The Nigerian military says 17 terrorist fighters and their family members have surrendered to troops in Borno State as the Armed Forces sustained operations against terrorism, kidnapping and other security threats across the country.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday while giving an update on military operations conducted between September 4 and 10, 2026.
According to him, troops of Operation Hadin Kai operating in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states recorded a steady wave of surrenders during the period.
He said the 17 terrorists surrendered in Monguno town and along the Gwoza-Limankara Road in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State between September 4 and 7.
The terrorists reportedly cited harsh living conditions, hunger and lack of basic provisions in terrorist enclaves on the Mandara Mountains as reasons for abandoning the groups.
Onoja also said troops rescued a female abductee and her one-year-old child near the Gava area of Gwoza LGA on September 8.
The victim, an indigene of Chinene, disclosed that she had been forced into child marriage by her captors in 2025.
He added that troops arrested several suspected terrorists, informants and spies across the theatre, including a suspect with a gunshot wound who was apprehended while loitering near a military location in Gwoza.
Other arrests were made along the Biu-Mandaraugirau Road in Biu LGA, in Monguno town and in Hong LGA of Adamawa State.
The Defence Media Operations director said troops also disrupted several terrorist logistics networks during the period.
He said a suspected logistics supplier was arrested in Benisheikh, Kaga LGA of Borno State, on September 5, with a large quantity of medical and veterinary supplies allegedly destined for a terrorist leader.
On September 6, troops arrested three suspects disguised as farmers and hunters in Mafa, Dikwa LGA, recovering pharmaceuticals, motorcycle spare parts and other items concealed in knapsack sprayers.
Two suspected logistics suppliers were also arrested at Gumsa Bridge in Geidam LGA of Yobe State on September 8, with a large consignment of motorcycle spare parts allegedly intended for terrorists operating between Yunusari and Mobbar.
In the North-West, troops of Operation Fansan Yamma sustained offensive operations across Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara states.
Onoja said troops, supported by an attack helicopter, attacked a suspected hideout of a notorious terrorist kingpin in Yantumaki Forest, Danmusa LGA of Katsina State, on September 4.
One terrorist was neutralised while others fled, with troops recovering motorcycles and medical supplies.
He said troops also engaged terrorists in Magarya Forest, Tangaza LGA of Sokoto State, on September 5, recovering two motorcycles, a rifle and a machine gun.
The troops subsequently engaged marauding terrorists along Gundumi Road in Isa LGA of Sokoto on September 6, forcing them to withdraw into Gundumi Forest and recovering a rifle.
On September 9, troops responded to a distress call and foiled an attempted abduction of a senior nursing school staff member and his family at Yerima Quarters in Kaura Namoda LGA of Zamfara State.
The military also intercepted a truck along the Gurbi-Zurmi Road in Jibia LGA of Katsina State, recovering four motorcycles concealed in fuel and oil consignments allegedly destined for Zamfara.
The driver was arrested for investigation, while a follow-up operation led to the arrest of 12 additional suspects.
Onoja said troops also arrested a suspected spy at Dange Market in Dange Shuni LGA of Sokoto State after he allegedly attempted to offer money to evade arrest.
In Birnin Gwari LGA of Kaduna State, troops arrested a suspected terrorist collaborator and recovered radio equipment allegedly linked to a reprisal attack on residents.
Troops also intercepted a suspected ammunition courier along the Birnin Gwari axis on September 10, recovering 300 rounds of ammunition concealed in the suspect’s belongings.
Operation Savannah Shield recovers AK-47
In Niger State, troops of Operation Savannah Shield maintained operations against terrorist elements.
Onoja said troops on a fighting patrol around Dekara Village in Borgu LGA on September 9 recovered an AK-47 rifle and ammunition apparently abandoned by terrorists who had attacked a military location on August 21.
Four suspected kidnappers arrested in Edo
In the South-South, troops of Operation Delta Safe sustained operations in Edo State.
The troops raided a Fulani camp in Sasaro/Agor Forest, Akoko-Edo LGA, on September 4 and arrested four suspected kidnappers.
On September 7, troops, working with the Nigeria Police and local security groups, engaged suspected kidnappers at a ransom collection point along Juju Junction, behind Ambrose Alli University in Esan West LGA.
The suspects reportedly abandoned their victims and fled into nearby bushes, with one believed to have sustained a gunshot wound.
Troops raid suspected separatist hideouts in Enugu
In the South-East, troops of Operation Udo Ka continued operations against secessionist elements and armed criminality in Anambra and Enugu states.
Onoja said troops raided Chike Onochie Crescent along the Abakaliki Expressway in Enugu East LGA on September 4 and arrested two suspects allegedly using their phones to plan attacks on security agencies in the state.
A separate raid at Gariki Akwata Market in the same LGA led to the arrest of another suspect and recovery of a locally made pistol and knives.
On September 7, troops responded to a distress call at Umuoba Anam in Anambra West LGA following reports of a suspect carrying a pistol.
A locally fabricated pistol was subsequently recovered from the suspect’s residence.
CDS commends troops, public
The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede, commended troops across the various theatres for their successes in neutralising terrorists, disrupting logistics and arms-trafficking networks, securing the surrender of terrorist fighters and their families and rescuing kidnapping victims.
Oluyede also praised the cooperation between the military, other security agencies and stakeholders, saying the synergy remained critical to the nation’s response to terrorism, kidnapping and secessionist agitation.
He urged members of the public, traditional rulers and community leaders to continue providing timely and useful information to security agencies.
The CDS further commended the media for what he described as professionalism and balanced reportage of military operations.
He assured that the Armed Forces would sustain the tempo of operations while operating within its Code of Conduct, Rules of Engagement, International Humanitarian Law and other international best practices.
