₦airaland Forum

There are indications that suspected terrorists in the North are relocating following the missile attacks carried out by the United States of America on Thursday night.

Credible community leaders told Sunday PUNCH that they noticed movements as the hoodlums migrated in small numbers after the Christmas Day attacks.

President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that the US military carried out deadly strikes against Islamic State terrorists in northwestern Nigeria.

Confirming the strike, the Federal Government said it gave the US support and that the strikes were carried out on targeted areas being used by the terrorists.

However, no casualty was recorded in the two locations struck by the missiles.

At Jabo, Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, a missile hit a farmland, while some buildings were affected in Offa, Kwara State.

Officials of Tangaza LGA in Sokoto State, however, said additional missile strikes were carried out on suspected hideouts of the Lakurawa armed group in parts of the Sokoto axis.

Although there were no deaths, several residents sustained injuries, while properties worth millions of naira were destroyed.

Influx of bandits in Benue

The Chairman of the Traditional Council in Gwer West LGA of Benue State, Daniel Abomtse, raised the alarm over the influx of armed herders into some communities following the US strike.

Speaking to one of our correspondents on Saturday, the traditional ruler said he noticed the presence of armed herders in his domain.

He said, “I felt their movement in my local government as well as in Agatu LGA. They have been running away from Sokoto to coastal areas in Gwer West and Agatu with sophisticated arms and grazing openly. They are in my domain.”

While appreciating the US strike, Abomtse called on Trump to extend the operations to Benue, Kogi, Taraba, Niger and Plateau states.

“What President Trump has done is the best thing to have happened to the government of Nigeria. I commend him for dealing with the menace in the country, which began about 16 years ago,” he added.


Efforts to get confirmation of Abomtse’s claims from the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, Udeme Edet, were unsuccessful, as her phone rang out and messages sent were not replied to as of the time of filing this report.

Sokoto terrorists in disarray


Security sources and residents said the Christmas attacks had disrupted the operations of bandits and forced them out of their hideouts.

Community leaders in Tangaza, Gudu and parts of Illela in Sokoto told Sunday PUNCH that there had been signs of dislocation and movement among armed groups since the strike.

According to some of them, who spoke on condition of anonymity, some bandits were seen moving in smaller numbers towards remote forest corridors, while others were believed to have attempted crossing into neighbouring border communities to evade aerial and ground surveillance.

A community leader in Tangaza said the airstrike “sent a strong signal” and forced criminal elements to abandon familiar routes and camps.

“People are cautious, but there is relief that their hideouts were hit,” he added.

Government officials in Sokoto State said intelligence assessments were ongoing to determine the direction and scale of bandit movement after the strike.

A senior official said security agencies had been placed on alert to prevent terrorists from infiltrating safer communities, stressing that border patrols and joint operations with federal forces were being intensified to block escape routes.

A security expert, Bashar Umar, said the state government, in collaboration with the military and other security agencies, was strengthening surveillance across flashpoints, particularly in border local governments to curb the terrorists movement.

US scans Sambisa Forest


A United States congressman, Riley Moore, said the strikes prevented “deadly Christmas attacks in Nigeria”.

Moore, who stated this on Saturday on X, noted that Christians in Nigeria were killed in the last two Christmas seasons.

“This year, thanks to @POTUS, radical Islamic terrorists were on the receiving end of 12 Tomahawk missiles as a present.


“The successful strikes on ISIS, in coordination with the Nigerian government, are just the first step to secure the country and end the slaughter of our brothers and sisters in Christ,” Moore added.

Sunday PUNCH learnt that the US had resumed surveillance operations in the Sambisa Forest, Borno State.

A Sahel-focused terrorism tracker, Brant Philip, disclosed this on X on Saturday, sharing flight-tracking data indicating that an aircraft was operating over Borno State.

According to the post, the aircraft identified was a Gulfstream V, a long-range business jet commonly modified for ISR missions.

“The United States resumed ISR operations today on ISWAP in the Sambisa forest, Borno State in North-East Nigeria, after a pause of one day following the strikes in Sokoto State,” he wrote.

Terrorists dislocated, may seek international support – Experts

A security analyst and Chief Executive Officer of Beacon Consulting, Kabiru Adamu, said fleeing terrorists might attempt to cohabit with law-abiding citizens.

Adamu, a resident of Sokoto, said the terrorists might also seek support from international terror groups and governments sympathetic to their cause.

He called on security agencies to enhance surveillance capabilities to monitor terrorist movements and prevent infiltration of safe areas.

Adamu said, “There is going to be dislocation after the US strike. The terrorists will leave known locations and most likely try to integrate with law-abiding communities.

“They will also spin a narrative that a Christian country, the United States, is attacking Muslims in Nigeria. They will not say they are terrorists but will use this to gather support or sympathy.

“They will seek support from other terror groups around the world, including membership, tactics and funding. Nigeria may become a theatre of terror conflict as a result.

“Propaganda is another strategy they will adopt after the attacks, especially in cyberspace. They are likely to release fake news and propaganda materials to drive support and attract funding and membership.”

Also, a Professor of Political Science and Defence Studies at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, Tar Usman, said the US military onslaught would distract the terrorists from planning and executing attacks as they grapple with the reality that a powerful global nation had joined forces with Nigeria.

According to him, the uncertainty surrounding possible future strikes will heighten fear among the terrorists and disrupt their operations.

“We do not know when next they (US) will strike, so there will be panic in the camp of the terrorists, and that is a good one for us because it will distract them from carrying out their notorious activities,” he added.

He explained that insurgent groups often take advantage of periods of calm to plan attacks, but noted that the current situation could deny them that opportunity.

Usman, however, cautioned that the intervention would not automatically bring an end to terrorism, warning that the groups could adopt new tactics.

He said, “I can also see a situation where they will try to disappear and mix with the public, but with vigilance, I hope our intelligence agencies would intercept them.

“We should not be under any illusion that they will abandon their notorious activities instantly. Maybe in the fullness of time, we will see the full impact of the US intervention.”

A top government source told Sunday PUNCH that the US and Nigeria were collaborating to end killings, banditry and kidnapping.

The source disclosed that some of the terrorists were escaping to Kogi and neighbouring states, adding that measures were being put in place to flush them out.

Source: https://punchng.com/terrorists-relocate-after-us-air-strikes

Running to nowhere. Donald Trump no time!
Please sustain the slavo. Do the needful reconnaissance, locate the appropriate coordinates and do the re-straffing.

If to say Nigeria na county wey get head, this na very good time to take the bandits unaware and get them at their vulnerable moments. But you won't see that happen, rather we go dey completely depend on USA to always come to our aid. Next year, you go see these bunch of incompetent leaders dey allocate billions of naira for weapons and whereas nothing positive go come out. Oga your parents don already make the mistake of borning you for this country without any alternative, don't make that same mistake by giving birth to your child without an alternative passport of a sane country. Laslas, Nigeria would be fine again but the question is WHEN WOULD THAT BE?

What do I even know sef aside enlightening my fellow men nationwide with the good news of DNA test

This is some sort of good news but the terrorist need to be flushed out

Anywhere dem relocate to inside the bush continue to give them more air strikes.
One day Nigeria go overcome this evil people

It may not be possible to completely wipe out terrorists anywhere in the world, but at least if a government is serious about taking action, there'll be evidence. The US has shown in few weeks that it doesn't take rocket science to deal with terrorism. Shame to the Nigerian government.

Whoever believed that FG have input in the coordinated attacks on the the bandits should have his brain examined. Well, except the data boys that have sworn to defend the undefendable.

If you also think that FG gave Intel to the US government then I you must be the biggest j.ok.e of the year. Government through its military that have time without number carried out bombing of the civilians communities in their imprecise air strikes are quite to announce to their gullibles that they collaborated and also gave US government Intel.

Terrorist sympathizer claiming to provide Intel against terrorism. Very laughable...

If true, the reported movement of suspected terrorists reflects the ripple effects of global military actions on regional security dynamics. Such relocations could pose new risks if not closely monitored. It underscores the need for heightened intelligence coordination among Nigerian and international security agencies to prevent spillovers and ensure vulnerable communities are protected.

No place to hide,run face the war you started.

Lol, the US strikes is not that effective but it works in checkmating them and making them reconsider a strike on Christmas day and there was no terrorist attacks on boxing day either....

This is why I said the attack wasn't effective, if the attack was a success we would have seen an assessment of the impacts in all areas strikes, there would be body counts littered around because tomahawk cruise missiles is not a joke, it's precise and have a little crater after hit... That's not the point, the point is, we would have seen images of all the strikes with their body, weapons and their motorcycle they move around with... I'm glad they got checkmate.

Gumi would have instruct them after the attack to lay low or split up, then they know the attacks wouldn't end on 25 so they will try to find a leverage, they will kidnap a lot of people to avoid getting bombed, but they forgot they're not dealing with Nigeria government anymore, the yanks got a register for collateral damages and doesn't give a flying Bleep about civilian casualties

How can a community in Benue not know people who are their people, identify immigrants and have them explain what brought them to their community? One beautiful thing about local communities is that everyone knows everyone

They can run but they can't hide.

Them n their supporters

adenigga:
Source: https://punchng.com/terrorists-relocate-after-us-air-strikes

Rubbish publications in all ramifications.

All these newspapers vendors should be banned for always publishing unconfirmed news and partial information.[s] ‘He said, “I felt their movement in my local government as well as in Agatu LGA. They have been running away from Sokoto to coastal areas in Gwer West and Agatu with sophisticated arms and grazing openly. They are in my domain.”[/s]

Shïtty news from shïtty punch, so they're no longer terrorists but hoodlums, ehn?? 😏 😏 😏 😏 😏

The Nigerian armies can do even worse to the terrorists than what the US department of war has done.

I don't know why our armies are not allowed or encouraged to fight these terrorists head-on.

These bastards are cowards and they fear death more than harmless citizens they have been terrorising.

12 Tomahawk missiles as a present.
12 deadly apostles sent to the terrorists.

I NEED 12 GALLONS OF TEARS FROM THIS TERRORIST SYMPATHISERS.

I have been saying this forever.

Terrorists are mobile, if you blow up one place they will move to another place.

Now they will make places that were safer, unsafe for everyone.

https://www.nairaland.com/8568923/why-us-airstrikes-bandits-make

Air strike,thank God for the Christmas of this year done with peace no zero calamity and destruction from this unfaithful bandit islam.who are spoiling Islamic religion.

People respond to action ,not talk .

walozanga:
12 Tomahawk missiles as a present.
12 deadly apostles sent to the terrorists.

I NEED 12 GALLONS OF TEARS FROM THIS TERRORIST SYMPATHISERS.

I am sure you didn't read the article.

The terrorists have relocated to benue state..making the country more insecured

Satellite don pick them, government with USA go soon go find them strike them and their sponsors to pieces.
No peace for the wicked

I said the first airstrike is to scatter them. More airstrike.... Those bombs are not for free.

Pentagon will build outpost in Zamfara and Benue/Jos.

Zamfara is strategic.

What I noticed about Nigerians is dat our IQ is below average.

Why relocating ? I thought they were not scared of death? Are they not eager to meet their 72 virgins any more?

If they like they should relocate, these air strikes will locate them where they are.

If you want to understand this issue, do not listen to these Nigerian emergency security experts..

Have they not been relocating everytime all this while even after been hit by NAF?
The problem is their sympathisers and internal collaborators because of primordial sentiments and futile dominance.

Meanwhile,we have not seen a single body of these terrorists since the US airstrikes.

And the Nigerian military and state governments will watch them relocate comfortably without doing anything about it.
You see the effect of the Muslim/Muslim ticket we warned you people about?

Ground troops would be the next option. Decimate them, take charge of the porous borders so that there is no influx of more terrorists. Flush them out in the North and then rebuild a standard, well guarded border in the North. If northerners refuse these terms, then we divide the country

There is actually nowhere to run if the u.s have eyes on you if you like hide inside water they will still fish you out ..ask bin Laden

So the Nigerian army cannot mop up fleeing terrorists? So they want the US army to do everything for them?

thesicilian:
It may not be possible to completely wipe out terrorists anywhere in the world, but at least if a government is serious about taking action, there'll be evidence. The US has shown in few weeks that it doesn't take rocket science to deal with terrorism. Shame to the Nigerian government.

The US has done NOTHING so far.

They bombed an empty farm in SOKOTO, far from Borno and Sambisa.

The Nigerian army has killed thousands of terrorists, and lost many soldiers.

But of course If a white man even spits on you it's like ice cream in your head.