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From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said that troops of the Armed Forces killed more than 700 terrorists, rescued 874 kidnapped victims and arrested 793 suspects during operations across the country in the second quarter of 2026.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the Armed Forces’ operational activities for the second quarter in Abuja.
According to him, troops of Operation Hadin Kai in the North-East killed 485 terrorists, arrested 370 suspects and rescued 595 kidnapped victims during the period.
He added that troops operating across the North-West and North-Central neutralised 224 terrorists, arrested over 423 suspects and rescued 279 kidnapped victims.
Onoja said troops sustained coordinated land and air offensives, intelligence-led operations and targeted raids that significantly degraded the operational capabilities of Boko Haram, ISWAP and other criminal groups across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.
He also said troops facilitated the surrender of 38 insurgents and their family members during the period, describing the achievements as evidence of the military’s commitment to restoring peace and stability.
According to him, in June alone, troops neutralised 76 terrorists, arrested 97 suspects, rescued 465 kidnapped victims and facilitated the surrender of 11 insurgents and their family members.
He said one of the most significant operations took place on June 6, when troops launched a multi-axis assault on terrorist enclaves in the Mandara Mountains of Gwoza Local Government Area, Borno State.
The operation led to the rescue of 360 civilians, mostly women and children, who had been held captive since their abduction from Ngoshe on March 3.
“All the rescued civilians were evacuated to the General Hospital, Gwoza, for immediate medical attention,” he said.
Onoja added that on June 21, troops evacuated 27 surrendered terrorists and their family members from the Jimini area of Gwoza for medical care and profiling.
He further disclosed that another operation on June 24 rescued 53 civilians and recovered eight hijacked vehicles.
According to him, troops also repelled multiple terrorist attacks during the month, including an attempted attack on Buratai community, where one AK-47 rifle and over 200 rounds of ammunition were recovered.
He said another planned attack on Rijang community in Lamurde Local Government Area of Adamawa State was foiled on June 27, leading to the killing of one terrorist and the recovery of three AK-47 rifles, four magazines and ammunition.
Onoja said troops also neutralised five suspected kidnappers in Magumeri Local Government Area of Borno State on June 28 and recovered weapons during a follow-up operation.
He added that intelligence-led operations led to the arrest of several terrorist collaborators, including a key suspect whose confession enabled troops to apprehend another logistics facilitator linked to terrorists operating in the Sambisa Forest.
The defence spokesman also disclosed that troops killed two suspected terrorist spies attempting to infiltrate Nigeria from across the border to monitor military movements.
He further said troops rescued seven schoolchildren and a teacher abducted from Government Secondary School, Lassa, in Askira-Uba Local Government Area after engaging fleeing terrorists.
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However, one soldier and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force lost their lives during the rescue operation.
Onoja reaffirmed the Armed Forces’ commitment to sustaining offensive operations until terrorism and other security threats are decisively defeated.
In the North-West and North-Central, he said successes were recorded through sustained offensive operations, intelligence-led raids, anti-kidnapping missions and arms interdiction under Operations Fansan Yamma, Savannah Shield, Enduring Peace and Whirl Stroke.
According to him, troops of Operation Fansan Yamma operating in Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi and Zamfara states neutralised 77 terrorists, arrested 210 suspects, rescued 153 kidnapped victims and facilitated the surrender of one terrorist during the quarter.
He said troops recovered several weapons, including PKT machine guns, AK-47 rifles, an RPG launcher tube, improvised explosive device chargers, motorcycles and large quantities of ammunition.
He added that troops arrested a notorious terrorist kingpin disguised as a trader at Shinkafi Market and intercepted over 1,000 rounds of ammunition concealed in a vehicle along the Gusau-Shinkafi Road.
Onoja said intelligence-led operations also led to the arrest of suspected terrorist collaborators at Gusau International Airport and the interception of logistics suppliers transporting 69 jerry cans of fuel intended for terrorists.
He said troops of Operation Savannah Shield neutralised 24 terrorists, arrested 48 suspects and rescued eight kidnapped victims during the quarter.
According to him, the operation disrupted terrorist networks in Niger, Kwara, Kogi and the Federal Capital Territory through targeted patrols, ambushes and intelligence-driven arrests.
He added that troops arrested informants and relatives of notorious terrorist leaders whose interrogation yielded valuable intelligence for ongoing operations.
Onoja said troops of Operation Enduring Peace, operating in Southern Kaduna and Plateau State, neutralised terrorists, arrested suspected kidnappers and rescued victims in several operations along major transit corridors.
He said troops intercepted suspected kidnappers, recovered arms and ammunition, and arrested a dismissed police inspector found in possession of illegally acquired firearms and ammunition.
The defence spokesman said troops of Operation Whirl Stroke, operating in Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Taraba states, neutralised 37 terrorists, arrested 86 suspects and rescued 59 kidnapped victims during the quarter.
He added that troops disrupted illegal arms supply networks by intercepting weapons, explosives and ammunition meant for criminal groups, while several suspected kidnappers and terrorist informants were apprehended.
Onoja further disclosed that troops operating in the South-South and parts of the South-East intensified operations against kidnappers, economic saboteurs and illegal oil refining syndicates.
He said troops neutralised six criminals, arrested 53 suspects, dismantled seven illegal refining sites and recovered more than 308,515 litres of stolen petroleum products.
According to him, several kidnapping syndicates were dismantled in Edo and Cross River states, while kidnapped victims were rescued during coordinated operations.
He reaffirmed the Armed Forces’ commitment to sustaining offensive operations against terrorists, kidnappers, oil thieves and other criminal elements to ensure lasting peace and security across the country.
