Last week, US President Donald Trump threatened to take military action against Nigeria over alleged religious persecution and terrorism concerns.
The development came after Trump designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, CPC.
Trump’s remarks, viewed in Nigeria as provocative and neo-imperialist, have triggered mixed reactions at home and abroad
Bellnews reported that the threat elicited panic, mixed reactions among Nigerians while creating diplomatic row between Nigeria and the United States of America.
However, Bellnews findings showed that Nigeria’s security architecture is not taking the threat lightly as it has stepped up counterterrorism operations, with intensified onslaught on terrorist hideouts across the country.
Bellnews check on the official Facebook page of the HQ Nigerian Army indicated that the military carried out at least six successive operations in order to flush out terrorists from major parts of the country.
Some of the operations by the military are listed below:
Troops foil kidnap plot, rescue 10 victims in Benue
On Tuesday, the military announced that its troops of Operation Whirl Stroke, OPWS, foiled a kidnap attempt and rescued ten victims from armed abductors along the Zaki-Biam–Wukari road in Benue State.
According to authorities, the rescue followed credible intelligence on November 3, 2025, indicating that the kidnappers, disguised in police uniforms, had set up a checkpoint to deceive unsuspecting travelers.
Among those rescued was Warrant Officer John Richard of 6 Brigade Band, Jalingo, while two other victims remain missing as search operations continue.
Troops repel Boko Haram drone attack in Borno, kill terrorists
The army also announced that its troops of Operation Hadin Kai, OPHK, successfully repelled a coordinated Boko Haram/ISWAP attack on the Forward Operating Base, FOB, Kangar in Mallam Fatori, Borno State, in the early hours of Tuesday.
It stated that the terrorists launched the assault using armed drones and mortar shells, targeting defensive positions of the base.
It stated that despite the heavy onslaught, the troops, reinforced by Sector 3 and supported by Nigerien fighter aircraft, overpowered the insurgents after an intense exchange of fire.
Six terrorists were confirmed neutralised while weapons, drone bombs, ammunition, and grenades were recovered from the scene.
Soldiers kill 19 bandits, repel attack on Kano community
Similarly, troops of the Nigerian Army thwarted a bandit invasion in Shanono Local Government Area of Kano State, killing 19 assailants in a fierce firefight.
Acting on intelligence reports, the soldiers confronted the bandits at Ungwan Tudu and surrounding villages on November 1, 2025.
The troops, supported by other security agencies, engaged the armed criminals who arrived on motorcycles, forcing them to retreat after sustaining heavy losses.
Two soldiers and a local vigilante, however, lost their lives during the encounter, while several motorcycles and mobile phones were recovered.
Army rescues two kidnap victims, recovers N3.8m ransom in Kogi
In another operation, troops of 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, said they rescued two kidnapped victims and recovered N3.8 million in ransom money during a clearance operation in Kogi State.
The military disclosed that the intervention followed credible intelligence on November 2, 2025, about ongoing abductions along the Itobe–Adumu–Ejule axis.
The soldiers engaged the kidnappers in a gun duel while en route to Achigili Forest, forcing the criminals to abandon the victims and flee with gunshot wounds.
The rescued individuals were debriefed and kept in safe custody before being handed over to relevant authorities.
Troops crush multiple terror attacks across Borno, Adamawa
In the north east, troops of Operation Hadin Kai, OPHK, successfully crushed several terrorist attacks and foiled attempts to infiltrate communities in Borno and Adamawa States between October 25 and 31, 2025.
The military reported neutralizing insurgents in Kukawa, Gwoza, and Limankara areas while recovering arms and ammunition.
In one operation, soldiers destroyed a vehicle-borne explosive device in Kukawa and intercepted smuggled fuel and weapons in Adamawa.
Troops also arrested five suspected collaborators during a cordon-and-search mission in Madagali Local Government Area.
Army neutralizes terrorists, rescues 17 victims in nationwide operations
Also on November 2nd, troops of the Nigerian Army neutralized terrorists, rescued 17 kidnapped victims, and arrested 20 suspects during simultaneous operations across the country within 48 hours.
The raids, conducted in the North East, North West, North Central, and South-South regions, targeted terrorist enclaves, kidnappers, and illegal oil refiners.
In Zamfara, troops of 1 Brigade rescued 11 abducted persons, while in Benue and Plateau, Operation Whirl Stroke and Enduring Peace arrested 15 suspects and rescued four victims.
Troops in Bayelsa and Imo also dismantled illegal oil refining camps, recovering stolen crude and equipment.
Troops bust cultists’ hideout in Makurdi, arrest seven suspects
In Benue, troops of Operation Whirl Stroke, OPWS, raided a suspected cultists’ den in the North Bank area of Makurdi, arresting seven suspects and recovering firearms, ammunition, and charms.
The military said the operation was conducted on October 30, 2025, as part of efforts to tackle rising cult-related violence.
Recovered items included two locally made pistols, a cartridge, a laptop, ammunition shells, and bags of charms.
The suspects are currently undergoing interrogation and will be handed over to appropriate authorities for prosecution.
Meanwhile, Deputy Spokesperson of the League of African Ambassadors, John Usanga, said on Tuesday that attention must shift from religious and ethnic explanations for recent killings to less obvious drivers, including the seizure of land and forced displacement.
Speaking on Arise Television, Usanga warned that the violence reflects attempts to take territory and dislodge communities, and urged stakeholders to focus on those underlying causes rather than polarising the nation.
He described the campaign against terrorism and banditry as a guerrilla-style conflict that is difficult to fight using conventional military methods, noting that perpetrators strike quickly and blend into the general population.
He said: “It should be of concern to all parties, concerned that people are being killed.
“And let me tell you this, we are looking at the religious angle and the ethnicity angle in this whole thing, we are forgetting that this thing is also indicative of people taking territories, dislodging people from their lands, and taking over their lands, either for whatever reason.
“So we should focus more on what is not too obvious than what would divide us, and then see how we can, you know, eliminate this problem.
“The fight against terrorism, banditry is not a regular war. You know, Nigeria is very competent when it comes to regular war. We’ve gone to deliver some countries out of problems, regular military problems. I’m not a military personnel.
“But this war is not a war that you can really pinpoint to a position or this one, declaring that this is this. No, this is a war that people just come, guerrilla war, strike and disappear.
“If you have to try to eliminate these people, you have to take into consideration the collateral damage that could result, because these people also mingle with the general population.
“Are you going to take out the whole population? Because you want to fish out the terrorists, which is what I think the idea that President Trump is, you know, kind of cooking.”