As Nigerian troops intensify Operation CLEAN SWEEP III across the Northwest, a dangerous new phase of the insurgency is unfolding. Sahara Reporters has gathered exclusive intelligence revealing that fleeing terrorists and bandits, displaced from their traditional hideouts in Katsina and Kaduna, are now regrouping in remote communities in Kwara State.
They are not merely hiding — they are actively planning retaliatory strikes aimed at civilian targets and soft military positions to regain momentum and send a message of defiance.
The Dramatic Regrouping
According to credible sources on the ground, several high-profile bandit commanders and their foot soldiers have crossed into Kwara through porous border areas. They are settling in isolated farming communities and forest fringes, where local informants say they are receiving food, shelter, and intelligence from sympathetic or intimidated residents.
The terrorists are reportedly reorganising into smaller, more mobile cells to avoid detection. Sahara Reporters understands they are stockpiling weapons, fuel, and medical supplies while conducting night reconnaissance missions on nearby villages and highways. One source described the atmosphere in these communities as tense, with residents noticing strange movements and unfamiliar faces at odd hours.
A particularly alarming detail is the presence of foreign fighters among the regrouping terrorists. These battle-hardened elements are said to be training local recruits in advanced ambush tactics and the use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), preparing for a wave of attacks once the current military pressure eases.
The Retaliatory Strategy
Intelligence gathered by Sahara Reporters indicates the terrorists’ next move is focused on “soft targets” to create maximum fear and force the military to spread its resources thin. Planned operations reportedly include:
– Coordinated attacks on rural markets and weekly farming settlements to disrupt food supply chains.
– Ambushes on highways linking Kwara to neighbouring states.
– Targeted kidnappings of prominent locals to raise funds and negotiate prisoner swaps.
The goal is clear: punish communities perceived as collaborating with the military and reassert dominance after suffering heavy losses in Katsina. One insider source told Sahara Reporters that the commanders are furious about the death of Retired Major General Rabe Abubakar and the rescue of his wife, vowing to make the security forces “pay dearly.”
A Growing Threat
Security analysts warn that if left unchecked, this regrouping could spark a fresh wave of violence that spills into other North-Central states. Kwara’s strategic location makes it a dangerous new frontier — a corridor that could allow terrorists to link up with other criminal networks across the region.
The development comes as military authorities continue to insist that their operations are yielding results. However, the ability of these fleeing elements to quickly find new safe havens highlights the persistent challenge of porous borders and inadequate community intelligence networks.
For now, the terrorists are lying low by day and mobilising by night, turning quiet Kwara communities into potential launch pads for their next reign of terror.
Source: Sahara Reporters (June 16, 2026)
What do you think about this new terrorist regrouping in Kwara? Should the military extend full operations into the North-Central immediately? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
