The Armed Forces of Nigeria, in February 2026, ramped up coordinated multi-domain operations, harnessing advanced intelligence, inter-agency collaboration, and community partnerships to dismantle threats posed by terrorists, kidnappers, and economic saboteurs across the country.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, made this known while briefing Journalists on the ongoing Military Operations by the Armed Forces of Nigeria for the month of February 2026 in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Major General Onoja said, “By integrating kinetic strikes with non-kinetic initiatives such as humanitarian aid, infrastructure support, and dialogue with local leaders, we are building resilient communities capable of withstanding adversarial influences”.
According to him, troops of Operation HADIN KAI in the North-East during the month under review neutralised scores of terrorists, arrested eighty-five (85) suspects, facilitated the surrender of forty-six (46) insurgents and their families and rescued one hundred and four (104) kidnapped victims.
The Director added that “significant recoveries of arms, ammunition and equipment have further eroded terrorist networks, enabling the safe return of displaced persons and revitalising local economies”.
Similarly, forty-two (42) illegal miners were also apprehended in Gulani LGA of Yobe State, thereby disrupting illicit activities that fund insurgency.
In the same vein, troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA in the North-West maintained operational superiority, neutralising several terrorists, arresting thirty-six (36) suspects, and rescuing two hundred and fifty-one (251) hostages.
General Onoja noted that the highlight of troops’ activities was on 21 February 2026, where troops rescued twenty-one (21) victims from Gidan Sarkin Bayero village in Musawa LGA of Katsina State, who were abducted on 19 February 2026 and were safely handed over to state authorities.
“Interceptions of arms caches and ammunition from gunrunners across the theatre have severely hampered criminal logistics, reducing the frequency of ambushes and raids. These efforts have also encouraged community dialogues, leading to voluntary disarmament in some areas and bolstering local vigilance networks,” he said.
He noted that building on these kinetic successes, the operation has introduced agro-security patrols to protect farmlands and herders, mitigating conflicts that terrorists exploit.
According to him, this proactive measure, combined with infrastructure repairs in bandit-prone zones, is fostering economic revival and deterring youth recruitment into criminal groups, thereby addressing the root causes of insecurity in the region.
In a related development, troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD extended their presence in Kwara and Niger States, targeting terrorist hideouts in forested and border terrains.
The Director stressed that intelligence-driven offensives neutralised scores of terrorists, rescued several hostages, and recovered substantial arms during a fierce engagement on 18 February 2026 along the Kainji-Kwimo road in Magama LGA, Niger State.
“By emphasising rapid response and community intelligence, the operation has curtailed ambushes and abductions, creating safer corridors for commerce and travel,” he said.
Furthermore, in Plateau State, Operation ENDURING PEACE has effectively addressed terrorism, kidnapping, and ethno-religious tensions through robust responses to distress calls.
General Onoja said that “troops neutralized several terrorists, arrested twenty-nine (29) criminals, rescued twenty-two (22) hostages, and recovered arms in multiple raids, demonstrating seamless coordination with air and other security agencies”.
Operation WHIRL STROKE recorded successes which include neutralizing terrorists, arresting forty-nine (49) suspects, rescuing thirty-two (32) hostages, and recovery of arms.
“The arrest of a key terrorist on 21 February 2026 in Sarkin Kudu, Ibi LGA of Taraba State, yielded recovery of arms, magazines, ammunition, and Two Million, Four Hundred and Forty Thousand Naira (N2,440,000) only, while a wanted logistics supplier was apprehended on 23 February 2026 in Tajimi, Lokoja LGA of Kogi. These disruptions have impacted criminal finances and encouraged surrenders”, he added.
In the South-South, Operation DELTA SAFE has ramped up anti-oil theft measures, arrested fifty-nine (59) criminals, rescued hostages, recovered one hundred and forty-four thousand and fifty (144,050) litres of crude oil and thirty-one thousand, six hundred and one (31,601) litres of Automated Gas Oil (AGO), and destroyed thirty-two (32) illegal refining sites.
Operation UDO KA in the South-East intensified actions against dissident groups like the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), across Abia, Anambra, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States. Some successes recorded during the month were the arrest of Fifty-Four (54) terrorists and other criminal elements and the rescue of kidnapped hostages.
The Armed Forces of Nigeria troops across all theatres maintained aggressive, intelligence-led and coordinated land, air and maritime operations, relentlessly confronting terrorists, armed bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal elements that threatened national peace and stability.
Meanwhile, a minute of silence was observed for officers who lost their lives in defending their fatherland.