The Nigerian Armed Forces have declared an all-out war on a newly emerged terror group, Wulowulo, which has been linked to the Boko Haram insurgency and is reportedly operating in parts of Nasarawa and Kwara States.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), in a statement issued this week, confirmed that the group poses a significant security threat in the North-Central region. The military has now initiated intensified counter-terrorism operations aimed at neutralizing Wulowulo and preventing the group from gaining further ground.
Boko Haram Offshoot Raises Alarm in Nasarawa, Kwara
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, first raised public concern over the group’s activities, identifying Wulowulo as a splinter faction of Boko Haram. According to the governor, the group has been terrorizing rural communities in the region, heightening insecurity and putting pressure on already stretched local security resources.
Governor Sule made the disclosure during a recent stakeholders’ security meeting in Lafia, where he called for urgent federal intervention to prevent further spread of the group into other parts of the North-Central zone.
Military: “We Will Go After Every Terrorist Group — No Matter the Name”
Responding to the alert, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, stated that the military would treat Wulowulo like any other terrorist or criminal group threatening national peace.
“Anyone can call themselves any name, Wulowulo or otherwise. To us, they are terrorists, they are bandits, and we will go after them,” said Maj. Gen. Buba during a press briefing in Abuja.
He reiterated that the military’s focus remains on the actions of armed groups rather than their labels, stressing that the government will not allow insurgent elements to exploit rural communities.
Broader Anti-Terror Campaign Continues Nationwide
The crackdown on Wulowulo is part of a broader military campaign targeting insurgency and criminality across the country. In recent operations:
- A suspected commander of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), was apprehended alongside eight accomplices in Imo and Ebonyi States.
- Weapons including AK-47 rifles, ammunition, and a Hilux vehicle were recovered.
- A female IPOB/ESN collaborator was also arrested in Aba, Abia State, where three children of a wanted separatist leader were found under her care.
Kogi State Cracks Down on Criminal Hideouts
Meanwhile, in Kogi State, security forces raided a suspected kidnappers’ camp near Aherin-Bunu in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area. The raid, carried out by a joint task force of military, police, and local vigilantes, led to the arrest of two suspected kidnappers and three individuals posing as medical personnel who were allegedly treating wounded criminals.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo issued a stern warning after the operation, stating that any property or facility found to be aiding criminals would be destroyed, as part of a zero-tolerance approach to crime in the state.
National Security Priorities Shift Toward Emerging Threats
The emergence of Wulowulo underscores the evolving landscape of terrorism in Nigeria, with splinter cells and new factions spreading beyond traditional hotspots in the North-East.
Security analysts say the military’s early recognition of the group and immediate action may help contain its growth before it escalates into a broader insurgency. The Defence Headquarters has promised to sustain momentum and prevent Wulowulo from establishing a permanent foothold.
