Troops of the Nigerian Army have neutralised six terrorists, arrested 11 suspected collaborators and received the surrender of a Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) member in Borno.

This was contained in an operational report on Sunday in Abuja.

The report said the operations, conducted by troops of the Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), targeted terrorist fighters and suspected support networks in Kaga and Gwoza Local Government Areas.

It said troops of 29 Task Force Brigade Garrison, supported by Hybrid Force personnel, ambushed suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP)/JAS terrorists along the Targejeri axis of Kaga at about 12:37 a.

According to the report, six terrorists were neutralised during the encounter, while troops recovered an AK-47 rifle, three magazines and 169 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.

“Other recovered items included two Android phones, three button phones and charms.

“In a related development, troops arrested six additional suspected terrorist collaborators during a follow-up raid in Benisheikh, Kaga, at about 6:20 a.m. on Oct. 24.

“The arrests brought the number of suspects apprehended in connection with the investigation to 11, including five earlier arrests.

“Items listed as recovered during the raid included an AK-47 rifle, three empty magazines, 169 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, three terrorist uniforms, a turban, a head mask, two Android phones, three button phones and charms,” it said.

The report said the suspects were undergoing investigation to establish their alleged involvement in terrorist activities and identify possible links to other members of the network.

It added that troops of 192 Battalion (Main), supported by Hybrid Force personnel at Hambagda Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Gwoza, received a JAS member who surrendered at about 9:20 p.m. on Saturday.

According to the report, preliminary investigation indicated that the individual had escaped from a terrorist enclave in the Mandara Mountains area of Gwoza and decided to abandon terrorism.

“The individual surrendered with an AK-47 rifle and a magazine containing 28 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition,” it added.

The report said the defector was in custody undergoing further investigation and processing in line with established procedures.

It said the operations underscore OPHK’s continued efforts to disrupt terrorist activities, dismantle support networks and encourage defections through sustained, intelligence-led operations.

The military urged members of the public to provide credible and timely information to security agencies to support efforts to restore peace and enable displaced communities to return safely. (NAN)

The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening defence and security cooperation with Nigeria, with emphasis on military training, technology transfer and institutional capacity building.

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Pete Vowles, reiterated the commitment during a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen.

This was contained in a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Vowles reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to sustaining existing security initiatives and exploring new areas of collaboration to address evolving regional and global security challenges.

He described defence and security cooperation as critical pillars of the longstanding bilateral relationship between both countries.

The high commissioner also stressed the need for a mutually beneficial partnership that would promote regional stability and strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to tackle contemporary security threats.

In his response, Oluyede highlighted the longstanding historical ties between Nigeria and the UK, noting that both countries had sustained productive defence relations over several decades.

He said the two countries had continued to collaborate in addressing shared security concerns.

The CDS emphasised the need to sustain and expand existing areas of cooperation, particularly in professional military education, technology transfer and institutional capacity building.

According to him, ongoing defence agreements and training programmes have contributed to improving the professional competence and operational capabilities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

Oluyede emphasised that continued collaboration with strategic international partners remained vital to strengthening the military’s capacity to respond effectively to emerging threats.

He added that such partnerships would also promote greater self-reliance, institutional resilience and operational efficiency within the Armed Forces.

Both parties expressed optimism about the future of the UK-Nigeria defence and security partnership, reaffirming their commitment to consolidating existing achievements and exploring further areas of cooperation for mutual benefit.

By Tambaya Julius, Abuja

Nigeria and Rwanda are exploring new areas of military cooperation, including personnel exchanges, specialised training and local defence equipment production, as both countries seek to strengthen regional security.

The proposals were presented by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, during an official working visit to Rwanda, where he held talks with the Army Chief of Staff of the Rwanda Defence Force, Major General Vincent Nyakarundi.

In a statement, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, said the discussions focused on expanding professional military cooperation and improving the operational capacity of both armies.

Shaibu proposed that two cadets of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) undertake a four-year training programme at the Rwanda Military Academy, with similar opportunities to be made available to Rwandan cadets in Nigeria.

He also called for collaboration between the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and relevant Rwandan institutions to boost local defence production and encourage technology development.

Other areas identified for cooperation include logistics, Military Police training, pre-deployment preparation for peace support operations and the exchange of operational experience in counterterrorism and counterinsurgency.

The Army Chief said both countries could draw on their respective military experiences to tackle emerging security threats, improve operational readiness and promote stability across the region.

He further stressed the need for closer ties between DICON and Rwanda’s defence engineering and procurement institutions to support indigenous equipment manufacturing, technological advancement and greater self-reliance.

During the visit, Shaibu paid tribute to the courage and sacrifices of the Rwandan Patriotic Army, particularly the 600 personnel who defended Kigali during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

He described their resilience and patriotism as enduring lessons in national determination and military leadership.

In his response, Nyakarundi commended the Nigerian Army for providing specialised Military Police and Intelligence training to Rwandan personnel.

He called for expanded professional military education through institutions such as the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Army War College Nigeria and the National Defence College.

The Rwandan Army chief also welcomed the proposed cadet exchange programme and defence industrial partnership, describing the visit as a reflection of growing mutual trust and professional solidarity between the two armies.

The proposed initiatives are expected to provide a framework for deeper military engagement between Nigeria and Rwanda, particularly in training, defence technology and regional security cooperation