By Emmanuel Nduka
The Nigerian military said it recorded significant operational gains across the country in the third quarter of 2026, neutralizing 554 terrorists and other criminals, arresting 1,333 suspects and rescuing 1,736 kidnapped civilians.
The figures were disclosed by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, during the Defence Headquarters’ third-quarter media briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.
Onoja said troops also recovered 244 assorted weapons and 8,160 rounds of ammunition, while 333 insurgents surrendered during the three-month period.
He disclosed that troops responded to 367 attacks across the various operational theatres, with Operation Enduring Peace recording the highest number at 147, followed by Operation Fansan Yamma with 115 and Operation Whirl Stroke with 55.
In the North-East, Operation Hadin Kai accounted for 273 terrorists neutralised, 348 arrests and 297 rescued kidnap victims, while 331 insurgents and their family members surrendered to the military.
Operation Fansan Yamma in the North-West recorded 230 terrorists neutralised, 147 arrests and 508 rescued victims. In September alone, troops rescued 171 kidnapped persons during operations in the region.
Across the North-Central, troops operating under Operations Enduring Peace, Whirl Stroke and Savannah Shield sustained offensives against terrorists and criminal groups, rescuing hundreds of kidnapped victims.
The military also intensified operations against oil theft and illegal refining in the South-South, dismantling 104 illegal refining sites and recovering more than 1.6 million litres of suspected stolen petroleum products during the quarter.
In the South-East, Operation Udo Ka recorded three criminals neutralised, 28 arrests and six kidnapped victims rescued in September.
Onoja said the military would sustain intelligence-driven and coordinated operations against terrorist and criminal networks, while urging Nigerians and community leaders to provide timely information to security agencies.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, commended troops for their sacrifices and professionalism, while stressing the importance of continued collaboration between the military, other security agencies and local communities in tackling insecurity.
