The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, has revealed that troops engaged in Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) rejected a bribe of N13 million from terrorists during an operation in Plateau State. Additionally, an infamous cult member was arrested in Rivers State as part of the military’s ongoing efforts.
Major General Kangye disclosed this information during a bi-weekly briefing on military operations across the country. He explained that the troops were responding to a distress call regarding terrorist activities when they encountered two terrorists who attempted to bribe them.
“Between July 9 and 16, 2025, troops of Operation Safe Haven conducted offensive operations and responded to distress calls about terrorist activities in the local councils of Bassa, Barkin Ladi, South Wase, Riyom, and Jos East in Plateau State, as well as in the Kaura and Sanga local councils of Kaduna State,” he stated.
“During these operations, we engaged with extremists, resulting in some being killed, 12 arrests, and the rescue of three kidnapped victims. We also recovered weapons and vehicles from the terrorists.”
In addition, during routine patrols, OPSH troops arrested seven armed militias in Barkin Ladi and Jos South local councils of Plateau State, as well as Wamba and Sanga local councils in Nasarawa and Kaduna States.
“On July 9, 2025, our brave troops intercepted a vehicle with bullet holes along Jos, Sanga Road. The suspects attempted to bribe the troops, but they declined. We arrested two suspects and recovered weapons, a vehicle, and N13,742,000 from them. The investigation is ongoing, and the recovered items are now in the custody of the troops,” Kangye said.
In a related development, security forces arrested the notorious cultist Prince Johnson Ishirim and 13 other suspects during coordinated raids. The Defence Headquarters reported that troops of Operation DELTA SAFE arrested Ishirim, also known as Commander Junior, along with 13 suspected criminals and kidnappers in Ahoada East LGA of Rivers State, as well as Oshimiri, Warri South, and Ukwani LGAs of Delta State.
Major General Kangye shared this update during the bi-weekly media briefing at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, highlighting the successes recorded by various Joint Task Forces across the country.
He added that the troops also apprehended perpetrators of oil theft, rescued kidnapped hostages, discovered and destroyed 19 illegal refining sites, and apprehended 42 individuals involved in oil theft. In the Operation DELTA SAFE theatre, troops thwarted oil theft operations valued at over Two Hundred and Ninety-One Million, Three Hundred and Twenty-Six Thousand, Four Hundred Naira (₦291,326,400.00).
On July 10, 2025, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE raided a criminal hideout in Southern Ijaw LGA of Bayelsa State, arresting 28 oil thieves and drug dealers.
Furthermore, Major General Kangye reported that troops of Operation UDO KA eliminated two suspected IPOB/ESN members, arrested 14, and rescued six kidnapped victims across various LGAs in Anambra, Abia, and Imo States. On July 14, 2025, an intelligence-led operation in Udi LGA of Enugu State also led to the rescue of two kidnapped victims.
Additionally, on July 10, our troops arrested a collaborator of IPOB/ESN terrorists, who was tasked with collecting taxes from locals on behalf of the terrorists, and recovered ₦1,500,000.00 from the suspect.
Major General Kangye emphasized that the Armed Forces of Nigeria, in collaboration with Hybrid Forces and other security agencies, continue to deploy advanced strategies to combat these threats and restore peace in affected communities.
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