozie Ezetoha (alias “Chapet”) in Ihiala LGA, Anambra State, and several others apprehended across Abia and Imo States. This crackdown on IPOB and ESN militants further underscores the military’s broader strategy to dismantle terror and insurgent groups nationwide,” he stated.
Gen. Buba disclosed that in addition to disrupting terrorist networks, the military also intensified anti-oil theft operations in the Niger Delta region.
“Over the past week, troops thwarted an estimated oil theft worth N1.25 billion by destroying illegal refining sites and recovering more than a million liters of stolen crude and refined oil. The seizures included 205 weapons and over 5,200 rounds of ammunition, as well as the destruction of illegal storage facilities and refining apparatus.
“As Nigeria’s military consolidates gains in the fight against terrorism and organized crime, the country’s leadership remains committed to a firm stance against insurgency.
“The terrorists are left with no choice but to surrender or be killed on the battlefield,” concluded Major General Buba, underscoring the military’s resolve to secure lasting peace across Nigeria.
With the arrest of Habu Dogo, a leader once seen as untouchable, the nation takes a major step forward in its mission to restore stability and security.
