By Dr Emmanuel Daudu Ph.D
The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) have neutralised more than 217 terrorists and criminals, arrested 333 suspects and rescued 349 kidnapped victims in operations conducted across the country between September 30 and October 30, 2026.
The military also recorded the surrender of 70 insurgents, recovered 105 arms and 3,174 rounds of ammunition, and dismantled 49 illegal refining sites, with 756,837 litres of petroleum products recovered during operations against crude oil theft.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed these operational achievements during the monthly press briefing on military operations for October 2026.
According to Onoja, troops sustained offensive operations against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, oil theft and other criminal activities across the country’s geopolitical zones, working alongside the Air Component, other security agencies and local security groups.
He said the operations resulted in the disruption of terrorist networks, the recovery of weapons and ammunition, the rescue of abducted citizens and the dismantling of criminal logistics and intelligence networks.
Among the major operational successes recorded during the month was the neutralisation of a senior Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) leader, Abdussamad Ohida, in Owo Forest, Ondo State, on October 2.
Onoja said Ohida was the deputy to the ISWAP leader in Central Nigeria and had assumed leadership of the group following the arrest of its previous leader by the Department of State Services in 2023.
The military spokesperson explained that the neutralised terrorist leader had been involved in planning large-scale attacks across several states ahead of the forthcoming festive season, describing his elimination as a significant setback for the group’s expansion efforts.
In the North-East, troops of Operation HADIN KAI sustained operations across Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, neutralising 162 terrorists, arresting 98 suspects, rescuing 39 kidnap victims and recording the surrender of 68 terrorists.
A major confrontation occurred between October 6 and 7 when ISWAP terrorists attempted to infiltrate Kukawa town in Borno State. Troops, supported by the Air Component, repelled the attack after several hours of fighting, neutralising 25 terrorists and recovering rifles, ammunition, rocket-propelled grenade bombs and other military equipment.
Troops also disrupted terrorist supply networks, arrested suspected collaborators and received more than 50 terrorist fighters and family members who surrendered at different locations in Borno State during the month.
In the North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA recorded the rescue of 167 kidnapped persons, the neutralisation of 18 terrorists and the arrest of 10 suspects across Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states.
The operation recorded a significant engagement on October 7 when troops repelled a large-scale attack by Lakurawa terrorists in Maiyama Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
According to the briefing, the attackers arrived on more than 100 motorcycles and were armed with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades. Troops neutralised 10 terrorists, while others fled, leaving behind weapons, ammunition and communication equipment.
The troops also rescued 27 villagers abducted by terrorists at Gamji community in Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State on October 16.
In the North-Central region, troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD rescued 29 kidnapped victims and neutralised three terrorists during operations in Kwara and Niger states.
The operation included the rescue of 18 persons abducted from farmlands in the Eruku-Egbe-Koro Forest area of Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State on October 10.
Similarly, troops responded to a distress call on October 15 and rescued 29 residents who had been targeted by terrorists at Magaji Mai Kadarko Village in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State.
Under Operation WHIRL STROKE, troops operating across Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Taraba states neutralised 24 terrorists, arrested 71 suspects and rescued 68 kidnapped victims.
Among the notable achievements was the rescue of 11 passengers abducted following an attack on a commercial bus along the Ayere-Kabba Road in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State on October 19.
Troops also intensified operations against arms trafficking and kidnapping syndicates, leading to the arrest of suspected gunrunners, militia leaders and logistics suppliers.
In the South-South, Operation DELTA SAFE sustained operations against crude oil theft, kidnapping and other criminal activities across Cross River, Edo and Rivers states.
The military reported the dismantling of 49 illegal refining sites and the recovery of 756,837 litres of petroleum products in collaboration with Operation DELTA SENTINEL.
Troops also conducted anti-kidnapping operations, rescued abducted persons and recovered locally fabricated firearms and ammunition.
In the South-East, Operation UDO KA recorded the rescue of 33 civilians and the arrest of 22 criminal suspects during operations across Abia, Anambra and Imo states.
The briefing highlighted the rescue of abducted prospective National Youth Service Corps members in Imo State following their abduction on October 1. The victims were rescued on October 7 after sustained pressure from troops and other security agencies.
A subsequent operation led to the arrest of five members of the suspected kidnapping syndicate and the recovery of firearms and ammunition.
Beyond combat operations, the Armed Forces continued civil-military cooperation initiatives aimed at improving community welfare, healthcare, access to clean water, education and infrastructure.
The Nigerian Navy carried out community development projects in Imo, Lagos, Osun and Edo states, while the Nigerian Air Force supported the construction and commissioning of healthcare facilities, boreholes, solar streetlights and a computer-based testing laboratory in several communities.
The Air Force also engaged Amnesty International Nigeria on civilian harm mitigation, accountability and compliance with international humanitarian and human rights standards during military operations.
Despite the gains recorded, the military acknowledged that the month was not without casualties. The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede, expressed condolences to the government and people of Taraba State, particularly families affected by terrorist attacks in Binari, Karim Lamido Local Government Area, on October 23.
Onoja said the Chief of Defence Staff had urged troops to maintain discipline, respect human rights and remain vigilant, particularly as the festive season approaches.
The military leadership also called on other security agencies to strengthen intelligence sharing and joint planning, while encouraging traditional rulers, community leaders and residents to provide timely information on suspicious activities.
The Armed Forces reiterated their determination to sustain operations against terrorists, kidnappers, armed groups and economic saboteurs, assuring Nigerians that efforts would continue to protect lives and property and improve security across the country.
The military also encouraged members of the public to report security threats to the nearest military formation or through the toll-free line 193.
