Troops nab five suspected bandit informants in Niger, recover phones, cash
Niger State Troops Capture Suspected Informants in Anti-Insurgency Operations
NIGER STATE, Nigeria — In a concerted effort to eliminate insurgent threats, troops from the Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Savannah Shield have apprehended five suspected informants linked to banditry and terrorism in separate operations across Niger State.
Captain Jamilu Muhammed Yahaya, the Acting Media Information Officer for the Headquarters Joint Task Force, North Central, reported that during these operations, the troops seized communication devices, cash, and other evidence implicating the suspects in criminal activities.
On June 6, 2026, troops conducting routine patrols along the Doro axis in Wawa, Borgu Local Government Area, detained three suspected informants. Investigations revealed their connections to a bandit group operating in Duru, near Kainji Lake National Park.
Among the recovered items were two Tecno keypad phones and an MP3 device containing recordings that promoted violence. These recordings included claims regarding the abduction of an individual in Kaduna State and demands for a ransom of ₦60 million. Troops also confiscated ₦113,400 in cash. The suspects and the items are currently under investigation.
In another operation, members of the 221 Battalion, also part of JTF-NC OPSS, arrested two suspected informants while patrolling the cantonment perimeter. Initial investigations revealed that these individuals were likely gathering intelligence for a potential bandit attack.
A further examination of one suspect’s mobile phone yielded a photograph of a beheaded person, dated May 2, 2026, suggesting possible links to terrorist activities. Recovered items included an Android mobile phone, a Tecno keypad phone, a motorcycle, and ₦86,100 in cash. The suspects have been taken into custody for ongoing investigations.
Authorities continue to work diligently to apprehend additional members of the criminal network.
