Odita Sunday 
Troops Decimates 201 terrorists, arrests 284 suspects, rescues 188 victims in April operations
By Odita Sunday
The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) has intensified its nationwide offensive against terrorism and criminality, neutralising 201 terrorists, arresting 284 suspects, and rescuing 188 kidnapped victims across multiple theatres of operation in April 2026.
The military high command also disclosed that 10 terrorists surrendered, while troops dismantled two illegal refining sites and recovered a total of 101,443 litres of stolen petroleum products, including crude oil and refined derivatives.
These were contained in a detailed operational briefing released by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, who said the achievements underscore a decisive escalation in coordinated joint operations across all geopolitical zones.
According to him, the operations, executed under seven active theatres, reflect sustained pressure on insurgent groups, bandits, oil thieves, and other criminal networks threatening national security.
“The consolidated operational outcomes recorded across all seven theatres in the month of April 2026 present an unambiguous account of an Armed Force fully committed to its constitutional mandate and fully accountable to the Nigerian people,” Onoja stated.
A breakdown of the operations shows that troops of Operation HADIN KAI in the North-East accounted for the highest battlefield gains, neutralising 136 terrorists, arresting 114 suspects, rescuing 18 victims, and facilitating the surrender of nine insurgents and their families.
In the North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA troops killed 20 terrorists, arrested 32 suspects, rescued 70 kidnapped victims, and recorded one surrender.
Similarly, troops under Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD in the North-Central neutralised 21 terrorists, arrested 17 suspects, and rescued 10 victims, while Operation ENDURING PEACE recorded 18 terrorists killed, 48 suspects arrested, and 53 victims rescued.
Operation WHIRL STROKE, also in the North-Central axis, accounted for 14 terrorists neutralised, 40 suspects arrested, and 35 kidnapped victims rescued, highlighting intensified anti-kidnapping operations in Benue, Kogi, and Nasarawa States.
In the South-South, Operation DELTA SAFE troops sustained pressure on oil theft syndicates, leading to the arrest of 17 suspects, dismantling of two illegal refining sites, and recovery of 101,443 litres of stolen petroleum products.
Meanwhile, Operation UDO KA in the South-East neutralised three terrorists, arrested 16 suspects, and rescued two victims, while also degrading the operational capacity of IPOB/ESN elements.
The Defence Headquarters further disclosed that troops recovered a wide range of arms and ammunition across the theatres, including AK-47 rifles, machine guns, Dane guns, grenades, magazines, and improvised explosive device materials, although no consolidated figure was provided.
Commending troops for their resilience, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, charged them to sustain operational momentum.
“The CDS assures every Nigerian that all communities are considered important to the AFN protection, and no criminal or terrorist organisation, regardless of its strength, is beyond the Armed Forces of Nigeria,” Onoja quoted.
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