The Nigerian military has reported significant success in its fight against terrorism, with 406 terrorist fighters and their families surrendering to government forces over the past three months. This development is attributed to sustained military bombardments, ground offensives, and blockades of supply routes across the North-East and North-West. The military's efforts have left terrorist fighters with no escape, cut off from essential supplies such as food, fuel, and ammunition.
In addition to the surrenders, the military has also rescued 1,736 victims from captivity during the same period. The Defence Headquarters recently revealed that troops killed 554 terrorists and criminals, arrested 1,333, and rescued 1,736 hostages during three months of operations in the third quarter of 2026. These operations have been conducted across various theatres of operation, with the military demonstrating its capacity to confront a range of security challenges.
The Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, provided a breakdown of the military's successes, stating that 367 attacks were recorded across various theatres of operation during the period. Operation HADIN KAI recorded 33 attacks, Operation FANSAN YAMMA recorded 115, Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD recorded 13, Operation ENDURING PEACE recorded 147, Operation WHIRL STROKE recorded 55, and Operation UDO KA recorded four, while Operation DELTA SAFE recorded no attacks.
The military has also reported significant recoveries, including 52 arms and 2,335 rounds of ammunition, as well as the dismantling of eight illegal refining sites and the recovery of over 304,822 litres of stolen petroleum products. These recoveries are part of a broader effort to disrupt extensive arms and logistics trafficking networks and deny economic saboteurs access to the nation's petroleum resources.
According to Major General Onoja, the Armed Forces of Nigeria have demonstrated sustained capacity to confront the full spectrum of security challenges facing the nation. The military's efforts have ranged from tackling terrorism and banditry in the northern theatres to addressing kidnapping, oil theft, and secessionist agitation in the southern theatres.
In September alone, the military neutralized 52 terrorists and criminals, arrested 350, rescued 655 kidnapped civilians, and saw 75 insurgents surrender. These successes represent a significant degradation of criminal and terrorist operational capacity nationwide, according to the Defence Headquarters.
The military's operations have had a profound impact on terrorist and criminal activities, with 554 terrorists and criminals neutralized, 1,333 arrested, and 1,736 kidnapped civilians rescued. The surrender of 406 terrorist fighters and their families is a significant development in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria.
Key points
- 406 terrorist fighters and their families have surrendered to government forces in Nigeria over the past three months.
- The military has rescued 1,736 victims from captivity during the same period.
- The operations have resulted in the neutralization of 554 terrorists and criminals, and the arrest of 1,333.
