The Nigerian military says its nationwide operations conducted over the past week resulted in the rescue of 363 kidnapped persons, while several terrorists, informants, logistics suppliers and other criminal suspects were arrested.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed this on Friday in Abuja during a briefing on the military’s latest operational activities.
According to Onoja, the week’s operations also led to the elimination of some terrorists, recovery of weapons and ammunition, disruption of criminal supply networks and destruction of illegal oil-refining facilities.
In the North-East, troops under Operation HADIN KAI rescued 35 victims and arrested individuals suspected of working as terrorist informants and suppliers.
Onoja said troops rescued 31 people on July 31 after stopping an attempted abduction along the Buratai-Kamuya Road in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State. The rescued persons consisted of 22 adult men, five adult women and four children.
He added that two women and two children were later found at a terrorist camp near Amuda Bridge in Gwoza Local Government Area on August 1. The four victims had reportedly been in captivity since the 2023 farming season.
Between August 2 and 4, several relatives of suspected terrorists reportedly surrendered to troops in Gwoza, Konduga and Bama. Twenty suspected terrorists also surrendered at Kwuari in Konduga, while troops apprehended suspected logistics suppliers and recovered food items believed to be intended for terrorist fighters.
The military also rescued 18-year-old Blessing Tuggur, who had reportedly been abducted in November 2025 around the Dogoba Kopre axis of Askira Uba, Borno State.
In the North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA troops arrested 21 people attempting to enter Birnin Kebbi. Five of them were identified as suspected terrorists and handed over to the State Security Service.
Four additional suspects were apprehended at Darusa Village Market in Gudu Local Government Area of Sokoto State, where troops recovered six rustled cattle, mobile phones and N165,000.
The air component of the operation also carried out a precision strike against terrorists gathered with about 15 motorcycles around Kampani Bobi and Beri Settlement in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State.
In the North-Central, troops operating under Operation WHIRL STROKE rescued nine kidnap victims and arrested a number of suspects, including an alleged gun runner.
Seven victims kidnapped along the Wukari-Zaki-Biam Road were rescued in Ukum, Benue State, while two others were freed following a separate abduction incident at Oke Ere in Yagba West, Kogi State.
Troops also destroyed the hideout of wanted terrorist leader Matthew, popularly known as “Full Fire,” at Sabongida Leke in Ukum and arrested some of his suspected associates.
However, the largest rescue operation recorded during the period was carried out by Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD troops in Kainji Lake National Park, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, where 308 abducted persons were freed.
The victims included 163 people from Woro in Kwara State and 145 residents of Niger State, with women and children making up most of those rescued.
A suspected terrorist informant was also arrested in Nuku community, Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.
In the South-South, Operation DELTA SAFE troops rescued 11 kidnapped persons along the Lagos-Benin Road in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State.
The troops also continued their campaign against crude oil theft, destroying illegal refining sites and recovering significant quantities of suspected stolen crude oil and refined petroleum products.
Meanwhile, in the South-East, Operation UDO KA troops arrested suspects allegedly connected to an attack on soldiers and recovered weapons and ammunition from camps located across Rivers, Delta and Imo states.
Five suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra were also arrested in connection with an attack on Fulani herders in Enugu State. Follow-up operations led to the recovery of two general-purpose machine guns, ammunition and an improvised explosive device.
Onoja said the results of the operations reflected the military’s continued efforts to rescue kidnapped persons, dismantle criminal networks and restrict the activities of terrorists and other armed groups.
He added that the Armed Forces would continue working with other security agencies, local security groups and communities to strengthen intelligence gathering and improve security across the country.
The Director said the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, commended the troops for their discipline and dedication. He urged Nigerians to continue supplying security agencies with credible information that could assist ongoing operations.
Oluyede, according to Onoja, also assured Nigerians that the military would maintain the current intensity of its operations until peace and stability are restored across the country.
Military Frees 363 Kidnap Victims, Arrests Terror Suspects in Nationwide Operations
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