The Armed Forces of Nigeria have rescued 308 kidnapped victims, neutralised scores of terrorists and arrested several suspected criminals in intensified operations across the country between July 31 and August 6, 2026.
The military also foiled several kidnap attempts, recovered arms and ammunition, dismantled illegal oil-refining sites and disrupted terrorist logistics networks across the North-East, North-West, North-Central, South-South and South-East regions.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed this in a statement on Friday detailing the activities of the armed forces during the period under review.
In the North-East, troops of Operation HADIN KAI rescued 31 persons after foiling an attempt by terrorists to abduct civilians along the Buratai-Kamuya Road in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State.
The rescued victims comprised 22 adult males, five adult females and four children. Four vehicles and a motorcycle belonging to the terrorists were also recovered.
Troops subsequently rescued two women and two children who had been held in a terrorist enclave since the 2023 farming season.
The operation also led to the surrender and interception of several family members of suspected terrorists, while troops arrested three suspected terrorist logistics suppliers in Monguno and Magumeri, recovering foodstuffs and provisions allegedly destined for terrorist elements.
In another operation, troops rescued 18-year-old Blessing Tuggur, who was abducted in November 2025 in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State. She was reunited with her family after receiving medical attention.
In the North-West, troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA intercepted 21 persons travelling through Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Following profiling, five were identified as suspected terrorists and handed over to the Department of State Services, while the others were released.
The troops also arrested four suspects in Gudu Local Government Area of Sokoto State and recovered six rustled cattle, mobile phones and N165,000 suspected to be proceeds from the intended sale of the animals.
The Air Component of the operation also conducted a precision air strike on terrorists assembled at Kampani Bobi and Beri settlements in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State.
According to the military, the strike neutralised scores of terrorists preparing for hostile activities, while secondary explosions indicated the destruction of additional logistics and explosive ordnance.
In the North-Central region, Operation WHIRL STROKE troops rescued seven kidnapping victims in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State. The victims, who were abducted along the Wukari-Zaki-Biam Road on July 13, were subsequently reunited with their families.
Troops also arrested a suspected gun runner, Victor Idoko, in Makurdi and recovered two locally fabricated pistols from his residence.
In Nasarawa State, troops intercepted a motorcycle carrying two women and recovered 10 AK-47 magazines loaded with 551 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition. Another operation in Doma town led to the recovery of additional AK-47 ammunition.
In Kogi State, troops foiled a kidnap attempt along the Lokoja-Okene Road, while another operation in Yagba West Local Government Area resulted in the rescue of two abducted victims and the killing of one terrorist. A member of a local security group was, however, killed during the operation.
A major breakthrough was recorded under Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, where troops rescued 308 abducted persons, mainly women and children, during a joint operation in Kainji Lake National Park in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
The military said 163 of the victims were from Woro community in Kwara State, while 145 were from Niger State.
Troops also disrupted an attempted reprisal attack by terrorists moving from Zamfara State towards a military base in Mariga, Niger State. The engagement resulted in one terrorist killed and nine motorcycles recovered.
In the South-South, Operation DELTA SAFE troops rescued 11 kidnap victims along the Lagos-Benin Road in Edo State.
The troops also intensified operations against crude oil theft, dismantling three illegal refining sites in the Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni axis of Rivers State.
About 61,000 litres of stolen petroleum products, comprising 43,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and 18,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil, were discovered in 12 dugout pits and reservoirs.
A further 85,300 litres of crude oil products were recovered in the same axis on August 5, while another 105,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil products were discovered and handled in the Oteghele axis of Delta State on August 6.
In the South-East, Operation UDO KA troops arrested several suspected members of armed criminal and secessionist groups following investigations into an earlier ambush on troops.
The arrest of one suspect in Port Harcourt led troops to principal suspects in Delta State, including Albert Tony, also known as Chiboy; Temple Eburua, alias Marathon; and Vitalis Eburua, alias Onowu.
The suspects subsequently led troops to camps in Ohaji/Egbema and Umudike Plantation, where weapons and ammunition allegedly used during the earlier ambush were recovered.
A militant leader known as Comedy also voluntarily surrendered a cache of buried weapons in Egbema, Imo State.
Troops further arrested five suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra following an operation in Enugu State, destroying a hideout and recovering two General Purpose Machine Guns, ammunition and an Improvised Explosive Device.
The troops also foiled a kidnap attempt along the Nsukka-Obollo Road in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede, commended troops across the various theatres for their discipline and commitment to national security.
Oluyede also praised the cooperation between the military, other security agencies, local security groups and members of the public, describing the collaboration as critical to the gains recorded in the fight against terrorism, kidnapping and other criminal activities.
He urged Nigerians to continue providing useful information to security agencies and assured citizens that the Armed Forces would sustain the current tempo of operations until peace and stability are restored across the country.
