Nigerian troops have successfully rescued 349 kidnapped victims and killed 217 terrorists in a nationwide offensive conducted between September 30 and October 30. The operations involved sustained kinetic and non-kinetic efforts across the country's security theatres. The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed this during the monthly press briefing on military operations in Abuja.
The operations, which involved troops, supported by the Air Component and other security agencies, repelled terrorist attacks, rescued abducted citizens, and disrupted logistics, intelligence, and arms trafficking networks. One of the major operations was the killing of a senior Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) leader, Abdussamad Ohida, in Owo Forest, Ondo, on October 2. Ohida was allegedly involved in planning large-scale attacks across several states.
In the North-East, troops of Operation Hadin Kai neutralised 162 terrorists, rescued 39 kidnap victims, arrested 98 suspects, and received the surrender of 68 insurgents during the month. Troops also disrupted terrorist supply and intelligence networks, arrested suspected collaborators, and recovered weapons and ammunition during clearance operations in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe.
In the North-West, troops of Operation Fansan Yamma neutralised 18 terrorists, rescued 167 kidnap victims, arrested 10 suspects, and recorded one surrender. The troops repelled an attack by Lakurawa terrorists in Maiyama Local Government Area of Kebbi on October 7, neutralising 10 terrorists and recovering a machine gun, an AK-47 rifle, ammunition, and a communication device.
In other regions, troops of Operation Savannah Shield in the North-Central neutralised three terrorists, rescued 29 kidnap victims, arrested three suspects, and facilitated one surrender. Operation Enduring Peace in Plateau and Kaduna neutralised six criminals, rescued 13 kidnap victims, and arrested 84 suspects. Operation Whirl Stroke in Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, and Taraba neutralised 24 terrorists, rescued 68 kidnap victims, and arrested 71 suspects.
The military also recorded 98 attacks across its operational theatres during the period. Operation Enduring Peace recorded 29 attacks, followed by Operation Hadin Kai with 27, Operation Fansan Yamma with 24, and Operation Whirl Stroke with 12. The military expressed condolences to the Government and people of Taraba over the killing of civilians in the terrorist attack on Binnari community in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area on October 23.
On civil-military cooperation, the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force undertook community development projects, medical outreaches, and stakeholder engagements across several states. The Nigerian Air Force also strengthened its civilian harm mitigation measures through engagements with Amnesty International Nigeria and the review of its Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan.
Key points
- 349 kidnapped victims were rescued by Nigerian troops during the nationwide offensive.
- 217 terrorists were killed by Nigerian troops during the nationwide offensive.
- The operations involved sustained kinetic and non-kinetic efforts across the country's security theatres.
