For 3 months, sustained army bombardments, flooring offensives, and blockades of provide routes left terrorist warring parties around the North-East and North-West with out a get away. Bring to a halt from meals, gasoline and ammunition and continuously hunted by way of troops, 406 warring parties, along side their households, laid down their fingers and surrendered. All through the similar duration, operations rescued 1,736 sufferers from captivity. TARKAA DAVID reviews
Sustained army power around the nation has pressured 406 terrorist warring parties and their households to give up to govt forces and resulted in the rescue of one,736 abducted hostages within the 3rd quarter of 2026.
The repentant terrorist warring parties and their members of the family surrendered to troops whilst fleeing hardship inside of terrorist enclaves as steady offensive disrupted intensive fingers and logistics trafficking networks, and denied financial saboteurs persevered get entry to to the country’s petroleum sources.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) not too long ago printed that troops killed 554 terrorists/criminals, arrested 1,333 and rescued 1,736 hostages throughout 3 months of operations within the 3rd quarter of 2026.
The Director Defence Media Operations, Primary Normal Michael Onoja, briefing reporters, mentioned the duration recorded 367 assaults throughout quite a lot of theatres of operation.
In September by myself, he mentioned troops neutralised 52 terrorists/criminals; arrested 350 terrorists/criminals; rescued 655 abducted civilians; and 75 insurgents surrendered.
Troops recovered 52 fingers and a pair of,335 rounds of ammunition; dismantled 8 unlawful refining websites; and recovered greater than 304,822 litres of stolen petroleum merchandise.
In line with him, the Armed Forces of Nigeria demonstrated sustained capability to confront the total spectrum of safety demanding situations dealing with the country, from terrorism and banditry within the northern theatres to kidnapping, oil robbery and secessionist agitation within the southern theatres.
“The size of successes recorded for the 3rd Quarter 2026, starting from the naturalisation of 554 terrorists and criminals; the arrest of one,333 terrorists/criminals; the rescue of one,736 abducted civilians; the give up of 333 insurgents; the seize of 244 fingers and eight,160 rounds of ammunition; the dismantling of 104 unlawful refining websites; and the restoration of one,610,402 litres of stolen petroleum merchandise, represents a vital degradation of legal and terrorist operational capability national,” he mentioned.
Onoja, offering a breakdown of the 367 assaults recorded throughout quite a lot of theatres of operation, mentioned Operation HADIN KAI recorded 33 assaults, Operation FANSAN YAMMA recorded 115, Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD recorded 13, Operation ENDURING PEACE recorded 147, Operation WHIRL STROKE recorded 55, and Operation UDO KA (OPUK) recorded 4, whilst Operation DELTA SAFE recorded no assaults.
He mentioned, “troops replied decisively to those incidents, abruptly enticing the assailants with awesome firepower and tactical manoeuvring, and effectively countering the assaults. Via their unravel and professionalism, troops neutralised a number of of the attackers, pressured others to escape, and denied them the chance to reach their targets.”
He reiterated that every one Kinetic operations throughout the duration enhanced safety throughout all theatres of operations and the country by way of disrupting terrorist and kidnapping actions, rescuing kidnapped civilians, and protective communities and key provide routes from assault.
“Troops additionally cleared improvised explosive units, dismantled suspected terrorist camps, recovered fingers and ammunition, and avoided deliberate assaults, thereby bettering freedom of motion, strengthening self assurance amongst citizens and commuters in affected communities, and protective essential nationwide infrastructure,” he added.
Explaining the information, he mentioned the third quarter 2026 information presentations important monthly fluctuations in operational results.
In line with him, from July to August, bandit/legal killings greater by way of 171.9 in line with cent, whilst arrests declined fairly by way of 4.2 in line with cent, civilians rescued greater by way of 51.4 in line with cent, terrorists who surrendered greater by way of 252.6 in line with cent, fingers recovered greater by way of 28.6 in line with cent, ammunition recovered greater by way of 12.5 in line with cent, and crude oil recovered greater by way of 11.0 in line with cent.
He mentioned those adjustments mirror the depth and nature of operational engagements throughout August.
He persevered, “From August to September, maximum signs declined from their August peaks, together with 85.8 in line with cent for bandits/criminals killed, 28.3 in line with cent for arrests, 10.8 in line with cent for civilians rescued, 62.7 in line with cent for surrenders, 51.9 in line with cent for fingers recovered, 24.3 in line with cent for ammunition recovered, and 55.6 in line with cent for crude oil recovered.”
“Alternatively, the September figures nonetheless reveal sustained operational job, with 581 civilians rescued, 345 arrests, 75 surrenders, 52 fingers and a pair of,335 rounds of ammunition recovered, along persevered efforts to offer protection to nationwide financial sources.”
“The differences, due to this fact, mirror the converting operational atmosphere, whilst troops maintained their dedication to nationwide safety all through the duration.”
Offering a breakdown of army achievements for September 2026, he mentioned troops within the North East geopolitical zone sustained counter-terrorism operations all through the month throughout Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States, countering terrorist assaults, disrupting logistics networks and denying terrorists freedom of motion.
The troops neutralised 27 terrorist warring parties, arrested 49 terrorists, rescued 103 abducted sufferers, and facilitated the give up of 73 insurgents and their households.
The Director mentioned that troops in one of the important rescue operations intercepted and rescued 44 terrorist members of the family, comprising 13 ladies and 31 kids, at Konduga in Bama LGA of Borno State on 24 September 2026, who had fled their enclaves amid clashes between rival terrorist factions.
In line with him, over 70 terrorist warring parties and members of the family surrendered to troops at quite a lot of places, together with Monguno, Pulka and alongside the Gwoza-Limankara Highway in Gwoza LGA, in addition to Dikwa, Bama and Ngala LGAs, all in Borno State.
“The surrendering individuals persistently cited harsh dwelling stipulations, starvation and a loss of elementary provisions in terrorist enclaves within the Mandara Mountains and the Lake Chad area as causes for his or her give up,” he mentioned.
Troops’ relentless operations resulted in the arrest of a large number of suspected terrorist collaborators, informants, spies and logistics providers around the theatre all through the month.
“Troops disrupted terrorist logistics networks by way of arresting key providers in Konduga LGA on 31 August 2026; Benisheikh in Kaga LGA on 5 September 2026; Mafa in Dikwa LGA on 6 September 2026; Gumsa Bridge in Geidam LGA, Yobe State, on 8 September 2026; and Geidam Marketplace in Yobe State on 25 September 2026. The seized pieces integrated foodstuffs, scientific and veterinary provides, prescription drugs, a automobile, bike spare portions, and money meant for terrorists.”
He additional printed that troops arrested suspected informants and spies at quite a lot of places, together with the cities of Damasak, Biu, Monguno, and Kukawa. Troops additionally arrested a logistics provider transporting Starlink web units destined for Chad alongside the Dikwa-Gamboru Highway.
“All through the quarter, troops neutralised 273 terrorist warring parties, arrested 348 terrorists, rescued 297 abducted sufferers, and facilitated the give up of 331 insurgents and their households.”
Within the North West, troops neutralised seven terrorist warring parties, arrested 26 terrorists and rescued 171 abducted sufferers.
Troops additionally arrested suspects transporting rustled livestock close to Illela in Sokoto State and seized N2,700,000 in money meant for a terrorist kingpin in Faskari LGA, Katsina State.
In different comparable operations, troops disrupted intensive arms-trafficking and terrorist-logistics networks all through the theatre.
“Cumulatively over the quarter, troops neutralised 230 terrorist warring parties, arrested 147 terrorists and rescued 508 abducted sufferers.”
Within the North Central, troops around the 3 theatres sustained offensive operations towards terrorism and kidnapping all through September 2026 in Kwara and Niger States.
Troops performed more than one a success Improvised Explosive Software (IED) clearance operations throughout Borgu and Kaiama LGAs in Niger and Kwara States all through the month, safely defusing 12 units in general. Those integrated one recovered at Dekara Village on 9 September 2026 and 9 discovered alongside a prime provide path between Machan-Gyada and Masaka Villages on 21 September 2026. All affected roads had been therefore declared secure for vehicular motion.
All through the month, troops neutralised 5 terrorists, arrested 2 terrorists and rescued 27 abducted sufferers. Probably the most important good fortune of the month got here on 15 September 2026, when troops attacked terrorists at Muchiya village in Rafi LGA of Niger State and rescued 22 abducted sufferers, who had been reunited with their households.
In some other important building, troops intercepted an escaped sufferer, Hadiza Sani, at Garauji Village below Babana in Borgu LGA of Niger State on 25 September 2026, 3 days after she escaped from a terrorist enclave.
Government mentioned a initial debriefing printed that she used to be amongst roughly 500 citizens kidnapped by way of terrorists after Friday prayers at Dekara on 21 August 2026, and that the sufferers had been being held below heavy guard.
“General, throughout the quarter, troops neutralised 41 terrorist warring parties, arrested 582 terrorists, and rescued 836 abducted sufferers”.
Within the South East area, troops performed operations towards secessionist components and unlawful oil bunkering all through September 2026 throughout Anambra, Enugu and Imo States.
“Cumulatively, throughout the quarter, troops neutralised 10 terrorist warring parties, arrested 75 terrorists, rescued 20 abducted sufferers, and facilitated the give up of two secessionists”.
Within the combat towards financial saboteurs, troops arrested 181 criminals, destroyed 104 unlawful refining websites, and recovered greater than 1,610,402 litres of petroleum merchandise, together with crude oil, Car Gasoline Oil, Twin Objective Kerosene, and Top rate Motor Spirit, over the quarter.
The Leader of Defence Body of workers, Normal Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede, counseled the professionalism, determination and sacrifice of troops throughout all theatres of operation for the achievements recorded throughout the quarter.
The Defence Leader additionally prolonged heartfelt condolences to body of workers, civilians and households who suffered damage, loss or hardship throughout the duration.
Normal Oluyede additionally counseled the sustained collaboration between the AFN and different safety companies, together with native safety teams, noting that their mixed efforts proceed to give a boost to the country’s safety structure.
The CDS additional commends the media for his or her persevered professionalism and balanced protection of army operations all through the quarter.
He additionally appealed to individuals of the general public, conventional rulers and group leaders to maintain their fortify for troops by way of offering well timed and credible data to the closest army formation or in the course of the toll-free line 193.
All data won will probably be handled with the maximum confidentiality. Accordingly, electorate are inspired to uphold the primary of “See One thing, Say One thing”, as nationwide safety stays a shared civic accountability.
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