Isaac Samuel
The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) killed 554 terrorists and criminals, arrested 1,333 others and rescued 1,736 kidnapped civilians across the country between July and September 2026.
The military also recorded 367 attacks across its various theatres of operation during the third quarter, with troops recovering 244 arms and 8,160 rounds of ammunition.
Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed this at the Defence Headquarters Combined Monthly/Third Quarter Media Briefing on ongoing military operations in Abuja.
According to him, Operation Hadin Kai recorded 33 attacks during the period, while Operation Fansan Yamma recorded 115, Operation Savannah Shield 13, Operation Enduring Peace 147 and Operation Whirl Stroke 55.
He added that Operation Udo Ka recorded four attacks, while Operation Delta Safe recorded no attacks during the period under review.
Onoja said the military responded to the attacks with kinetic and non-kinetic operations, resulting in the neutralisation of terrorists and criminals, rescue of abducted civilians, recovery of weapons and disruption of criminal networks.
He said: “During the period under review, the AFN recorded a total of 367 attacks across various theatres of operation.
“Troops responded decisively to these incidents, swiftly engaging the assailants with superior firepower and tactical manoeuvre, and successfully countering the attacks.”
The Defence spokesman said the military’s operations also led to the dismantling of 104 illegal refining sites and recovery of more than 1.61 million litres of petroleum products during the quarter.
He, however, noted that operational outcomes fluctuated significantly from month to month.
According to him, killings of bandits and criminals increased by 171.9 per cent between July and August, while arrests declined by 4.2 per cent.
He said civilians rescued increased by 51.4 per cent, surrendered terrorists by 252.6 per cent, arms recovered by 28.6 per cent, ammunition recovered by 12.5 per cent and crude oil recovered by 11 per cent during the same period.
Onoja said most indicators subsequently declined between August and September, with killings of bandits and criminals falling by 85.8 per cent, arrests by 28.3 per cent, civilians rescued by 10.8 per cent and terrorist surrenders by 62.7 per cent.
He added that arms recovered declined by 51.9 per cent, ammunition by 24.3 per cent and crude oil recovered by 55.6 per cent.
Despite the fluctuations, the military spokesman said September operations resulted in the rescue of 581 civilians, 345 arrests and the surrender of 75 terrorists, while 52 arms and 2,335 rounds of ammunition were recovered.
Onoja said the figures reflected the changing operational environment across the country, stressing that troops maintained operations against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, oil theft and other security threats.
In the North-East, he said troops of Operation Hadin Kai neutralised 27 terrorist fighters, arrested 49 terrorists and rescued 103 kidnapped victims during September.
He said 73 insurgents and their family members also surrendered to troops during the month, while operations continued to disrupt terrorist logistics networks.
In the North-West, troops of Operation Fansan Yamma killed seven terrorists, arrested 26 and rescued 171 kidnapped victims during the month.
Similarly, Operation Whirl Stroke troops operating across Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Taraba states rescued 320 kidnapped victims and arrested 57 terrorists during September.
Onoja said troops also continued operations against oil theft and illegal refining in the Niger Delta, while other formations sustained operations against secessionist elements, kidnapping and armed criminality in the South-East.
He commended troops and other security agencies for their collaboration, while urging Nigerians to provide credible information to security formations through the toll-free 193 line.
He said the information provided would be treated confidentially, adding that national security remained a shared civic responsibility.
