Nigerian Army troops
Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) says its troops rescued 393 kidnapped victims and neutralised more than 102 terrorists during operations carried out across the country in July.
The military also arrested 345 suspected terrorists and other criminal elements, while 57 insurgents surrendered to troops as sustained offensives continued across multiple theatres of operation.
The figures were announced on Friday by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, during the Defence Headquarters’ monthly operational briefing in Abuja.
According to him, troops recorded successes against terrorists, kidnappers, bandits, oil thieves and other criminal groups operating across the North East, North West, North Central, South South and South East.
In the North East, troops of Operation HADIN KAI neutralised 54 terrorists, arrested 102 suspects and rescued 102 kidnapped victims. The operation also led to the surrender of 57 insurgents and their family members.
One of the major breakthroughs during the month was the neutralisation of Abu Salim al-Barnawi, identified as a senior Boko Haram commander and propaganda chief, during an operation in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.
He said the troops also arrested a foreign fighter from Sudan, an illegal immigrant from Ghana and several suspected logistics suppliers believed to be supporting terrorist activities.
In the North West, troops under Operation FANSAN YAMMA rescued 191 kidnapped victims, neutralised 33 terrorists and arrested 66 suspects. Several kidnap attempts were also foiled across Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto and Kano states.
Among those rescued were the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Kaura Namoda, Dr Aminu Yusuf, members of his family and other residents targeted by armed gangs.
Operations SAVANNAH SHIELD, ENDURING PEACE and WHIRL STROKE also recorded gains across the North Central, where troops rescued dozens of kidnap victims, arrested suspected gunrunners and militia members and recovered weapons and ammunition from criminal groups operating in Kwara, Niger, Plateau, Kaduna, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi and Taraba states.
Maj. Gen. Onoja added that iIn the South South, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE intensified operations against crude oil theft, dismantling 18 illegal refining sites and recovering more than 250,500 litres of stolen petroleum products. Troops also rescued 37 civilians and arrested suspected kidnappers during separate operations.
He said Operation UDO KA in the South East recorded the arrest of 26 suspects and the rescue of 10 civilians, while troops recovered weapons and ammunition during raids on criminal hideouts in the region.
The military spokesman added that the Air Component also supported ground operations with precision strikes in several locations, including successful air interdictions around Kontagora in Niger State, where troops targeted armed groups advancing towards nearby communities.
He emphasized that the Armed Forces remained focused on sustaining pressure on terrorist and criminal groups across the country.
He added that the military would continue working with other security agencies while urging Nigerians to support ongoing operations by providing credible and timely information to security authorities.
