Nigerian troops have recorded a major breakthrough in the fight against insecurity after the body of a suspected terrorist leader, Ibrahim Battijo, was exhumed from a remote forest in Kogi State.
The development comes days after a military operation reportedly stopped a planned mass abduction targeting students sitting for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in Iluke, a community in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area.
Security sources described the operation as one of the most significant successes recorded in the area in recent months. Moreover, the mission is said to have disrupted a criminal network linked to several kidnapping and banditry incidents across parts of Kogi State.
The operation was led by the Commander of 12 Brigade Lokoja, Brigadier General Karim Sidi, who directed troops into a forest near Iluke in Bunu District. During the mission, the remains of the suspected kingpin were recovered from a burial site hidden deep inside the forest.
Military authorities said Battijo was reportedly killed on June 10, 2026, during an operation that prevented a planned attack on students writing the ongoing WASSCE examinations.
According to security officials, the operation was launched after intelligence reports suggested that armed criminals were planning to abduct candidates and other residents within the area.
However, troops moved swiftly and engaged the suspected criminals before the plan could be carried out.
As a result, the operation was considered a major victory against criminal elements operating in the region. Furthermore, parts of the gang’s network were dismantled during follow-up security operations.
The military explained that the exhumation was necessary to support an autopsy and additional investigations.
