DHQ hands over 75 ‘reformed’ terrorists to Borno State govt, announces arrest of two ‘notorious’ others, gunrunner

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has announced the handover of 75 “reformed terrorists” to the Borno State government for rehabilitation, reinforcing the military’s approach of increasingly combining force with dialogue and ensuring that willing defectors from terrorist groups are given a fair chance to reintegrate into society.

Earlier, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa had credited the Operation Safe Corridor initiative as a crucial element in addressing insurgency by providing pathways for repentant militants to surrender and reintegrate.

The two notorious terrorists, hitherto on the military’s watch list, were arrested by soldiers fighting the counter insurgency war in the Northwest State of Sokoto.

Besides the arrested ‘notorious terrorists’, one Shehu Bagiwaye, a gunrunner was also arrested. They were arrested in Gudu and Gusau Local Government Areas of Sokoto and Zamfara States.

Director Defence Media Operations, Major-General Markus Kangye, who made this known, said the soldiers also killed scores of terrorists in the last one week at various theaters across the country.

Gen. Kangye, at a media briefing on military and security agencies operations conducted in the last two weeks, further stated that the rehabilitated persons include seven males, 34 females and 34 children.

Gen. Kangye, said: “The Nigerian military in conjunction with hybrid forces, ONSA team and security agencies continued their offensive against terrorists and other criminal elements in joint operations during the week under review. They conducted fighting and confidence building patrols, raids, ambushes and clearance as well as search and rescue operations with resounding successes.

“During operations across various theatres, several terrorists were neutralized. Their collaborators were also apprehended, while some kidnapped victims were rescued. The week also witnessed the handover of rehabilitated terrorists to the Borno State Government. Gunrunners, oil theft collaborators and other violent extremists were also apprehended. Several close air support, armed reconnaissance patrols as well as air interdiction missions were conducted by the Air Component during the week.

“Between 10 – 20 March 2025, scores of terrorists were neutralized while suspected others were arrested. Troops also apprehended 23 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued some kidnapped hostages.”

He said In a related development, troops recovered huge cache of assorted arms and ammunition during the week.

The weapons recovered include; AK47 rifles, locally fabricated guns, Dane guns, pump action, locally fabricated pistols and RPG tubes amongst others. The ammunitions recovered include; various kinds of 7,62mm ammo as well as RPG bombs.