—201 terrorists surrender as troops recover 88 arms, 2,077 rounds of ammunition

—Military dismantles 21 illegal refineries, recovers 686,800 litres of stolen crude products

—CDS Oluyede vows sustained pressure on terrorists, criminals

By Dr Emmanuel Huleji Daudu Ph.D

ABUJA — The Armed Forces of Nigeria, AFN, intensified its nationwide counter-terrorism and anti-crime operations in August 2026, neutralising more than 324 terrorists and criminals, arresting 373 suspects and rescuing 610 kidnapped victims across the country.

The military also recorded a significant increase in the number of terrorists abandoning their camps and surrendering to troops, with 201 insurgents giving themselves up during the month.

The figures were contained in the monthly operational briefing of the Defence Headquarters on ongoing military operations across the country’s geopolitical zones.

According to the briefing, the August operations involved coordinated land, air and maritime operations aimed at degrading terrorist and criminal networks, rescuing abducted citizens, disrupting arms trafficking and logistics chains, protecting critical national assets and combating economic sabotage.

The Armed Forces said the operational tempo was sustained across the North-East, North-West, North-Central, South-South and South-East theatres, with the Air Component providing combat support, surveillance and precision strikes.

The military further disclosed that troops recovered 88 arms and 2,077 rounds of ammunition during the month, while operations against crude oil theft and illegal refining resulted in the recovery of approximately 686,800 litres of stolen crude oil products and the destruction of 21 illegal refining sites.

North-East: 114 terrorists neutralised, 60 abductees rescued

In the North-East, troops of Operation HADIN KAI maintained an aggressive counter-terrorism campaign across Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Bauchi states.

The military said troops rescued 60 kidnap victims, neutralised 114 terrorists, arrested 146 terrorists and recorded 201 surrenders during the reporting period.

Among the notable operations were the rescue of women and children who had reportedly been held in terrorist enclaves for prolonged periods, as well as the destruction of terrorist camps and recovery of weapons and ammunition.

In one major operation around Kopre Mountain in Adamawa State, troops destroyed a terrorist camp after neutralising 21 terrorists and recovered six AK-47 rifles, 23 magazines and 586 rounds of ammunition.

A coordinated ground and air operation in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State also resulted in the neutralisation of several terrorists, with subsequent air strikes reportedly killing 25 more terrorists and destroying 10 motorcycles.

The theatre also witnessed a sustained wave of terrorist surrenders, with the military attributing the development to sustained pressure, shortages of food and supplies, insecurity and internal clashes among rival terrorist factions.

North-West: 190 terrorists neutralised, 126 victims rescued

In the North-West, troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA sustained large-scale counter-terrorism and anti-kidnapping operations across Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara states.

The operation resulted in the rescue of 126 kidnap victims, neutralisation of 190 terrorists and arrest of 47 terrorists during August.

Troops also disrupted logistics networks supplying terrorist groups, arrested suspected informants and intercepted explosives and ammunition.

A major clearance operation around Maikujera in Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State resulted in the neutralisation of 30 terrorists and the recovery of 10 AK-47 rifles and five rocket-propelled grenades.

The military said intelligence linked the terrorist group operating around the axis to the network of notorious terrorist kingpin Bello Turji.

In Katsina State, troops also recovered machine guns, AK-47 rifles, ammunition and motorcycles during clearance operations, further disrupting terrorist mobility.

North-Central records highest number of rescued victims

The North-Central theatre also recorded significant gains, particularly against kidnapping networks.

Under Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, troops operating across Kwara and Niger states rescued 329 kidnap victims, neutralised seven terrorists and arrested four.

One of the most significant operations occurred in Kainji Lake National Park, where troops rescued 308 abducted persons, predominantly women and children, including 163 indigenes of Woro community in Kwara State and 145 persons from Niger State.

The military said sustained patrols and intelligence-driven operations were subsequently maintained around the Kainji axis to deny criminal elements freedom of movement.

Meanwhile, Operation ENDURING PEACE in Plateau and adjoining areas rescued 15 kidnap victims, neutralised five terrorists and arrested 82 suspects.

Under Operation WHIRL STROKE, covering Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Taraba states, troops rescued 38 kidnap victims, neutralised three terrorists and arrested 31 others.

The operation also recorded a series of successful interventions along major highways and kidnapping corridors, including the rescue of nine passengers and a bus driver after troops engaged kidnappers along the Ogbulu–Alloma Road in Kogi State.

South-South: military targets oil thieves, illegal refineries

Beyond counter-terrorism, the military intensified its campaign against economic sabotage in the oil-producing region.

Troops of Operation DELTA SAFE, supported by maritime operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, conducted coordinated operations against crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, illegal refining, kidnapping and arms trafficking across Bayelsa, Delta, Edo and Rivers states.

The operations resulted in the arrest of 43 criminals, rescue of 38 civilians, destruction of 21 illegal refining sites and recovery of more than 696,800 litres of petroleum products, according to the operational briefing.

Troops uncovered several illegal refining sites and concealed storage facilities containing large quantities of suspected stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products.

The military said the operations were designed not only to combat criminality but also to protect critical petroleum infrastructure and safeguard the country’s economic interests.

South-East: security forces intensify campaign against armed groups

In the South-East, troops of Operation UDO KA sustained operations against secessionist elements, armed criminal gangs, kidnapping networks and illegal oil bunkering across Abia, Anambra, Enugu and Imo states.

The operation resulted in the arrest of 20 criminals, neutralisation of five terrorists and rescue of four civilians.

Troops, working with the Department of State Services and other security agencies, also dismantled hideouts and recovered firearms, ammunition and improvised explosive devices.

In one operation in Enugu State, troops and security agencies disrupted a kidnapping syndicate, neutralised one of its leaders and recovered weapons and other items.

The military said the cumulative operations were aimed at disrupting armed criminal and secessionist networks, preventing attacks on communities and security personnel, and protecting critical infrastructure.

Air Force sustains precision strikes

The Nigerian Air Force also played a major role in the August operations through precision air strikes, armed reconnaissance and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

In Niger State, air operations reportedly targeted groups of terrorists assembling with motorcycles for hostile activities.

Another armed reconnaissance mission over Mariga Local Government Area reportedly disrupted a large concentration of terrorists and their movements.

The Air Component also conducted operations against terrorists moving with rustled cattle, with the military reporting the neutralisation of 46 terrorists during one of the engagements.

Military deepens humanitarian partnership

Beyond kinetic operations, the Armed Forces said it strengthened its civil-military cooperation and humanitarian engagement during the month.

In Borno State, troops donated educational materials to schools in Monguno Local Government Area as part of efforts to strengthen community resilience.

The military also partnered with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA, for a Humanitarian/Civil-Military Coordination Roundtable focused on humanitarian access, civilian protection, safe movement of relief workers, protection of farmers and the return of internally displaced persons.

The Armed Forces said humanitarian escorts were provided to UN OCHA and other agencies operating across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states to facilitate the movement of humanitarian personnel and relief materials.

CDS Oluyede: War against terrorism is collective responsibility

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede, commended troops for their gallantry, discipline and resilience, while acknowledging the sacrifices made by military personnel and civilians during the operations.

Oluyede also called for continued cooperation among the Armed Forces, other security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders and members of the public.

He reiterated that the fight against terrorism and criminality remained a collective national responsibility and assured Nigerians that the Armed Forces would continue to act with determination and professionalism in defence of lives, communities and Nigeria’s territorial integrity.

The Defence Headquarters further appealed to Nigerians to continue providing credible information to security agencies, stressing that timely intelligence remains critical to ongoing military operations.

The August operational figures, according to the military, demonstrate an intensified nationwide campaign combining kinetic operations, intelligence gathering, inter-agency cooperation and humanitarian engagement.

With the Armed Forces pledging to sustain the current operational tempo, the emerging strategy is increasingly focused not only on eliminating terrorist and criminal fighters, but also on dismantling their logistics networks, cutting off their access to weapons and supplies, rescuing victims, protecting strategic economic assets and creating conditions for displaced communities to safely return home.

The military’s message is clear: sustained pressure, intelligence-led operations and stronger civil-military cooperation will remain central to the campaign to restore lasting peace and security across Nigeria.