Troops killed 52 terrorists and criminals, arrested 350 suspects and rescued 655 kidnapped civilians across the country in September as the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) intensified counter-terrorism and other security operations.
Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations, disclosed this on Wednesday at its combined monthly and third-quarter media briefing on military operations, saying troops also recovered 52 arms and 2,335 rounds of ammunition during the month.
The operations were conducted across the North-East, North-West and North-Central theatres, as well as parts of the South-East, amid continued attacks by terrorist, bandit and kidnapping networks.
Onoja said troops sustained kinetic and non-kinetic operations throughout September, disrupting terrorist logistics, arresting collaborators and suppliers, rescuing abducted civilians and forcing terrorist fighters to surrender.
In the North-East, troops of Operation HADIN KAI recorded some of the major counter-terrorism successes, particularly in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.
During the month, the troops neutralised 27 terrorist fighters, arrested 49 terrorists, rescued 103 kidnapped victims and facilitated the surrender of 73 insurgents and their family members.
On September 1, troops encountered a command-detonated Improvised Explosive Device along the Miyanti-Banki Junction Main Supply Route in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.
The ensuing engagement resulted in the neutralisation of one terrorist and the recovery of a rifle, ammunition and the IED initiator.
On September 17, troops supported by an Air Component helicopter gunship repelled a large-scale terrorist advance at Gajiram in Nganzai Local Government Area of Borno State.
Further engagements around Benisheikh and Azare Village in Kaga and Gujba local government areas respectively resulted in additional arrests and recovery of ammunition.
The military also reported a significant humanitarian dimension to the operations, saying troops intercepted 44 members of terrorist families at Konduga in Bama Local Government Area on September 24.
The group comprised 13 women and 31 children who had fled terrorist enclaves amid clashes between rival factions.
Onoja noted that more than 70 terrorist fighters and their family members surrendered at various locations in Borno during the month.
Some of those who surrendered reportedly cited hunger, harsh living conditions and lack of basic provisions within terrorist enclaves in the Mandara Mountains and Lake Chad region.
In one instance, a repentant terrorist surrendered at Benisheikh with an AK-47 rifle, a hand grenade and an IED.
Troops also intensified efforts to disrupt terrorist supply chains, arresting suspected logistics suppliers, informants, spies and collaborators.
On September 23, troops arrested a suspected logistics supplier conveying Starlink internet devices allegedly destined for Chad along the Dikwa-Gamboru Road.
In the North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA recorded operations across Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states.
Troops neutralised seven terrorists, arrested 26 and rescued 171 kidnapped victims during the month.
The military said troops also targeted terrorist kingpins and their forest hideouts, including operations around Yantumaki Forest in Katsina State, Magarya Forest in Sokoto State and areas around the Nigeria-Niger border in Kebbi State.
The operations led to the recovery of rifles, a machine gun, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, ammunition and other military-related items.
‘One of the major rescue operations occurred on September 17 when a Nigerian Air Force jet intercepted terrorists moving with a large number of kidnapped victims in the Bazama area of Sakaba Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
‘The operation disrupted the terrorists’ movement and enabled more than 60 kidnapped victims to escape’, Onoja said.
In the North-Central region, Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD troops operating in Kwara and Niger states neutralised five terrorists, arrested two and rescued 27 kidnapped victims.
Troops also defused 12 IEDs during operations in Borgu and Kaiama local government areas.
Operation ENDURING PEACE, covering parts of Bauchi, Kaduna and Plateau states, recorded the arrest of 155 suspects, the neutralisation of nine terrorists and the rescue of 28 kidnapped victims during the month.
Troops also raided suspected criminal hideouts and arrested members of kidnapping syndicates operating in Plateau and Kaduna states.
In one major operation, troops working with Forest Guards ambushed suspected kidnappers at Kudu Yamma in Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State on September 21.
Three kidnappers were neutralised while six kidnap victims were rescued.
Operation WHIRL STROKE, covering Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Taraba states, also recorded significant rescue operations, as troops neutralised one terrorist, arrested 57 suspects and rescued 320 kidnapped victims during the month.
On September 19, troops raided the residence of a suspected kidnap kingpin in Bukan Sidi, Lafia, Nasarawa State, arresting the suspect and recovering a locally made revolver, military-style uniforms, a luxury vehicle and cash.
The military said evidence recovered from the suspect’s phone linked him to militia activities.
Troops also rescued 18 passengers abducted from a bus at Andaha Community along the Jos-Akwanga Road in Akwanga Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
In the South-East, Operation UDO KA continued operations against secessionist elements, recording the neutralisation of three criminals, the arrest of 28 suspects and the rescue of six kidnapped victims.
Troops also arrested a suspected IED fabrication expert allegedly linked to a secessionist group near Okigwe in Imo State.
On September 23, troops and local security groups encountered suspected secessionist terrorists at Obibi Forest in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State.
‘The fleeing suspects abandoned a General Purpose Machine Gun, a rifle, ammunition and a motorcycle, while troops arrested a suspected informant and rescued a woman who had reportedly been abducted about two months earlier’, DHQ said.
The Defence Headquarters said troops neutralised 554 terrorists and criminals, arrested 1,333 and rescued 1,736 kidnapped civilians during the third quarter of 2026.
The military also said 333 insurgents surrendered during the quarter, while troops recovered 244 arms and 8,160 rounds of ammunition. However, the Defence Headquarters disclosed that troops recorded 367 attacks across the various theatres during the period under review.
Operation ENDURING PEACE recorded the highest number at 147 attacks, followed by Operation FANSAN YAMMA with 115 and Operation WHIRL STROKE with 55.
Operation HADIN KAI recorded 33 attacks, while Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD recorded 13 and Operation UDO KA recorded four. Operation DELTA SAFE recorded no attacks during the period.
The military said troops responded to the attacks with superior firepower and tactical manoeuvres, while also conducting IED clearance operations, dismantling terrorist camps, recovering weapons and protecting communities and major supply routes.
The military authority commended troops for their professionalism and sacrifice and acknowledged the losses and hardships suffered by military personnel, civilians and their families during the period.
He also called for continued cooperation between the Armed Forces, other security agencies, local security groups, traditional rulers and communities.
Onoja urged Nigerians to provide credible information to the nearest military formation or through the toll-free line 193, assuring citizens that information received would be treated confidentially.