ONSA Tactical Team Eliminate Notorious Terrorist Kingpin Battijo, 15 Others in Kogi

By Tgnews Reporter

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has been briefed on a major counterterrorism operation that led to the elimination of over 15 terrorists, including notorious kingpin Kachalla Ibrahim Battijo, during a joint operation conducted by the Nigerian Army and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) Tactical Team in Kogi State.

The intelligence-driven operation, carried out on June 10, 2026, successfully neutralised Battijo, a wanted terrorist leader identified as the mastermind behind the recent church attack in Eruku, Kwara State. He was killed during a foiled kidnapping attempt, while several members of his criminal network were also eliminated.

Military sources said the operation dealt a significant blow to terrorist and kidnapping activities across the North-Central region, dismantling critical elements of Battijo’s network and disrupting planned attacks.

Subsequent clearance operations conducted by security forces led to the recovery of more than 15 terrorist bodies, including gang members who attempted to flee following the initial encounter with troops.

In a related development, a team from the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, led by Brigadier General Karim Sidi, on June 15 exhumed Battijo’s body in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State for autopsy and further investigations.

Brigadier General Sidi commended the Office of the National Security Adviser for its strategic support, noting that intelligence and operational assistance provided by the ONSA Tactical Team played a crucial role in the success of the mission.

Meanwhile, Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo, while briefing NSA Ribadu on Monday, disclosed that the operation was driven by actionable intelligence and advanced surveillance capabilities deployed to track Battijo and his associates.

According to the governor, intelligence gathered during the operation also uncovered a plot by the terrorist group to attack and abduct students participating in the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) at Government Secondary School, Iluke, in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area.

Security agencies said the timely intervention not only eliminated a high-value terrorist target but also prevented what could have been a devastating attack on students and educational facilities in the area.

The successful operation underscores the growing effectiveness of intelligence-led security operations and enhanced collaboration among security agencies in tackling terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping across the country.

Officials described the development as a significant victory in ongoing efforts to restore peace and security in the North-Central region and safeguard vulnerable communities from criminal attacks.