Troops Arrest 4,375 Suspects, Rescue 2,336 Kidnapped Victims In 2025
By Anne Osemekeh, Abuja
The Defence Headquarters has said that troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) have arrested 4,375 suspected terrorists, and rescued 2,336 kidnap victims across the country in the year 2025.
Disclosing this on Wednesday in an End of Year Press Briefing held at the Defence Headquarters, the Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, also said that 1,616 terrorists and their families surrendered to troops.
Onoja who highlighted the operational achievements of troops in cojunction with other security stakeholders in sustained efforts against terrorism, noted the neutralization of several top terrorists’ commanders, their lieutenants and their foot soldiers.
These include: Aminu Kanawa, Dan Bokolo, Bello Buba, Dan Inna, Halilu Sabubu, Abu Dan Shehu Jabbi, Dogo Bashiru Yellow, Abba Allai (aka Amirul Khalid of Alafa), Amir Abu Fatimah, Kingpin Auta, Abdul Jamilu, Salisu, Malla Jidda, Talha, Mallam Umar, Abu Yazeed, Kabiru Bebe, Maiwada, Mai Dada and Nwachi Eze (aka Onowu). Others include notorious bandits with the pseudo names; Dosso, Suleiman, Jagaban and Danja.
The Director further provided an overview of the activities conducted by troops of the various operational theatres across the country as follows:
In the northeast geopolitical zone, where the primary security challenge is posed by Boko Haram Terrorists and the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP), troops of OPERATION HADIN KAI arrested 1,323 alongside their collaborators, gunrunners, sympathizers, and spies while 498 kidnapped hostages were rescued.
Troops also recovered various arms, ammunition, vehicles, equipment, and a cumulative sum of N32,000,000.00 in cash. These actions, Onoja said, in addition to the destruction of several terrorist camps and hibernation areas have significantly degraded the terrorists’ fighting capabilities, compelling them to surrender in large numbers and denying them freedom of action.
As a result, commercial and agricultural activities have been revitalized, facilitating the return of local authorities, and enabling Internally Displaced Persons to resettle in their respective communities.
In the Northwest zone where communities were faced with threats ftom the Lakurawa, Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorist groups, as well as armed banditry, kidnapping, and imposition of illegal levies on the local population by these groups, troops through a deep understanding of the terrorists’ modus operandi, implemented effective preventive measures to deter attacks on civilians and military formations in the region.
This led to scores of terrorists being neutralized, the arrest of 669 suspects and the rescue of 966 kidnap hostages. Troops also intercepted and recovered various arms, ammunition, equipment, and large sums of money intended for ransom payments, weapon purchases, and other illicit activities.
Worthy of note is a reinvigorated partnership between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the United States that saw precision strike operations successfully executed against two major Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist enclaves in the Bauni Forest axis of Tangaza Local Government Area, Sokoto State.
Intelligence reports had confirmed these sites as key assembly and staging points for foreign ISIS operatives infiltrating from the Sahel region, working alongside local affiliates to orchestrate large-scale attacks within Nigeria. A total of 16 GPS-guided precision munitions were deployed via MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles, effectively neutralizing the targeted ISIS elements attempting to reach Nigeria via the Sahel.
During the year, troops of OPERATION ENDURING PEACE and OPERATION WHIRL STROKE in the north central zone of the country neutralized scores of terrorists and extremists, arrested 1,261 suspects and rescued 755 kidnap victims while also recovering assorted arms and ammunition.
Maj. Gen Onoja further noted that in the south south geopolitical zone,
characterized by cultism, kidnapping, youth restiveness, and robbery, with militancy that has evolved into pipeline vandalism and oil theft, troops of OPERATION DELTA SAFE neutralized several criminal elements, arrested 778 criminals and their cohorts, and rescued 53 kidnapped victims.
They also foiled oil theft valued at N8,918,647,206.00 representing Sixteen Million, Six Hundred and Twenty Three Thousand, Five Hundred and Forty Two (16,623,542) litres of crude oil, One Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Five Thousand, Six Hundred and Seventy Four (1,255,674) litres of AGO, Four Hundred and Seven Thousand, Seven Hundred and Thirty Four (407,734) litres of DPK, and One Million, Five Hundred and Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Twenty Three (1,508,823) litres of PMS.
Troops also discovered and destroyed 503 illegal refining sites, while recovering assorted weapons and ammunition.
In the southeastern region where oil theft continues to provide criminals with resources to fund their operations while inflicting substantial economic losses on the nation, Onoja revealed that troops of OPERATION UDO KA largely curtailed the activities of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its Eastern Security Network (ESN) in addition to recent court rulings against their leaders: Simon Ekpa, who was jailed by the Government of the Republic of Finland, and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in Abuja.
“These developments have substantially degraded the groups’ capabilities”, Onoja stated, adding that troops neutralized scores of terrorists, arrested 324 suspects and rescued 64 kidnapped victims, while also recovering weapons and ammunition.
Onoja also addressed concerns of terrorist factions relocating to some communities in response to military pressure carried out on terrorist locations, saying the DHQ views the purported influx of armed herders into certain communities seriously.
“Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) assets are actively monitoring terrorist movements across various operational theatres. Several movements have been identified and are presently being tracked. Communities are urged to maintain composure, vigilance, and cooperation with security agencies”, he stated
While urging citizens to promptly report any suspicious movements or activities to the nearest security agencies’ formations, Maj. Gen. Onoja gave assurances of intensified proactive measures by the AFN in collaboration with security agencies, to thwart any attempts by fleeing terrorists to infiltrate or destabilize any community, adding that the DHQ remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding lives and upholding national security.
“The success recorded within the year in all the ongoing operations is a testament to the determination and resilience of our troops, who continue to work tirelessly to secure our nation”, Onoja said, even as he commended the bravery and professionalism of the troops involved in all operations.
Onoja assured that in the coming year 2026, “the AFN and other security stake holders will redouble efforts in the fight against terrorism and other sundry crimes”.
