The military says intelligence-led operations killed 662 terrorists, arrested 1,084 suspects and rescued 951 kidnap victims nationwide in Q2 2026.
The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) said its troops killed 662 terrorists and other criminal elements, arrested 1,084 suspects and rescued 951 kidnapped victims across the country during the second quarter of 2026, as the military intensified intelligence-led operations targeting terrorist and criminal networks.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, said the successes were achieved through sustained joint land operations, close air support and intelligence-driven missions across the country’s various theatres of operation.
According to him, the Armed Forces “recorded significant and far-reaching operational successes across all operational theatres during the month of June as well as the Second Quarter 2026,” noting that troops “systematically degraded the operational capabilities of Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), as well as kidnapping syndicates, illegal oil bunkering cartels, and cross-border arms traffickers.”
He said the cumulative achievements reflected “the enduring commitment of a professional and resolute force dedicated to restoring peace, stability, and confidence across every geopolitical zone of the nation.”
Onoja said the North-East remained the epicentre of military operations under Operation Hadin Kai, where troops killed 484 terrorists, arrested 370 suspects and rescued 595 kidnapped victims during the quarter.
He added that the theatre also recorded the surrender of 38 insurgents and their family members, while one of the most significant operations led to the rescue of 360 civilians, mostly women and children, during a multi-axis raid on the Mandara Mountains in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
In the North-West, troops under Operation Fansan Yamma neutralised 77 terrorists, arrested 210 suspects and rescued 153 kidnapped victims while intercepting arms traffickers, logistics suppliers and terrorist collaborators in Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
“The combined operations in the North-Central also underscored the military’s growing emphasis on dismantling criminal infrastructure,” Onoja said.
He disclosed that troops operating under Operations Savannah Shield, Enduring Peace and Whirl Stroke killed 83 terrorists, arrested 305 suspects and rescued 183 kidnapped victims.
According to him, “Several operations specifically targeted terrorist informants, kidnappers’ collaborators, illegal arms couriers and logistics providers, disrupting support networks sustaining criminal groups across the region.”
In the South-East, under Operation Udo Ka, troops neutralised 12 terrorists, arrested 115 suspects and rescued 20 kidnapped victims. Military operations also led to the recovery of weapons, improvised explosive devices and ammunition, while key IPOB/ESN commanders and logisticians were apprehended during targeted raids.
Onoja further stated that Operation Delta Safe in the South-South focused on combating economic sabotage and organised crime, with troops killing six criminal elements, arresting 84 suspects, dismantling 12 illegal refining sites and recovering more than 464,268 litres of stolen petroleum products.
He noted that the number of arrests exceeded the number of terrorists killed during the quarter, explaining that those apprehended included terrorist collaborators, informants, financiers, logistics suppliers, arms traffickers and members of kidnapping syndicates, reflecting the military’s growing emphasis on dismantling criminal support networks.
Onoja said the Armed Forces remained committed to consolidating the gains recorded through coordinated operations nationwide.
He reaffirmed that the military would sustain counter-terrorism, counter-banditry, counter-kidnapping, anti-oil theft and anti-arms proliferation operations to further restore peace and security across the country.