Odita Sunday 
Troops Rescue 655 Kidnap Victims, Arrest 350 Suspects In September Operations
By Odita Sunday
Troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria rescued at least 655 kidnapped and abducted victims across the country in September, as military operations against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, oil theft and other criminal activities intensified nationwide.
The Defence Headquarters also said troops neutralised 52 terrorists and other criminal elements and arrested 350 suspects during operations conducted between August 31 and September 30, 2026.
Director, Defence Media Operations, Onoja Micheal, disclosed the figures on Wednesday during the Defence Headquarters Combined Monthly/Third Quarter Media Briefing on ongoing military operations across the country.
He said the operations also disrupted several arms and logistics trafficking networks, while troops continued efforts to deny oil theft syndicates access to the nation’s petroleum resources.
In the North-East, Operation HADIN KAI recorded 103 rescued victims during the month, alongside 27 terrorists neutralised and 49 arrested. Troops also facilitated the surrender of 73 insurgents and their family members.
One of the major developments in the theatre was the rescue of 44 terrorist family members, comprising 13 women and 31 children, at Konduga in Borno State on September 24. The group had reportedly fled terrorist enclaves amid clashes between rival factions.
Troops also recorded a sustained wave of surrenders across Borno State, with more than 70 terrorist fighters and family members surrendering at different locations during the month. Some of those who surrendered reportedly cited hunger, harsh living conditions and lack of basic supplies in terrorist enclaves.
In the North-West, troops under Operation FANSAN YAMMA rescued 171 kidnapped victims, arrested 26 terrorists and neutralised seven others during September operations across Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states.
A major rescue operation took place on September 17 when a Nigerian Air Force jet intercepted terrorists moving with a large number of kidnapped victims around Bazama in Sakaba Local Government Area of Kebbi State. The operation disrupted their movement and enabled more than 60 victims to escape their captors.
In the North-Central, Operation WHIRL STROKE recorded 320 rescued kidnapped victims during the month across Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Taraba states. Troops also arrested 57 suspects and neutralised one terrorist.
Among the significant operations in the theatre was the rescue of 18 passengers from a bus abducted at Andaha Community along the Jos–Akwanga Road in Nasarawa State on September 26.
Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, covering parts of Kwara and Niger states, rescued 27 kidnapped victims, while Operation ENDURING PEACE rescued 28 victims across Bauchi, Kaduna and Plateau states.
In the South-South, troops under Operation DELTA SAFE arrested 33 criminals and destroyed eight illegal refining sites during September operations across Bayelsa, Edo and Rivers states.
The operation also led to the recovery of more than 304,822 litres of petroleum products, including crude oil, Automotive Gas Oil, Dual Purpose Kerosene and Premium Motor Spirit.
In the South-East, Operation UDO KA recorded six rescued kidnapping victims, 28 arrests and three criminals neutralised during operations across Anambra, Enugu and Imo states.
Micheal said the September operations formed part of sustained kinetic and non-kinetic efforts by the Armed Forces, supported by intelligence sharing and coordination with other security agencies.
He added that the military would continue to combine combat operations with civil-military cooperation initiatives aimed at supporting communities and strengthening security across the country.
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