The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) neutralised 102 terrorists and other criminal elements, rescued 393 kidnap victims during nationwide military operations in July.
The Defence Headquarters disclosed this on Friday at its monthly operational briefing stating that troops also arrested 345 suspects, and recovered 59 firearms and 1,811 rounds of ammunition.
They also received the surrender of 57 insurgents and their family members, while sustaining offensive operations against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, oil theft and other criminal activities across the country.
According to the military, the North-East remained the most active theatre, with troops of Operation HADIN KAI neutralising 54 terrorists, arresting 102 suspects, rescuing 102 kidnapped victims, and facilitating the surrender of 57 insurgents and their families. Troops also dealt a major blow to Boko Haram/ISWAP by killing senior commander and propaganda chief, Abu Salim al-Barnawi, during operations in Borno State.
In the North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA rescued 191 kidnapped victims, neutralised 33 terrorists, and arrested 66 suspects in a series of operations across Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kano states. Troops also thwarted several kidnapping attempts, rescued abducted commuters and civilians, and recovered weapons, motorcycles and improvised explosive device components.
Across the North-Central, troops recorded further gains. Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD neutralised eight terrorists, arrested 18 suspects and rescued 11 kidnap victims, while Operation ENDURING PEACE arrested 60 suspects, neutralised two criminals, and rescued 18 victims. Under Operation WHIRL STROKE, troops neutralised five terrorists, arrested 70 suspects, rescued 24 kidnap victims, and dismantled several criminal hideouts across Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Taraba states.
In the South-South, Operation DELTA SAFE intensified the campaign against crude oil theft, dismantling 18 illegal refining sites, recovering over 250,500 litres of stolen petroleum products, rescuing 37 civilians, and arresting three suspects involved in kidnapping and economic sabotage.
Meanwhile, troops of Operation UDO KA arrested 26 criminal suspects, including suspected IPOB/ESN members, gunrunners and kidnappers, rescued 10 civilians, and recovered arms and ammunition during operations across the South-East.
The military also credited the Air Component with providing precision air support that neutralised terrorist targets in Niger State and disrupted criminal movements, while supporting rescue operations.
Beyond combat operations, the Armed Forces said troops continued civil-military cooperation projects nationwide, including peacebuilding initiatives, cholera intervention in Borno State, and the construction of boreholes, schools, town halls and other community infrastructure.
Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, commended troops for their professionalism and praised the collaboration of other security agencies and local vigilante groups. He reaffirmed the military’s resolve to sustain pressure on terrorists, kidnappers and other criminal groups, urging Nigerians to continue providing credible intelligence through the Defence Headquarters’ toll-free emergency line, 193.
