Armored Vehicles

IVM G12 gun truck

Also known as
  • IVM-G12
  • IVM G-12
  • IVM G12
  • IVM G12 SPV
  • IVM G12 series
  • Innoson G12
  • Innoson IVM G12

The IVM G12 is a Nigerian-built 4x4 special-purpose utility vehicle from Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing. Public reporting places it with Nigerian Army forces during Operation Lafiya Dole in the 2009 Boko Haram Insurgency and links the family to the BAIC BJ2022 Brave Warrior, while describing the baseline vehicle as a rough-terrain patrol and transport platform without mine protection.

IVM G12 gun truck, 4x4 tactical utility vehicle, Armored Vehicles
Image source: Nigerian Army operating locally-made IVM-G-12 special purpose vehicles

Role in Conflicts

Service And Family Context

Public sources support the G12 as a Nigerian Army mobility vehicle first documented around Maiduguri, with later reporting placing the family in wider African military procurement.

Nigerian fielding

The Nigerian Army received the G12 series at Operation Lafiya Dole's Maiduguri headquarters after rough-terrain trials in the northeast.

Vehicle character

Reporting describes a 4x4 tactical transport and patrol truck; the baseline vehicle is specifically noted as lacking mine and ballistic protection.

Export context

Military Africa later reported G12 deliveries to Mozambique and Innoson vehicles supplied to Sierra Leone's Ministry of Defence, but those reports do not by themselves document a new conflict-use row.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Nigeria
Type
4x4 tactical utility vehicle
Service note
Introduced to Nigerian Army service in the Boko Haram counter-insurgency period
Designer
Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
Designed
2016 presentation to the Nigerian Army
Unit cost
Not publicly reported
Produced
2016-present
Number built
Upward of 100 reported for the Nigerian Army; exact total not publicly reported
Developed from
BAIC BJ2022 Brave Warrior

Specifications

Crew and passengers
Variants described as carrying four to eight soldiers, including the driver
Mobility
Permanent 4x4 drive for rough terrain operations
Configurations
Long-base, short-base, station wagon, and twin-cab versions reported
Base vehicle family
Secondary reporting describes the G12 as a Nigerian version of the BAIC/BAW BJ2022 Brave Warrior utility vehicle family
Payload
About 500 kg to 750 kg depending on version, according to secondary reporting
Towing
Light trailer or artillery towing up to about 500 kg reported
Fuel and range
85-litre main fuel tank plus 18-litre auxiliary tank; up to 1,000 km range reported
Engine
Nissan-sourced 140 hp 3.0-litre turbo-diesel reported by secondary references
Protection
Baseline G12 described as lacking body and underside armor against direct fire, mines, and explosive devices
Variants

Public sources describe the G12 as a light-truck family offered in multiple body styles rather than a single armored vehicle model.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Long-base 4x4 configurationExtended-wheelbase utility body

DefenceWeb lists long-base G12s among the configurations operated or presented to the Nigerian Army.

Sources: Nigerian Army operating locally-made IVM-G-12 special purpose vehicles

Short-base 4x4 configurationShort-wheelbase utility body

DefenceWeb lists short-base G12s among the configurations in the series.

Sources: Nigerian Army operating locally-made IVM-G-12 special purpose vehicles

Station wagon configurationEnclosed troop or staff transport body

The reported G12 body styles include a station wagon version.

Sources: Nigerian Army operating locally-made IVM-G-12 special purpose vehicles

Twin-cab pickup configurationPickup utility body

The reported G12 body styles include a twin-cab pickup version.

Sources: Nigerian Army operating locally-made IVM-G-12 special purpose vehicles

Timeline

IVM G12 gun truck Key Events

  1. First indigenous vehicles delivered to the military

    The Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission reported that Innoson delivered the first locally built military vehicles to the Nigerian Army at Maiduguri for Operation Lafiya Dole.

    Sources: Innoson Delivers First Indigenous Vehicles To Military

  2. DefenceWeb reports Army fielding in the northeast

    DefenceWeb said the Nigerian Army was operating locally made IVM G-12 special-purpose vehicles after terrain trials in the northeast.

    Sources: Nigerian Army operating locally-made IVM-G-12 special purpose vehicles

  3. AutoJosh profiles the G12 utility vehicle

    AutoJosh published secondary reporting describing the G12 as a Jeep Cherokee-based utility vehicle and repeating performance details such as payload, fuel capacity, and engine data.

    Sources: These Jeep Cherokee-based Innoson IVM G12 Military Vehicles Can Be Dropped From Helicopter

  4. Military Africa reports Mozambique delivery

    Military Africa reported that Innoson delivered an unspecified number of G12 4x4 utility vehicles to Mozambique's military, while treating Cabo Delgado counterterrorism use as likely rather than directly documented.

    Sources: Innoson IVM G12 utility vehicles delivered to Mozambique forces

  5. First Sierra Leone order arrives in Freetown

    Military Africa reported that Innoson vehicles ordered for Sierra Leone's Ministry of Defence arrived at Queen Elizabeth II Port in Freetown.

    Sources: Sierra Leone military buys Innoson vehicles worth $4.7Million

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Sources

Nigerian Army operating locally-made IVM-G-12 special purpose vehiclesPublisher: DefenceWeb | Note: Supports 2009 Boko Haram Insurgency direct use: IVM G12 vehicles were fielded by the Nigerian Army after testing in deployments against Boko Haram in the northeast; also supports 4x4 mobility, variants, troop capacity, protection caveat, and image provenance. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Innoson Delivers First Indigenous Vehicles To MilitaryPublisher: Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission | Note: Supports 2009 Boko Haram Insurgency direct use: IVM G12 vehicles were supplied to and used by the Nigerian Army at Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri to support operations against Boko Haram terrorists. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Innoson Vehicles partners with Nigerian Army to produce military-grade vehiclesPublisher: Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing | Note: Supports manufacturer background, Nigerian Army partnership context, and reported deployment of additional Innoson vehicles to the North East for Operation Lafiya Dole. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Innoson IVM G12 utility vehicles delivered to Mozambique forcesPublisher: Military Africa | Note: Supports background and specifications for reported G12 delivery to Mozambique, BJ2022 Brave Warrior family relationship, engine, fuel, payload, towing, and Nigerian Army delivery totals; Cabo Delgado use is described as likely, not directly documented. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Sierra Leone military buys Innoson vehicles worth $4.7MillionPublisher: Military Africa | Note: Supports background and specifications for the IVM G12 as a Nigerian 4x4 utility vehicle related to the BJ2022 Brave Warrior, and reports Nigerian Army deliveries plus Sierra Leone purchase activity. | Accessed: 2026-07-04These Jeep Cherokee-based Innoson IVM G12 Military Vehicles Can Be Dropped From HelicopterPublisher: AutoJosh | Note: Supports secondary specification details including payload, fuel capacity, engine, configurations, and reported Nigerian Army roles. | Accessed: 2026-07-04