The Defence Headquarters says the Armed Forces recorded major operational successes across the country in July, eliminating 102 terrorists and other criminal elements, rescuing 397 kidnapped victims and apprehending 345 suspects.
Speaking on Friday while presenting the military’s monthly operational report, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, said troops also recovered 59 weapons and 1,811 rounds of ammunition, while 57 insurgents and their relatives laid down their arms.
He identified the surrender of a senior Islamic State West Africa Province finance official as one of the month’s biggest breakthroughs, noting that sustained military offensives were weakening terrorist networks in the North-East.
Reviewing operations under Operation Hadin Kai, Onoja said troops conducted coordinated land and air assaults on Boko Haram, ISWAP and Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad strongholds across Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno and Yobe states.
He said, “Operations led to the killing of 54 terrorists, the arrest of 102 suspects, the rescue of 102 kidnapped victims, and the surrender of 57 insurgents and their family members.
“The theatre also recorded a steady trend of surrenders occasioned by sustained offensive pressure on terrorists’ enclaves.”
Onoja further disclosed that on July 25, a top ISWAP finance operative surrendered along the Ladari-Jegarawa-Tunokalia axis on the Gamboru-Wulgo Main Supply Route.
He said, “A suspect, identified as the Chief Finance Officer of the ISWAP enclave at Jubillaram, surrendered alongside two children and handed over an AK-47 rifle, four magazines, 101 rounds of ammunition, a motorcycle and an undisclosed sum of money.
“The surrender underscores the effectiveness of ongoing military operations in degrading the operational capability and morale of insurgent groups.
“Three suspected terrorists also surrendered to troops in Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State on July 28 after fleeing their camps following sustained air strikes.
“The suspects confessed during interrogation that they had been trained as gunboat operators and anti-aircraft gunners for operations around the Lake Chad region.”
He also revealed that security forces arrested two suspected terrorist collaborators in Magumeri Local Government Area after they allegedly admitted to aiding insurgent activities.
In Taraba State, troops responding to intelligence on abductions rescued three victims during a patrol operation in Bomanda village, Karim Lamido Local Government Area.
Summing up the month’s operations, Onoja said the military remained determined to intensify pressure on terrorists, kidnappers and other criminal groups across the country.
He said, “The victims, who had been held captive for about 10 days, were evacuated for medical attention before being reunited with their families.
“The operational record for July stands as compelling testimony to the Armed Forces’ resolve to create a secure environment for socio-economic development. During the month, 102 terrorists and criminals were neutralised, 345 suspects arrested, 397 kidnapped victims rescued, while 57 insurgents surrendered. Troops also recovered 59 weapons and 1,811 rounds of ammunition.”
He added that operations targeting crude oil theft in the Niger Delta also yielded positive results, disrupting the activities of economic saboteurs in the region.
Separately, troops of the Nigerian Army’s 4 Brigade under Operation WABAIZIGAN rescued 14 abducted persons in Edo State following a kidnap incident along the Lagos-Benin Expressway.
The Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, 4 Brigade, Benin City, Kennedy Anyanwu, said soldiers acted on credible intelligence and pursued the kidnappers, forcing them to abandon the victims before escaping into the forest.
He said, “The rescue operation was conducted at about 9:30pm on July 30, 2026, after troops on routine patrol received credible intelligence on the kidnap incident.
“Acting swiftly and decisively, the troops immediately pursued the kidnappers along their withdrawal route, applying sustained pressure that forced the criminals to abandon 11 of the abducted victims and flee into the surrounding forest.
“In a follow-up clearance operation conducted on July 31, 2026, the troops aggressively combed the forest and successfully rescued the remaining three victims, bringing the total number of rescued victims to 14.”