Military declares war on the new terror group ‘Wulowulo’
By Douglas Ahiaba – Abuja
The Defence Headquarters has pledged to pursue and neutralise every terrorist group operating in the country — regardless of the name it gives itself — after reports emerged of a new sect called Wulowulo said to be active in Nasarawa State.
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa disclosed the emergence of the group on Monday during a stakeholders’ meeting with security agencies in Lafia, describing Wulowulo as a splinter faction of Boko Haram that has begun to infiltrate the North-Central region.
He warned that the group’s presence could worsen security in the zone and urged tighter countermeasures.
Reacting at a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, the DHQ’s Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Markus Kangye, said the military would treat all armed outfits as criminal elements, not by the labels they choose but by the threat they pose.
“Anybody can just jump up and give himself a name or name his group and say he is a splinter from another terrorist organisation. We all know them as criminals, terrorists, and bandits,” Kangye said. “Call yourself whatever name you like — you are a terrorist, you are a bandit, and we will go after you. Our role as the armed forces with terrorists is twofold: it is either we fix an appointment with them and their maker, or we fix it between them and the judicial system.”
Kangye explained that while many crimes fall under police jurisdiction, the military intervenes when the scale or armament of a group exceeds policing capacity.
“The police work is huge. Most of the incidents being reported as terrorism are sometimes just murder cases that can be handled by the police. But when it escalates beyond their scope, the military intervenes,” he said, adding that the military conducts threat assessments and operations based on its strategic plans and operational areas of responsibility.
He gave assurances that current operations across the country would include targeting the newly identified Wulowulo group to restore peace and security.
Recounting recent successes, Kangye said troops of Operation UDO KA sustained offensive operations between 8–13 October 2025, arresting a suspected IPOB/ESN commander known as Gentle and eight others in Owerri West and Mbaitoli local government areas of Imo State, as well as Izzi and Ohaukwu LGAs of Ebonyi State. Weapons, ammunition and a vehicle were recovered, he added.
During the arrest, three children — later linked to a wanted IPOB/ESN leader identified as Maduabuchi Nwankwo (alias Emergency) — were found in her custody, Kangye said.
The suspect is now in custody as investigations continue.
The DHQ and state security agencies said they will sustain pressure on criminal networks nationwide, intensifying operations to ensure communities are safer and to prevent the spread of emerging threats like Wulowulo.
