The Nigerian military announced that its troops had made significant strides in the fight against terrorism and other crimes in the third quarter of 2026. According to Major General Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Military Operations, troops across all theatres of operation killed 554 terrorists and other criminals, while 1,333 were apprehended alive. Additionally, 1,736 kidnapped civilians were rescued during the period.
The military also reported that 333 terrorists surrendered to troops, while 244 arms and 8,160 rounds of ammunition were recovered. These successes, Major General Onoja said, were a result of the sustained efforts of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies to degrade the operational capacity of terrorists and criminals nationwide.
In terms of operational achievements, the military revealed that it had dismantled 104 illegal refining sites and recovered 1,610,402 litres of stolen petroleum products. This, according to Major General Onoja, represents a significant blow to the economic activities of terrorists and criminals.
The third quarter of 2026 saw a total of 367 attacks across various theatres of operation, with Operation Hadin Kai recording 33 attacks, Operation Fansan Yamma recording 115, and Operation Savannah Shield recording 13. However, troops responded decisively to these incidents, engaging the assailants with superior firepower and tactical manoeuvring, and successfully countering the attacks.
An analysis of the data for the third quarter of 2026 showed significant month-to-month fluctuations in operational outcomes. From July to August, the number of bandits/criminals killed increased by 171.9 per cent, while arrests declined slightly by 4.2 per cent. Civilians rescued declined by 51.4 per cent, while surrendered terrorists increased by 252.6 per cent.
The trend continued from August to September, with most indicators declining from their August peaks. The number of bandits/criminals killed declined by 85.8 per cent, arrests by 28.3 per cent, and civilians rescued by 10.8 per cent. However, September figures still demonstrated sustained operational activity, with 581 civilians rescued, 345 arrests, and 75 surrenders.
Major General Onoja concluded that the variations in operational outcomes reflected the changing operational environment, while troops maintained their commitment to national security throughout the period. The military's efforts, he said, were focused on protecting national economic resources and ensuring the safety of citizens.
Key points
- 554 terrorists were killed by Nigerian troops in Q3 2026.
- 1,333 terrorists were apprehended alive by troops during the period.
- 1,736 kidnapped civilians were rescued by troops in Q3 2026.
