Troops Crush Terror Cell in Akoko, Ammunitions Recovered
AKURE — In a surgical strike aimed at dismantling rising insecurity in the Sunshine State, troops of the 32 Artillery Brigade have neutralized two terrorists during a fierce firefight. The tactical operation occurred on February 14, 2026, along the notorious Akunu–Auga axis in Akoko North-East Local Government Area. Acting on credible intelligence regarding suspicious movements, soldiers from the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Auga intercepted the armed gang before they could launch a strike. Consequently, a violent exchange ensued, resulting in the immediate death of two criminals while several others escaped into the forest with life-threatening gunshot wounds.
Major Irabor Njoka, the Brigade’s Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, confirmed the success of the mission in an official statement released in Akure on Monday. The military recovered a significant cache of weaponry, including an AK-47 rifle, two magazines, and 61 rounds of live ammunition. Furthermore, search teams discovered personal effects such as mobile handsets, charms, suspected illicit drugs, and a sum of ₦39,000 at the scene. This collaborative effort featured personnel from the Ondo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun, alongside local vigilante groups.
The Akoko region has recently faced heightened alerts following intelligence reports of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) cells eyeing soft targets in the North-West and North-East senatorial districts. This latest victory underscores the Army’s unwavering resolve to deny criminal elements any freedom of action along identified “death corridors.” In a related development, the Amotekun Corps recently intercepted a truck conveying 61 suspected criminals concealed under bags of beans. Such incidents suggest a coordinated influx of external threats attempting to infiltrate the state’s hinterlands.
Furthermore, Major Njoka emphasized that the Brigade would sustain aggressive clearance operations to exploit the current momentum. The military intends to intensify patrols and strengthen ties with community stakeholders to forestall retaliatory strikes. Public cooperation remains a non-negotiable pillar of this strategy, as timely information helps security forces act before tragedies occur. Ultimately, the synergy between the military, state-backed agencies, and local scouts proves that a multi-layered security architecture is Ondo’s best defense against the creeping shadow of terrorism.