The Nigerian military says its troops rescued 363 kidnapped victims and neutralised 69 terrorists during coordinated operations across the country in the past week.
The operations also resulted in the arrest of 49 suspects, while troops recovered weapons, ammunition, stolen crude oil and other items linked to criminal activities.
According to the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, the military also dismantled three reactivated illegal refining sites and recovered 251,600 litres of stolen crude oil. Twelve dug-out storage pits were also destroyed.
Onoja disclosed the figures while providing an update on military operations across the various theatres of operation.
He said one soldier was killed during the operations, while another sustained injuries.
Troops rescue victims, arrest suspects in North-East
Onoja said troops under Operation Hadin Kai foiled an attempt by terrorists to abduct civilians along the Buratai-Kamuya Road in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State on July 31.
“In the North East, troops of Operation Hadin Kai deployed at Dutsen Kura while sustaining robust operation, on 31 July 2026, foiled terrorists’ attempt to abduct civilians along the Buratai-Kamuya Road in Biu LGA of Borno State.
“Troops pursued the fleeing terrorists towards Mangari-Dora and rescued 31 persons, comprising 22 adult males, 5 adult females and 4 children. Four vehicles and one motorcycle belonging to the terrorists were also confiscated.”
He added that troops arrested a suspected terrorist informant at Garaha Market in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State on the same day.
On August 1, troops conducting a clearance patrol near Amuda Bridge in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State rescued two women and two children who had reportedly been held at a terrorist enclave since the 2023 farming season.
“The victims were subsequently handed over to the community head of Ngoshe.”
Onoja said several relatives of suspected terrorists surrendered or were intercepted in Gwoza, Konduga and Bama LGAs between August 2 and 4.
“Additionally, a group of 20 persons surrendered to troops at Kwuari in Konduga LGA of Borno State.”
He also disclosed that troops arrested suspected terrorist logistics suppliers in Monguno and Magumeri LGAs and recovered food items and provisions allegedly intended for terrorists.
In another operation, troops rescued 18-year-old Blessing Tuggur, who was abducted in November 2025 in the Dogoba Kopre area of Askira Uba LGA, Borno State.
“The victim was subsequently reunited with her family after receiving medical attention.”
Air strikes target terrorists in North-West
In the North-West, Onoja said troops under Operation Fansan Yamma intercepted 21 people attempting to travel into Birnin Kebbi after responding to the movement of suspected terrorists through Giwa LGA of Kaduna State.
Following profiling, five of those arrested were identified as terrorists and handed over to the Department of State Services, while the others were allowed to continue their journey.
Troops also arrested four suspects at Darusa Village Market in Gudu LGA of Sokoto State, recovering six rustled cattle, mobile phones and ₦165,000 suspected to be proceeds from an intended sale.
The military also carried out an air interdiction operation over Kampani Bobi and Beri Settlement in Mariga LGA of Niger State.
“This was followed by a precision air strike that neutralised scores of terrorists who had assembled with about 15 motorcycles in preparation for hostile activity.”
According to Onoja, a battle damage assessment confirmed the neutralisation of the terrorists, while secondary explosions indicated the destruction of additional equipment and logistics, including explosive ordnance.
308 kidnapped victims rescued in Niger
In the North-Central region, troops under Operation Savanna Shield rescued 308 abducted persons, mainly women and children, during a joint operation in the Kainji Lake National Park in Borgu LGA of Niger State on August 5.
“One Hundred and Sixty-Three of the victims were indigenes of Woro village, Kwara State, while One Hundred and Forty-Five were from Niger State.”
Troops also arrested suspected terrorist informants in Kwara and Kaduna states and engaged terrorists attempting to launch a reprisal attack on a military base in Niger State.
The encounter resulted in one terrorist being killed and nine motorcycles being recovered, with no casualties recorded among the troops.
Kidnap victims rescued in Benue, Edo
Onoja said troops under Operation Whirl Stroke rescued seven kidnapped victims in Ukum LGA of Benue State on August 1.
The victims, who were from Tela Village in Gassol LGA of Taraba State, had been abducted along the Wukari-Zaki-Biam Road on July 13.
“All rescued victims have since been reunited with their families.”
In Kogi State, troops also foiled a kidnap attempt along the Lokoja-Okene Road in Adavi LGA, while another operation in Yagba West LGA resulted in the rescue of two abducted victims.
In Edo State, troops under Operation Delta Safe rescued 11 kidnap victims along the Lagos-Benin Road in Ovia North East LGA on July 30.
Military dismantles illegal refineries in Niger Delta
In the Niger Delta, troops under Operation Delta Sentinel dismantled three illegal refining sites in the Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni axis of Rivers State between August 1 and 2.
Approximately 61,000 litres of stolen petroleum products were recovered, including 43,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and 18,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil.
A further 85,300 litres of crude oil products were discovered in the same area on August 5, while another 105,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil products were recovered in the Oteghele axis of Delta State on August 6.
Troops arrest suspects, recover weapons in South-East
In the South-East, troops under Operation Udoka arrested several suspects linked to an earlier ambush on military personnel.
The operation led to the recovery of weapons and ammunition allegedly used during the attack, alongside other arms.
Onoja said a militant leader known as Comedy also surrendered a cache of weapons buried in Egbema, Imo State, through the state Amnesty Chairman.
Troops subsequently arrested five suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra following an operation in Ezeagu LGA of Enugu State. Their hideout was also destroyed, while two General Purpose Machine Guns, ammunition and an Improvised Explosive Device were recovered.
The military also foiled a kidnap attempt along the Nsukka-Obollo Road in Udenu LGA of Enugu State on August 4.
CDS commends troops
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, commended troops across the various theatres for their commitment to national security.
Onoja said Oluyede also acknowledged the cooperation between the Armed Forces, other security agencies, local security groups and other stakeholders in the fight against terrorism, kidnapping and other forms of criminality.
The CDS further urged Nigerians to continue providing useful information to security personnel to support ongoing operations.
“The CDS assures all Nigerians of the resolve of the Armed Forces to sustain the current tempo of operations until peace and stability are fully restored across all theatres.”