Troops rescue 26 human trafficking victims, arrest leading terror suspect

.Police train 30 officers in drone technology to tackle insecurity

Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued 26 suspected victims of human trafficking in Benue.

The troops also freed a kidnapped woman in Kogi and arrested a suspected terrorist leader in Kaduna in separate security operations.

This is contained in an operational report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Abuja on Sunday.

The Nigeria Police Force has trained 30 officers in Unmanned Aircraft Systems technology to strengthen its operations against terrorism, banditry and other criminal activities.

The report on the troops’ operation revealed that the operations further led to the recovery of firearms and ammunition and the arrest of suspected criminals across several states.

According to the report, the troops of Operation Whirl Stroke, working with the police and local vigilantes, raided a suspected human trafficking syndicate in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue on Friday.

It said the troops arrested one suspect and rescued 26 victims, who were handed over to the police alongside the suspect for further investigation.

The report also said that in Kaduna, troops of Operation Fansan Yamma arrested a suspected terrorist leader, Yusuf Iliya San, at Maraban Kakini on Saturday,” the report said.

It also said that the suspect was allegedly linked to several criminal activities in the Birnin Gwari area and was still in military custody for further action.

The report added that in a separate incident, troops repelled an attack by suspected terrorists along the Dogon Dawa-Takama axis in Birnin Gwari on Saturday.

According to the report, the attackers fled after troops engaged them. They abandoned an AK-47 rifle, 15 rounds of ammunition, two motorcycles and a mobile phone.

“One soldier was however wounded and evacuated for medical attention.”

The report further said that the troops of Operation Whirl Stroke, working with forest guards, rescued a kidnapped woman at Ette in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi on Friday.

It said that the kidnappers fled on sighting the troops, allowing the victim to be reunited with her family.

The report also said that troops recovered an AK-47 rifle magazine, 60 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and other items during an operation along the Okene-Okpella road in Kogi.

“In Abia, troops working with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested three suspected drug dealers during a raid at Obehie, Ukwa West Local Government Area, on Friday.

“The suspects and recovered illicit substances were handed over to the agency for further action.

“Meanwhile, troops of Operation Enduring Peace reported that a vigilante member was killed by suspected kidnappers in Magi Mbar village, Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau, on Friday.

“The assailants fled on sighting the troops, while efforts to apprehend them continues.

“The operations form part of ongoing military efforts to combat terrorism, kidnapping, human trafficking and other criminal activities across the country,” the report  concluded.

The officers trained are graduates of the Nigeria Police Academy, Kano, completed the Basic Unmanned Aircraft Systems Course One organised by Kaduna-based indigenous defence technology company, Nethawk Aviation Solutions.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the company’s founder and Chief Executive Officer, Flight Lieutenant Adedoyin Akerele (retd.), said the training was part of efforts to develop local expertise in aviation technology and improve security operations.

Akerele said the graduation marked the first phase of a planned programme to train 100 police officers in unmanned aircraft systems.

He said, “The graduation marks a significant milestone in Nethawk’s commitment to specialised aviation training, indigenous technical capacity development and the responsible integration of unmanned aircraft systems into authorised security and public-safety operations.”

Speaking with journalists, Akerele said the training would equip the officers with relevant technical knowledge to support security operations against terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements.

He explained that the company’s 2026 training programme covered aviation ground school, basic and advanced UAS training, specialised mission qualification, mission planning and strategic operations management.

Akerele said Nethawk had conducted unmanned aircraft operations in more than 65 communities across Nigeria, adding that the company had four locally developed UAS solutions and platforms in active operation.

He further disclosed that the company had trained hundreds of aviation personnel for professional roles in law enforcement, the military, the oil and gas industry and the power sector.

“These achievements reflect Nethawk’s commitment to indigenous expertise, practical technology development and the advancement of Nigeria’s aviation technology ecosystem,” he said.

The chief executive added that the company would continue to develop local technical capacity and provide specialised training to meet the country’s evolving aviation and security needs.

Meanwhile, the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Idri Bunu, who represented the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, said the training would strengthen the police’s capacity to combat terrorism and other criminal activities.

Bunu said, “The knowledge acquired by the officers would improve their effectiveness in security operations and enhance the force’s response to emerging threats.”

He commended the initiative, noting that the integration of modern technology into policing was important in addressing the country’s security challenges.

The Police Headquarters Air Wing was represented by Superintendent of Police O. U. Shadrach, while the Divisional Police Officer of Mando Police Station, Chief Superintendent of Police Shaibu Patiko, also attended the ceremony.

Akerele described the graduation as an important step towards achieving the target of training 100 police personnel, reaffirming the company’s commitment to developing indigenous aviation expertise and technological solutions for Nigeria’s security sector.