By Emmanuel Nduka Obisue
The Armed Forces of Nigeria says it recorded significant operational successes across the country in July, neutralising 102 terrorists and other criminals, rescuing 393 kidnapped victims, and arresting 345 suspects in a sustained nationwide offensive against insecurity.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed the figures on Friday while presenting the Defence Headquarters’ monthly operational briefing. He said 57 insurgents also surrendered to troops during the month, while security forces recovered 59 weapons and 1,811 rounds of ammunition across various theatres of operation.
Onoja said the operations further weakened the capabilities of terrorist and criminal groups nationwide, while intensified operations against crude oil theft dealt another blow to economic saboteurs.
In the North-East, troops of Operation HADIN KAI neutralised 54 terrorists, arrested 102 suspects and rescued 102 kidnapped victims during operations across Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Bauchi states.
Among the major breakthroughs was the reported killing of Abu Salim al-Barnawi, a senior Boko Haram/ISWAP commander and propaganda chief, during a counter-terrorism operation in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State. Troops also arrested suspected terrorist logistics suppliers and recovered arms, ammunition and other items believed to support insurgent activities.
In the North-West, troops under Operation FANSAN YAMMA eliminated 33 terrorists, arrested 66 suspects and rescued 191 kidnap victims during operations across Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi and Zamfara states. The military said dozens of civilians, including 59 victims rescued between July 28 and 29, regained their freedom during coordinated operations in Zamfara, Katsina and Kaduna.
Operations in the North-Central also yielded notable results. Troops under Operations Savannah Shield, Enduring Peace and Whirl Stroke neutralised 15 terrorists, arrested 148 suspects and rescued 53 kidnap victims across Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Taraba states.
The military said several vulnerable persons, including children, a pregnant woman and a 72-year-old woman, were among those rescued during operations in the region.
In the South-South, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE arrested three suspects, rescued 37 civilians, dismantled 18 illegal refining sites and recovered more than 250,500 litres of stolen petroleum products. Security forces also intercepted vehicles allegedly conveying stolen crude oil and arrested suspects linked to oil theft and illegal refining activities in Rivers and Edo states.
Similarly, troops of Operation UDO KA arrested 26 suspected criminals and rescued 10 civilians during operations targeting secessionist agitators, gunrunners and other criminal elements in the South-East. Weapons, ammunition and other military hardware were also recovered from suspected criminal hideouts in Imo, Abia, Enugu and Rivers states.
The Defence Headquarters also highlighted the contribution of the Air Component, which carried out surveillance and precision air strikes in support of ground troops. According to the military, air operations enabled about nine kidnapped victims to escape from their captors in Niger State, while precision strikes conducted on July 25 neutralised terrorists advancing along the Kontagora axis.
Beyond combat operations, the Armed Forces intensified civil-military cooperation through humanitarian interventions, community engagements and peace-building initiatives. In Borno State, troops assisted health authorities in responding to a cholera outbreak in Cross Kauwa and conducted sensitisation campaigns in schools and markets.
The military also supported the construction of community infrastructure, including solar-powered boreholes, transformers, town halls and the renovation of schools in several states.
Onoja said the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, commended troops across all operational theatres for their professionalism, resilience and sacrifice.
He said the CDS particularly praised the military and other security agencies for the successful rescue of the 44 pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15, stressing that the victims were freed without any concession to the kidnappers.
Oluyede reaffirmed the Armed Forces’ commitment to protecting lives and property and sustaining the fight against terrorism, kidnapping, secessionist violence and other criminal activities across the country.
He also urged Nigerians to regard security as a collective responsibility by providing timely and credible intelligence to the nearest military formation or through the toll-free emergency number, 193, assuring that all information received would be treated with the strictest confidentiality.
