By Maryam Aminu/ Emmanuel Daudu
The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) intensified its nationwide security operations in the second quarter of 2026, eliminating no fewer than 662 terrorists and criminal elements, arresting 1,084 suspects and rescuing 951 kidnapped victims as the military deepened intelligence-led offensives aimed at dismantling criminal support networks across the country.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), which disclosed the figures in Abuja on Wednesday, said the operations reflected a strategic shift from conventional combat to targeting the logistics, financing and operational structures sustaining insurgency, kidnapping and organised criminality.
Addressing journalists at the quarterly Defence Media Operations briefing, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, said troops recorded significant operational gains through coordinated land offensives, close air support and intelligence-driven missions conducted across all theatres of operation.
According to him, the Armed Forces sustained pressure on Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), kidnapping syndicates, illegal oil bunkering cartels and cross-border arms traffickers.
He described the achievements as evidence of “the enduring commitment of a professional and resolute force dedicated to restoring peace, stability and confidence across every geopolitical zone of the nation.”
The North-East remained the centre of military engagements under Operation Hadin Kai, where troops accounted for the highest number of successes with 484 terrorists neutralised, 370 suspects arrested and 595 kidnapped victims rescued.
Major General Onoja also disclosed that 38 insurgents and their family members surrendered during the period, while one of the most significant breakthroughs came during a coordinated operation in the Mandara Mountains area of Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, where 360 civilians, mostly women and children, were rescued.
In the North-West theatre under Operation Fansan Yamma, troops neutralised 77 terrorists, arrested 210 suspects and rescued 153 kidnapped victims while intercepting arms traffickers, logistics suppliers and collaborators operating across Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
Operations across the North-Central under Operations Savannah Shield, Enduring Peace and Whirl Stroke resulted in the killing of 83 terrorists, the arrest of 305 suspects and the rescue of 183 kidnapped victims.
The military said particular attention was given to dismantling criminal infrastructure through targeted operations against informants, logistics providers, illegal arms couriers and kidnapping collaborators.
In the South-East, troops operating under Operation Udo Ka killed 12 terrorists, arrested 115 suspects and rescued 20 kidnapped victims.
The military further disclosed that troops recovered large quantities of weapons, improvised explosive devices and ammunition, while several key commanders and logisticians linked to criminal activities were apprehended during targeted raids.
Meanwhile, in the South-South region, Operation Delta Safe focused on combating economic sabotage and organised criminality.
According to the DHQ, troops neutralised six criminal elements, arrested 84 suspects, dismantled 12 illegal refining sites and recovered over 464,268 litres of stolen petroleum products in what it described as a major setback for oil theft operations in the Niger Delta.
The Defence Headquarters noted that the high number of arrests compared to terrorists eliminated demonstrates an evolving operational approach focused on disrupting support structures and weakening criminal networks beyond battlefield encounters.
Reaffirming the military’s commitment, Major General Onoja assured Nigerians that the Armed Forces would sustain counter-terrorism, counter-banditry, anti-kidnapping, anti-oil theft and anti-arms proliferation operations to consolidate security gains nationwide.
He also urged citizens to continue supporting security agencies through timely and credible intelligence sharing.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) further unveiled a strengthened intelligence-driven security strategy and introduced a new toll-free emergency reporting line, 193, as part of efforts to deepen citizen participation in the fight against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and organised crime across Nigeria.
Onoja explained that the new toll-free line, 193, was introduced to encourage Nigerians to provide timely and actionable intelligence capable of supporting ongoing military operations and improving rapid response mechanisms.
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