The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) announced that troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria have achieved significant success in their fight against terrorism, kidnapping, arms trafficking, oil theft, and other security threats. According to Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, the operations led to the rescue of over 60 kidnapped victims and the arrest of 44 suspects nationwide.
In a specific operation, a Nigerian Air Force jet disrupted the movement of terrorists transporting a large number of kidnapped victims around Bazama in Sakaba Local Government Area of Kebbi State. The disruption forced the terrorists to abandon their captives, allowing more than 60 victims to escape. Ground troops also rescued kidnapped victims in separate operations in Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara states.
Among those rescued were 17 victims along the Isa-Kwanar Isa axis in Sokoto and seven university students abducted along the Daye-Malumfashi road in Katsina. Additionally, troops rescued five victims, including the Executive Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara, from terrorist captivity at Sekpore village in Kaura Namoda.
In the North-East, troops intercepted 44 members of terrorist families at Konduga in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State. The group comprised 13 women and 31 children who had escaped from terrorist camps amid clashes between rival factions. More than 20 terrorist fighters and family members surrendered to troops in Gwoza, Dikwa, and Ngala local government areas of Borno.
The defence spokesman said those who surrendered cited hardship and lack of basic necessities in terrorist enclaves on the Mandara Mountains as reasons for abandoning the groups. Troops also arrested suspected terrorist informants, collaborators, and logistics suppliers during the period. In Yobe, troops arrested a suspected terrorist collaborator and a spy at Geidam market, while a suspected kidnapper was arrested in Gubio, Borno.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, commended the troops for their sacrifices and efforts in sustaining security operations nationwide. He also acknowledged the contributions of other security agencies, local security groups, traditional rulers, and community leaders. Oluyede urged members of the public to continue providing credible and timely information to security agencies to support ongoing operations.
Key operations also took place in other regions, including the North-West, where troops arrested four suspected members of a terrorist group while they were allegedly conveying rustled cattle near Illela, Sokoto State. In the South-South, troops of Operation Delta Safe uncovered about 182,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil at Bethel Creeks in Rivers State.
Key points
- Troops rescued over 60 kidnapped victims and arrested 44 suspects nationwide between September 18 and 24, 2026.
- The operations were conducted across various regions, including Kebbi, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Borno, Yobe, and Rivers states.
- The Defence Headquarters attributed the successes to the efforts of troops and the contributions of other security agencies, local security groups, traditional rulers, and community leaders.
