317 Terrorists, Criminals Killed, 314 Arrested in May Operations — DHQ
By Anne Osemekeh, Abuja
The Defence Headquarters says troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria neutralised 317 terrorists and other criminal elements, arrested 314 suspects, and rescued 221 kidnapped civilians during coordinated operations across the country in May 2026.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed this on Tuesday during a monthly operational briefing on ongoing military operations nationwide.
He said the troops also recorded the surrender of 18 terrorists, recovered 93 arms, destroyed three illegal refining sites, and seized 21,910 litres of assorted petroleum products during the period.
According to the military, troops of Operation HADIN KAI in the North-East accounted for 73 insurgents killed, 159 arrested, 112 civilians rescued, and 18 terrorists surrendered during operations across Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, and Taraba states.
The DHQ said troops repelled several ISWAP and Boko Haram attacks, rescued abducted women and children, intercepted terrorist logistics supplies, and foiled a mass abduction along the Buratai–Kamuya Road in Borno State, where 92 kidnapped commuters were rescued.
In the North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA troops neutralised 24 insurgents, arrested 13 suspects, and rescued 22 civilians during operations across Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara states.
The military also reported the arrest of a major gunrunner allegedly linked to notorious bandit leader Bello Turji, while air and ground offensives destroyed several terrorist enclaves.
Under Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD in the North-Central zone, troops neutralised two insurgents, arrested 12 suspects, and rescued 24 civilians in Kwara and Niger states.
Similarly, Operation ENDURING PEACE troops killed nine terrorists, arrested 36 suspects, and rescued 15 civilians across Plateau, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Bauchi, and the FCT.
The military also announced the dismantling of an illegal arms manufacturing factory in Jos South LGA of Plateau State, where fabricated AK-47 rifles and other weapons-making equipment were recovered.
In Operation WHIRL STROKE covering Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, and Taraba states, troops neutralised six terrorists, arrested 20 suspects, and rescued 13 kidnapped victims.
In the South-South region, Operation DELTA SAFE arrested 14 suspects linked to kidnapping and oil theft activities, destroyed three illegal refining sites, and recovered thousands of litres of stolen petroleum products.
Meanwhile, troops of Operation UDO KA in the South-East neutralised three suspected IPOB/ESN members, arrested 60 suspects, and rescued 18 civilians during operations in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Imo states.
The Defence Headquarters said the operations reflected the Armed Forces’ sustained offensive against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, oil theft, and other forms of criminality nationwide.
The military also acknowledged a recent kidnapping incident in Oyo State, assuring Nigerians that troops had intensified surveillance and deployed specialised forces to track down the perpetrators.
