Odita Sunday 
By Odita Sunday
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has disclosed that troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria neutralised 317 terrorists and criminal elements in coordinated military operations conducted nationwide in May 2026.
The military also announced the arrest of 314 suspects, rescue of 221 kidnapped civilians and surrender of 18 terrorists during the period under review.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Michael Onoja, revealed the figures on Tuesday during a media briefing on ongoing military operations.
According to him, troops also recovered 93 arms, destroyed three illegal refining sites and intercepted 21,910 litres of assorted petroleum products from oil thieves in the Niger Delta.
“Overall, 317 terrorist/criminals were neutralised, 314 suspects were arrested, 221 civilians were rescued, 18 terrorists surrendered,” Onoja stated.
Breaking down the operations, he disclosed that troops of Operation HADIN KAI in the North-East neutralised 73 insurgents, arrested 159 suspects and rescued 112 civilians across Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Taraba states.
He added that Operation FANSAN YAMMA troops operating in Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara states killed 24 terrorists, arrested 13 suspects and rescued 22 victims.
In the North-Central, troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD and Operation ENDURING PEACE recorded multiple arrests and rescues while neutralising several insurgents.
Onoja further disclosed that troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE neutralised six terrorists and rescued 13 civilians across Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Taraba states.
In the South-South region, he said Operation DELTA SAFE operatives arrested 14 criminals, dismantled three illegal refining sites and recovered over 21,000 litres of stolen petroleum products.
The Defence spokesman also stated that troops of Operation UDO KA in the South-East neutralised three terrorists, arrested 60 suspects and rescued 18 kidnapped civilians.
Reacting to the recent kidnapping incident in Oyo State, the military assured Nigerians that security measures had already been intensified, including aerial surveillance and deployment of specialised troops to track down the perpetrators.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, commended troops for their gallantry and professionalism and urged Nigerians to continue supporting security agencies with useful intelligence.
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