The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) in Nigeria has announced that troops killed 554 terrorists and criminals, arrested 1,333, and rescued 1,736 hostages in three months of operations. This significant achievement was revealed by Major General Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations, during a briefing on Wednesday. The operations took place across various theatres of operation, showcasing the Armed Forces of Nigeria's sustained capacity in confronting security challenges.
In September alone, troops neutralized 52 terrorists and criminals, arrested 350, and rescued 655 kidnapped civilians. Additionally, 75 insurgents surrendered to the authorities. The troops also recovered 52 arms and 2,335 rounds of ammunition, dismantled eight illegal refining sites, and recovered over 304,822 litres of stolen petroleum products. These successes demonstrate the military's commitment to tackling terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, oil theft, and secessionist agitation.
According to Major General Onoja, the Armed Forces of Nigeria demonstrated sustained capacity in confronting the full spectrum of security challenges facing the nation. The third quarter of 2026 recorded 367 attacks across various theatres of operation. 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 (OPUK) recorded four, while Operation DELTA SAFE recorded no attacks.
The Director Defence Media Operations provided a breakdown of the successes recorded in the third quarter of 2026. The troops neutralized 554 terrorists and criminals, arrested 1,333, rescued 1,736 kidnapped civilians, and forced 333 insurgents to surrender. They also captured 244 arms and 8,160 rounds of ammunition, dismantled 104 illegal refining sites, and recovered 1,610,402 litres of stolen petroleum products. These achievements represent a significant degradation of criminal and terrorist operational capacity nationwide.
Major General Onoja emphasized that troops responded decisively to the 367 incidents, engaging assailants with superior firepower and tactical maneuver. They successfully countered the attacks, neutralized several attackers, forced others to flee, and denied them the opportunity to achieve their objectives. The kinetic operations during the period enhanced security across all theaters of operations and the nation by disrupting terrorist and kidnapping activities.
The operations also led to the clearing of improvised explosive devices, dismantling of suspected terrorist camps, recovery of arms and ammunition, and prevention of planned attacks. These efforts improved freedom of movement and strengthened confidence among residents and commuters in affected communities, protecting critical national infrastructure. The data for the third quarter of 2026 shows significant month-to-month fluctuations in operational outcomes.
An analysis of the data reveals that from July to August, bandits/criminals killed increased by 171.9 per cent, while arrests declined slightly by 4.2 per cent, civilians rescued by 51.4 per cent, surrendered terrorists by 252.6 per cent, arms recovered by 28.6 per cent, and ammunition recovered increased. The Defence Headquarters' briefing highlights the military's continued efforts to address Nigeria's security challenges.
Key points
- 554 terrorists and criminals were killed in three months of operations.
- 1,333 terrorists and criminals were arrested during the same period.
- 1,736 hostages were rescued by the troops in the third quarter of 2026.
