The Nigerian Army has apprehended a wanted violent extremist and insurgent leader, Idris Idris, also known as Babawo Badoo, alongside 37 other criminal suspects during coordinated operations across the country.
Babawo Badoo, a notorious insurgent leader behind several deadly attacks and abductions in the North-Central region, was arrested on October 20, 2025, by troops of Operation Enduring Peace at Lugere Village in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Acting on credible intelligence, the troops recovered one AK-47 rifle, a magazine loaded with 10 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, a mobile phone, and N12,000. The arrest dealt a major blow to the network of violent extremists operating in the North-Central region.
In addition to Babawo Badoo’s arrest, the operations led to the rescue of 15 kidnapped victims, neutralization of two terrorists, and recovery of assorted weapons, ammunition, and logistics items.
Troops of Sector 1, Operation Enduring Peace, in collaboration with the Police and Civilian Joint Task Force, raided a suspected criminal hideout at Saya Village in Bassa Local Government Area, arresting 19 suspects.
The operation was part of a broader effort to intensify clearance operations across Benue, Nasarawa, and Kaduna states, where troops arrested several violent extremist informants and recovered locally fabricated weapons.
The Nigerian Army remains committed to creating a safer environment that will promote economic growth and agricultural productivity in line with the Federal Government’s drive for food security.
Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, commended the troops for their resilience, operational efficiency, and commitment to duty, urging them to sustain the momentum in ongoing operations to rid the country of criminal elements.
