Odita Sunday 
Military kills terrorists, rescues kidnap victims, recovers arms in fresh operations
By Odita Sunday
The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) have sustained offensive operations against terrorists, kidnappers and other criminals across the country, neutralising scores of terrorists, rescuing kidnap victims and recovering several weapons in operations conducted between September 30 and October 1, 2026.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Michael Onoja, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, saying troops maintained the tempo of operations across the various theatres as part of efforts to tackle terrorism, kidnapping and other security threats.
Onoja said troops of Operation HADIN KAI operating in Borno and Yobe states recorded several breakthroughs, including the surrender of four terrorists and their associates, as well as the arrest of suspected collaborators.
He said a terrorist family member and her daughter surrendered to troops along the Dikwa-Gulumba route in Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State on September 30, while three terrorists who escaped from their camp at Tumbunma village in the Lake Chad region of Abadam Local Government Area surrendered in Monguno on October 1.
According to him, troops also arrested a suspect posing as an Islamic cleric at Babbangida Community in Tarmuwa Local Government Area of Yobe State on September 30 after he claimed to be travelling from Niger Republic to Maiduguri but could not produce any means of identification.
Onoja said troops, working with the Civilian Joint Task Force, also arrested a suspected terrorist informant in Monguno following sustained tracking and monitoring.
He said both suspects were being held for investigation.
The Defence spokesman further disclosed that troops, supported by the Air Component, conducted coordinated operations in Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State on October 1, neutralising five terrorists.
He said the troops recovered three AK-47 rifles, two pump-action rifles, one Dane gun, six AK-47 magazines and a belt of pump-action cartridges from the operation.
Onoja added that in a separate air operation, surveillance detected a concentration of terrorists and motorcycles, prompting a precision air strike that neutralised 16 terrorists and destroyed 15 motorcycles.
In Benue State, Onoja said troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE rescued three persons suspected to have been released by kidnappers in Gbise Community, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area.
He said the victims told troops that they had been abducted in Takum Local Government Area of neighbouring Taraba State, adding that efforts were ongoing to track the kidnap syndicate responsible.
Onoja also disclosed that troops of Operation DELTA SAFE intervened in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State after personnel of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) were reportedly mobbed and disarmed by residents while attempting to arrest a suspect at Ekureku Community.
According to him, the troops rescued the NDLEA personnel and recovered five FN rifles and two Beretta pistols that had been seized by the residents.
He said the troops subsequently escorted the NDLEA personnel safely to Ugep Community before returning to base.
The Defence spokesman said the intervention demonstrated the importance of cooperation among security agencies in tackling security challenges, in line with the Chief of Defence Staff’s military strategic philosophy of a whole-of-government approach.
In the South-East, Onoja said troops of Operation UDO KA responded to a mass kidnapping along the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway at Umonuwa village in Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State on October 1.
He said gunmen had flagged down two commercial buses carrying 30 passengers and abducted 20 persons, including several prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members.
Onoja said 10 passengers, including eight identified prospective corps members, were rescued unharmed, while a joint search-and-rescue operation involving troops, the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services and the Nigerian Air Force Component of Operation UDO KA was ongoing to rescue the remaining abductees.
He further disclosed that troops, working with an Anambra local security group, rescued three persons abducted from the Osakwa area of Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Onoja said one of the arrested kidnappers subsequently disclosed that the gang’s camp was located at Abator in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, across the Isieke waterside.
He said troops conducted a follow-up operation by canoe to the camp on October 1, engaged the terrorists with superior firepower and neutralised 10 of them.
According to him, troops recovered two AK-47 rifles, three pump-action rifles, three Dane guns, ammunition and materials for fabricating improvised explosive devices during the operation.
Onoja said the successes recorded during the period reflected the continued momentum of military operations across the country’s various theatres.
He quoted the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede, as commending the courage and professionalism of troops, particularly their swift intervention in support of NDLEA personnel in Cross River State and the ongoing multi-agency operation to secure the safe return of the abducted NYSC members in Imo State.
The CDS, according to Onoja, also commended the continued collaboration between the military, other security agencies and stakeholders, while urging members of the public, traditional rulers and community leaders to continue providing credible and timely information to troops.
Oluyede also appreciated the media for what he described as continued professionalism and balanced reportage of military operations, assuring that the Armed Forces would sustain the current tempo of operations until lasting peace and security were achieved across the country.
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