Army Nabs Terror Kingpin Babawo Badoo, Arrest 37, Kill 50 Terrorists

The Nigerian Army has recorded a major breakthrough with the arrest of a wanted terror and violent extremist leader, Idris Idris, also known as Babawo Badoo.
No fewer than 37 other criminal suspects were also arrested during coordinated operations across the country.
A reliable Army Headquarters source told NAN yesterday that the operations also led to the rescue of 15 kidnapped victims.
He added that two terrorists were killed as well as recovery of assorted weapons, ammunition, and logistics items across various theatres of operation.
According to the source, Babawo Badoo is the notorious insurgent leader behind a series of deadly attacks and abductions in the North Central region.
“He was arrested on Oct. 20 by troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE at Lugere Village, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Plateau.
“The suspect was apprehended following credible intelligence, and troops recovered an AK-47 rifle, a magazine loaded with 10 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, a mobile phone, and N12,000,” he said.
The source added that troops of Sector 1, Operation ENDURING PEACE, working with the Nigerian Police and Civilian Joint Task Force, raided a criminal hideout at Saya Village in Bassa Local Government Area.
He said the troops apprehended 19 suspects currently undergoing investigation.
In the North East, he said troops of Operation HADIN KAI, in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS), apprehended an ISWAP/JAS terrorist informant and ransom collector in Borno.
According to him, troops also ambushed and neutralised two terrorists at Ngirbuwa Village, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe and recovered an AK-47 rifle with three magazines.
The source disclosed that six suspected terrorist collaborators and logistics suppliers were also arrested in Borno and Yobe States.
According to him, troops recovered 33 jerrycans of petrol, food items, mobile phones, and fake identification cards belonging to the Lake Chad Fishermen Association, allegedly used to conceal criminal activities.
“Several victims who escaped from terrorist enclaves in Kukawa, following intense military bombardment, were rescued and given medical attention,” the source added.
The source further revealed that troops of Operations WHIRL STROKE and ENDURING PEACE intensified clearance operations in Benue, Nasarawa, and Kaduna States.
“Troops of 34 Artillery Brigade in Imo also arrested a suspected IPOB/ESN member in possession of a locally made pistol and live cartridges.
“In another operation, 7 Guards Battalion troops in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) intercepted five illegal immigrants of Chadian, Cameroonian, and Nigerien origin.
“Troops rescued 10 kidnapped victims in separate incidents across Kwara, Katsina, and Plateau states,” he added.
Similarly, troops of the Operation “Hadin Kai” (OPHK) have killed more than 50 terrorists and repelled multiple coordinated attacks on military locations in Borno and Yobe.
The military said the simultaneous attacks occurred between midnight and 0400 hours yesterday when terrorists launched assaults on troops’ positions in Dikwa, Mafa, Gajibo and Katarko, situated within Sectors I and II of the Joint Operations Area.
The Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North East (OPHK), Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, in a statement yesterday in Maiduguri, said the troops fought gallantly and professionally, repelling the attacks and inflicting devastating losses on the terrorists.
“In all instances, troops stood firm, fought gallantly, and professionally repelled the attacks, dealing the terrorists a heavy, decisive and bloody blow,” Uba stated.
He said the coordinated ground and air operations, backed by precision strikes from the Air Component of OPHK, led to the neutralisation of over 50 terrorists across all the locations.
According to him, troops also recovered 38 AK-47 rifles, seven PKT machine guns, five RPG tubes, two GPMGs, hand grenades, and thousands of assorted rounds of ammunition after the clashes.
“The precision strikes, coupled with enhanced battlefield awareness provided by the Theatre’s Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) assets, gave troops additional leverage and impetus to respond with overwhelming and lethal force,” Uba added.
He disclosed that over 70 wounded terrorists were being pursued by ground troops, with the Air Component maintaining close coordination to ensure total clearance of the fleeing remnants.
Intelligence reports, he said, indicated that the attackers who stormed Dikwa and Gajibo manoeuvred from the Cameroon axis, while those who attacked Katarko emerged from the Timbuktu Triangle, a notorious terrorist enclave.
Uba said some gallant troops sustained injuries but were in stable condition, while some vehicles and buildings in Mafa and Dikwa were gutted by fire following RPG and drone attacks by the terrorists.