By Sumaila Ogbaje
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says Nigerian troops eliminated 324 terrorists and other criminals, arrested 373 suspects and rescued 610 kidnapped victims across the country in August 2026.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during the monthly briefing on military operations by the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
Onoja said troops also recorded the surrender of 201 insurgents and recovered 88 arms and 2,077 rounds of ammunition during the month.
He said the military maintained coordinated land, air and maritime operations across the country, targeting terrorist and criminal networks, rescuing abducted citizens, disrupting arms trafficking and logistics networks, and protecting critical national assets.
“During the month of August, the Armed Forces sustained a robust operational tempo across the various geopolitical zones,” Onoja said.
He added that the operations focused on “degrading terrorists’ and criminal groups’ capabilities” while countering secessionist and other armed criminal elements.
In the North-East, troops of Operation Hadin Kai conducted counter-terrorism operations across Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno and Yobe states.
Onoja said the troops neutralised 114 terrorists, arrested 146 suspects and rescued 60 kidnapped victims.
Among the notable rescues, he said, were two women and two children found near Amuda Bridge in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State on August 1. The four victims had reportedly been held since the 2023 farming season.
The troops also rescued Blessing Tuggur, who was abducted in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State in November 2025.
In the North-West, troops under Operation Fansan Yamma conducted counter-terrorism and anti-kidnapping operations across Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara states.
The operation resulted in 190 terrorists being neutralised, 47 suspects arrested and 126 victims rescued, according to Onoja.
The North-Central theatre also recorded significant rescue operations.
Under Operation Savannah Shield, troops rescued 329 kidnapped victims, including 308 women and children recovered during a joint operation at Kainji Lake National Park in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State on August 5.
Onoja described the rescue as evidence of the military’s commitment to locating and safely returning abducted citizens.
“The recent rescue of 308 abducted persons demonstrates the commitment and capability of the security forces to locate, rescue and safely return affected citizens,” he said.
Other operations also recorded rescues across the country. Operations Enduring Peace and Whirl Stroke rescued 15 and 38 victims respectively, while Operation Delta Safe rescued 38 civilians in the South-South and Operation Udo Ka rescued four in the South-East.
The military’s air component also carried out strikes and reconnaissance missions against terrorist movements.
Onoja said precision air strikes on August 6 targeted terrorists assembling with about 15 motorcycles in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State, resulting in the neutralisation of scores of terrorists.
He said another armed reconnaissance operation on August 9 disrupted the movement of more than 300 motorcycles around Sangeko and Baba-Doka areas.
Beyond battlefield operations, Onoja highlighted a sharp rise in the number of insurgents surrendering to the military.
He said surrendered terrorists increased from 11 in June to 57 in July and 201 in August.
According to him, the trend indicated increasing pressure on terrorist groups and a possible willingness among some members to abandon insurgency.
Onoja said August also represented a significant improvement in operational outcomes compared with the preceding month, with the number of criminals neutralised rising sharply while civilian rescues increased.
“The operational record for the month of August stands as compelling testimony to the sustained resolve of the AFN to ensure a secure environment for socio-economic stability and peace to thrive in our country,” he said.
The Director also conveyed Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Olufemi Oluyede’s commendation of troops for their courage, discipline and resilience across the various operational theatres.
He further relayed the CDS’s appreciation for a recent gesture by Air Peace staff and passengers, who gave military personnel a spontaneous standing ovation while boarding a flight at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Onoja urged Nigerians to continue providing security agencies with timely and accurate information on terrorist and criminal activities.
He said members of the public could report information to the nearest military formation or through the toll-free emergency line 193, assuring citizens that information supplied would be treated confidentially. (NAN)
