The Armed Forces of Nigeria say troops recorded significant operational successes nationwide between June 19 and 25.
Disclosing this on Friday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, added that troops also disrupted criminal networks across multiple theatres of operation targeting terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, oil theft and arms trafficking across the North-East, North-West, North-Central, South-East and South-South regions.
One of the most significant developments occurred in Borno State, where 39 terrorists and their families—including women and children—surrendered to troops of Operation HADIN KAI, citing sustained military pressure and depletion of resources in their enclaves.
In a separate series of operations in the North-East, troops rescued 66 civilians abducted in earlier attacks, including a major operation along the Buratai–Kamuya road where 53 hostages and eight hijacked vehicles were recovered. Troops also repelled coordinated terrorist attacks and recovered weapons and ammunition in multiple engagements.
In the North-Central, troops intercepted a major arms shipment along the Sokoto–Kano highway, recovering AK-47 rifles, pistols, ammunition, communication equipment and camouflage gear in what officials described as a disrupted arms supply pipeline. A separate intelligence-led arrest in the FCT also uncovered a suspected terrorist whose mobile devices contained incriminating evidence of armed group activity.
In the North-West, troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA foiled planned attacks in Zamfara State, neutralised bandits in Katsina, and recovered machine guns, ammunition, motorcycles and military-style uniforms allegedly used for impersonation. Several suspects were also arrested across Kaduna, Zamfara and Kano states during clearance operations.
In the South-South, troops intensified operations against crude oil theft and kidnapping networks, seizing over 160,000 litres of suspected illegally refined petroleum products in Rivers State alone. In one naval interception, over 103,500 litres were recovered from a wooden boat, while additional hidden storage sites yielded tens of thousands of litres more. In Edo State, troops also killed two kidnappers, rescued victims, and recovered ₦2.2 million believed to be ransom proceeds.
In the South-East, troops engaged suspected IPOB/ESN militants in Anambra State, neutralising three gunmen during a firefight and recovering a cache of weapons including AK-47 rifles, a PKM machine gun, improvised explosive devices, communication devices, and police uniforms allegedly used for impersonation.
The Nigerian Air Force also conducted precision air interdiction missions in Kaduna State’s Giwa Local Government Area, destroying terrorist hideouts and neutralising fleeing gunmen in coordinated strikes that supported ground operations.
The Defence Headquarters said the nationwide operations reflect sustained pressure on criminal networks and a steady degradation of their capabilities, reaffirming the military’s commitment to restoring peace, securing communities, and dismantling all threats to national security.
