Nigerian Army Launches Forest Operation, Dislodges Armed Groups in Kwara
The Nigerian Army says troops have recorded notable operational gains against armed groups in parts of Kwara State following sustained offensive actions under a newly launched campaign tagged Operation Igbo Danu, also known as Operation Forest Flush.
The Army disclosed that the operations were conducted by troops of the 22 Armoured Brigade, working with elements from the Office of the National Security Adviser, between January 23 and January 29, 2026.
In a statement issued by the 2 Division Army Public Relations Officer, Maureen Ogubka, the military said the coordinated offensive targeted armed networks operating within the division’s joint area of responsibility.
According to the statement, troops carried out fighting patrols across multiple forest enclaves believed to serve as hideouts for armed elements. Several terrorists were neutralised, while others reportedly fled into surrounding forests with suspected sh0t wounds. Their camps and makeshift facilities were destroyed, effectively dislodging the groups from the locations.
The operation was led by the General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Major General Chinedu Nnebife, alongside the Commander of the 22 Armoured Brigade, Brigadier General Nicholas Rume, as part of wider efforts under Sector 3 of Operation Fansan Yamma.
Troops also cleared Garin Dandi, described by the Army as a long-standing bandits’ enclave in Ifelodun Local Government Area. Logistics bases and supply routes used by the groups were uncovered and demolished.
The military said forces pushed deeper into remote forest areas previously inaccessible to security personnel, uncovering additional abandoned camps and logistics points. Despite the difficult terrain, troops maintained pressure by blocking escape routes and intercepting fleeing suspects.
Several suspected bandits were arrested at blocking positions, while multiple k!dn@pped victims were rescued from different camps across the state.
The Army raised concerns about local collaboration, noting that preliminary observations from the operations indicate that armed groups often receive support from individuals within nearby communities who provide intelligence on troop movements, allowing early withdrawal from targeted locations.
Ms Ogubka said the successes recorded underscore the division’s commitment to degrading terrorist elements and restoring stability in Kwara State, adding that the operation remains ongoing.
The renewed offensive follows a wave of k!dnapp!ng incidents and bandit-related att@cks along the Ifelodun, Edu, and Patigi axis in recent weeks, prompting intensified security measures across the state.
Security analysts note that forest-clearing operations weaken criminal logistics and disrupt movement corridors, but warn that without sustained intelligence coordination, accountability, and community engagement, armed groups may regroup and relocate.
The Army urged residents to continue supporting ongoing operations by providing credible and timely information on the activities of bandits and their collaborators, assuring that troops will “deal decisively with all terrorist networks operating within Kwara State.”
