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In a sweeping crackdown on terrorism and economic sabotage, the Nigerian military has taken out a high-profile terrorist kingpin, Bello Kaura, and foiled a sophisticated crude oil theft network valued at over ₦262 million.
The Defence Headquarters announced Thursday that the dual victories were achieved between April 10 and 16, 2025, under two major operations—Operation Fansan Yamma in the North-West and Operation Delta Safe in the South-South—highlighting the Armed Forces’ expanded scope in tackling both security and resource-related crimes.
Major General Markus Kangye, Director of Defence Media Operations, said troops deployed across Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna, Niger, and other states engaged in fierce combat operations, resulting in the neutralization of dozens of terrorists. Among them was Bello Kaura, a notorious insurgent leader linked to multiple violent campaigns in the North-West, eliminated in a precision airstrike.
“Kaura’s death marks a significant disruption to the terrorist leadership chain,” Kangye noted, adding that 17 kidnapped victims were rescued during the operations.
Parallel to the counter-terrorism missions, troops in the Niger Delta uncovered and dismantled a vast illegal oil refining syndicate. The operation led to the recovery of 117,395 litres of stolen crude, thousands of litres of illegally refined petroleum products, and the destruction of 42 illegal refining sites and their logistics chains.
Recovered items included boats, speedboats, vehicles, motorcycles, mobile phones, and industrial equipment—evidence of the sophistication of the illicit trade.
“These acts of economic sabotage won’t be tolerated,” Kangye declared. “We are not just dismantling terror networks; we are also cutting off the lifelines that fund and sustain criminal operations.”
He reiterated the Armed Forces’ unwavering commitment to national security and sovereignty, urging citizens to trust the military’s mission and continue offering useful information.
“We will remain relentless, professional, and people-centered in our operations. Our troops are determined to deny these enemies freedom of action and force them into surrender,” he affirmed
