Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) kept up the pressure on terrorists, kidnappers, oil thieves and other criminal groups across the country in June, recording fresh gains in several theatres of operation.
According to the military, 129 terrorists and other criminals were neutralised during the month, while 486 suspects were arrested and 542 kidnapped victims rescued in a series of coordinated operations.
The military also said 11 insurgents surrendered, with troops recovering 130 firearms and 5,538 rounds of ammunition. Seven illegal refining sites were dismantled, while more than 308,000 litres of stolen petroleum products were recovered from oil thieves operating in the Niger Delta.
Speaking during the Defence Headquarters’ monthly and second-quarter operational briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, said the successes were recorded through coordinated land and air operations backed by intelligence gathered across different parts of the country.
He said one of the biggest breakthroughs came in the North-East, where troops of Operation Hadin Kai rescued 360 civilians, mostly women and children, from the Mandara Mountains in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State. The victims had reportedly been held captive by terrorists since March before troops stormed the area in a multi-pronged operation.
Beyond that rescue, troops continued clearance operations across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, killing scores of terrorists, arresting suspected collaborators and rescuing more victims. Several attacks were also repelled, while weapons and ammunition were recovered from fleeing insurgents.
In the North-West, troops under Operation Fansan Yamma stepped up operations against armed groups in Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi and Zamfara states. The military said 33 terrorists were neutralised, 165 suspects arrested and 51 kidnapped victims freed. Troops also intercepted large consignments of ammunition, arrested suspected arms suppliers and recovered military uniforms allegedly used by criminal gangs to disguise themselves as security personnel.
Operations in the North-Central also yielded results. Troops of Operations Savannah Shield, Enduring Peace and Whirl Stroke carried out raids, patrols and rescue missions across Niger, Kwara, Kogi, Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, Taraba and parts of Kaduna State. Several suspected terrorists and informants were arrested, kidnapped victims rescued and illegal weapons recovered during the operations.
The military also reported fresh gains in the South-South, where Operation Delta Safe intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft and illegal refining activities. Apart from arresting suspected kidnappers and other criminal elements, troops dismantled illegal refining sites and recovered more than 308,000 litres of stolen crude oil and refined petroleum products.
In the South-East, troops of Operation UDO KA sustained operations against the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN). Several suspects were arrested, weapons and explosives recovered, while raids on criminal hideouts disrupted the activities of the groups in parts of Abia, Anambra, Enugu and Imo states.
Air operations also played a key role during the month. The Nigerian Air Force carried out precision strikes on terrorist hideouts in Kaduna and Niger states and provided aerial surveillance along the Abuja-Kaduna rail corridor after a technical fault affected a passenger train, helping to secure the route while passengers were evacuated.
Away from combat operations, the Armed Forces continued civil-military projects in different parts of the country. These included the commissioning of health and community facilities, support for farmers with fertiliser, humanitarian assistance in the North-East and peace-building engagements between oil companies and host communities in the Niger Delta.
Giving an overview of operations for the second quarter of the year, the Defence Headquarters said troops neutralised 662 terrorists and other criminals, arrested 1,084 suspects and rescued 951 kidnapped victims between April and June. During the same period, 39 insurgents surrendered, 328 weapons and over 12,500 rounds of ammunition were recovered, while 12 illegal refining sites were destroyed and more than 464,000 litres of stolen petroleum products seized.
The military said the figures reflect sustained efforts to weaken criminal and terrorist networks across the country, insisting that operations would continue until security improves in affected areas.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede, commended troops for their courage and professionalism. He also thanked local communities, members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, vigilante groups and other security agencies for supporting military operations with useful intelligence.
Major General Onoja said the Armed Forces would continue to intensify operations against all threats to national security, while urging Nigerians to keep providing credible information through the military’s toll-free emergency line, 193, to support ongoing operations.
