The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) neutralised 102 terrorists and other criminal elements, rescued 393 kidnapped victims, and arrested 345 suspects during nationwide military operations in July 2026.
The military said the coordinated operations, carried out with other security agencies and local vigilante groups, also led to the recovery of 59 weapons, 1,811 rounds of ammunition, while 57 insurgents and their family members surrendered to troops.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed the operational scorecard on Friday during the monthly briefing at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
He said, “The Armed Forces, in collaboration with other security agencies and local vigilante groups, sustained offensive operations across all theatres, recording significant successes against terrorists, kidnappers, bandits, militias, oil thieves and other criminal elements.”
The military recorded major gains in the North-East under Operation HADIN KAI, where troops killed 54 terrorists, arrested 102 suspects and rescued 102 kidnapped victims.
The operation also led to the killing of Abu Salim al-Barnawi, a senior Boko Haram commander and propaganda chief, while a Sudanese fighter, a Ghanaian illegal immigrant and several terrorist logistics suppliers were arrested.
In the North-West, troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA rescued 191 kidnap victims, neutralised 33 terrorists and arrested 66 suspects.
The troops also foiled several abduction attempts, including the rescue of the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Kaura Namoda, Dr. Aminu Yusuf, members of his family and other victims.
Operations in the North-Central also yielded results, with troops rescuing victims, arresting dozens of suspects and eliminating notorious terrorist kingpin “Puuga.”
In the South-South, Operation DELTA SAFE dismantled 18 illegal refining sites, recovered more than 250,500 litres of stolen petroleum products, rescued 37 civilians from sea pirates and arrested suspected kidnap kingpins.
Operation UDO KA in the South-East arrested 26 suspected criminals, rescued 10 civilians and recovered weapons and logistics linked to IPOB/ESN elements and other criminal groups.
Major General Onoja said Nigerian Air Force precision strikes also eliminated terrorists in Niger State and supported the rescue of kidnap victims, while the Armed Forces continued civil-military projects, including peace initiatives, health interventions and community development programmes across the country.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, commended troops for their professionalism and praised the synergy between the military, security agencies and local vigilantes, particularly in the rescue of the 44 pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State without payment of ransom.
He reaffirmed the military’s commitment to defeating terrorism, kidnapping and other criminal threats, urging Nigerians to continue providing credible intelligence through the Armed Forces’ toll-free emergency line.
A minute’s silence was observed in honour of personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty.
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