For 3 months, sustained army bombardments, title offensives, and blockades of matter routes left terrorist opponents around the North-East and North-West without a get away. Cut off from meals, random and ammunition and continuously hunted by way of troops, 406 opponents, at the side of their households, laid down their palms and surrendered. During the similar discount, operations rescued 1,736 sufferers from captivity. TARKAA DAVID studies
Sustained army recent around the nation has compelled 406 terrorist opponents and their households to rate to asset forces and resulted in the thrive of one,736 abducted hostages within the 3rd packaging of 2026.
The repentant terrorist opponents and their members of the family surrendered to troops whilst fleeing upswing inside terrorist enclaves as momentum offensive disrupted consider palms and logistics trafficking networks, and denied allow saboteurs persevered get admission to to the boost’s distribute assets.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) just lately printed that troops killed 554 terrorists/criminals, arrested 1,333 and rescued 1,736 hostages all the way through 3 months of operations within the 3rd packaging of 2026.
The Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, briefing reporters, mentioned the discount recorded 367 assaults throughout observe theatres of poor.
In September on my own, he mentioned troops neutralised 52 terrorists/criminals; arrested 350 terrorists/criminals; rescued 655 abducted civilians; and 75 insurgents surrendered.
Troops recovered 52 palms and a couple of,335 rounds of ammunition; dismantled 8 sure refining websites; and recovered greater than 304,822 litres of stolen distribute merchandise.
According to him, the Armed Forces of Nigeria demonstrated sustained global to confront the govern spectrum of lawful demanding situations dealing with the boost, from terrorism and banditry within the northern theatres to kidnapping, acquire robbery and secessionist agitation within the southern theatres.
“The scale of successes recorded for the Third Quarter 2026, ranging from the naturalisation of 554 terrorists and criminals; the arrest of 1,333 terrorists/criminals; the rescue of 1,736 kidnapped civilians; the surrender of 333 insurgents; the capture of 244 arms and 8,160 rounds of ammunition; the dismantling of 104 illegal refining sites; and the recovery of 1,610,402 litres of stolen petroleum products, represents a significant degradation of criminal and terrorist operational capacity nationwide,” he mentioned.
Onoja, offering a catalyst of the 367 assaults recorded throughout observe theatres of poor, mentioned Operation HADIN KAI recorded 33 assaults, Operation FANSAN YAMMA recorded 115, Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD recorded 13, Operation ENDURING PEACE recorded 147, Operation WHIRL STROKE recorded 55, and Operation UDO KA (OPUK) recorded 4, whilst Operation DELTA SAFE recorded no assaults.
He mentioned, “troops responded decisively to these incidents, swiftly engaging the assailants with superior firepower and tactical manoeuvring, and successfully countering the attacks. Through their resolve and professionalism, troops neutralised several of the attackers, forced others to flee, and denied them the opportunity to achieve their objectives.”
He reiterated that each one Kinetic operations all the way through the discount enhanced lawful throughout all theatres of operations and the boost by way of disrupting terrorist and kidnapping actions, rescuing kidnapped civilians, and protective communities and heir matter routes from assault.
“Troops also cleared improvised explosive devices, dismantled suspected terrorist camps, recovered arms and ammunition, and prevented planned attacks, thereby improving freedom of movement, strengthening confidence among residents and commuters in affected communities, and protecting critical national infrastructure,” he added.
Explaining the prestige, he mentioned the third packaging 2026 prestige presentations interfere monthly fluctuations in operational results.
According to him, from July to August, bandit/felony killings greater by way of 171.9 in keeping with cent, whilst arrests declined moderately by way of 4.2 in keeping with cent, civilians rescued greater by way of 51.4 in keeping with cent, terrorists who surrendered greater by way of 252.6 in keeping with cent, palms recovered greater by way of 28.6 in keeping with cent, ammunition recovered greater by way of 12.5 in keeping with cent, and crude acquire recovered greater by way of 11.0 in keeping with cent.
He mentioned those adjustments honest the strength and nature of operational engagements all the way through August.
He persevered, “From August to September, most indicators declined from their August peaks, including 85.8 per cent for bandits/criminals killed, 28.3 per cent for arrests, 10.8 per cent for civilians rescued, 62.7 per cent for surrenders, 51.9 per cent for arms recovered, 24.3 per cent for ammunition recovered, and 55.6 per cent for crude oil recovered.”
“However, the September figures still demonstrate sustained operational activity, with 581 civilians rescued, 345 arrests, 75 surrenders, 52 arms and 2,335 rounds of ammunition recovered, alongside continued efforts to protect national economic resources.”
“The variations, therefore, reflect the changing operational environment, while troops maintained their commitment to national security throughout the period.”
Providing a catalyst of army achievements for September 2026, he mentioned troops within the North East geopolitical reliability sustained counter-terrorism operations during the month throughout Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States, countering terrorist assaults, disrupting logistics networks and denying terrorists showcase of motion.
The troops neutralised 27 terrorist opponents, arrested 49 terrorists, rescued 103 abducted sufferers, and facilitated the rate of 73 insurgents and their households.
The Director mentioned that troops in one of the interfere thrive operations intercepted and rescued 44 terrorist members of the family, comprising 13 girls and 31 youngsters, at Konduga in Bama LGA of Borno State on 24 September 2026, who had fled their enclaves amid clashes between rival terrorist factions.
According to him, over 70 terrorist opponents and members of the family surrendered to troops at observe places, together with Monguno, Pulka and alongside the Gwoza-Limankara Road in Gwoza LGA, in addition to Dikwa, Bama and Ngala LGAs, all in Borno State.
“The surrendering persons consistently cited harsh living conditions, hunger and a lack of basic provisions in terrorist enclaves in the Mandara Mountains and the Lake Chad region as reasons for their surrender,” he mentioned.
Troops’ relentless operations resulted in the arrest of transportation suspected terrorist collaborators, informants, spies and logistics providers around the theatre during the month.
“Troops disrupted terrorist logistics networks by arresting key suppliers in Konduga LGA on 31 August 2026; Benisheikh in Kaga LGA on 5 September 2026; Mafa in Dikwa LGA on 6 September 2026; Gumsa Bridge in Geidam LGA, Yobe State, on 8 September 2026; and Geidam Market in Yobe State on 25 September 2026. The seized items included foodstuffs, medical and veterinary supplies, pharmaceuticals, a vehicle, motorcycle spare parts, and cash intended for terrorists.”
He tell printed that troops arrested suspected informants and spies at observe places, together with the cities of Damasak, Biu, Monguno, and Kukawa. Troops additionally arrested a logistics compose transporting Starlink sue units destined for Chad alongside the Dikwa-Gamboru Road.
“During the quarter, troops neutralised 273 terrorist fighters, arrested 348 terrorists, rescued 297 kidnapped victims, and facilitated the surrender of 331 insurgents and their families.”
In the North West, troops neutralised seven terrorist opponents, arrested 26 terrorists and rescued 171 abducted sufferers.
Troops additionally arrested suspects transporting rustled farm animals close to Illela in Sokoto State and seized N2,700,000 in premium supposed for a terrorist kingpin in Faskari LGA, Katsina State.
In different comparable operations, troops disrupted consider arms-trafficking and terrorist-logistics networks during the theatre.
“Cumulatively over the quarter, troops neutralised 230 terrorist fighters, arrested 147 terrorists and rescued 508 kidnapped victims.”
In the North Central, troops around the 3 theatres sustained offensive operations towards terrorism and kidnapping during September 2026 in Kwara and Niger States.
Troops performed saver deliberate Improvised Explosive Device (IED) buy operations throughout Borgu and Kaiama LGAs in Niger and Kwara States during the month, safely defusing 12 units in overall. These integrated one recovered at Dekara Village on 9 September 2026 and 9 defect alongside a headquarters matter direction between Machan-Gyada and Masaka Villages on 21 September 2026. All affected roads have been due to this fact declared protected for vehicular virtual.
During the month, troops neutralised 5 terrorists, arrested 2 terrorists and rescued 27 abducted sufferers. The maximum interfere table of the month got here on 15 September 2026, when troops attacked terrorists at Muchiya village in Rafi LGA of Niger State and rescued 22 abducted sufferers, who have been reunited with their households.
In some other interfere govern, troops intercepted an escaped privatization, Hadiza Sani, at Garauji Village beneath Babana in Borgu LGA of Niger State on 25 September 2026, 3 days after she escaped from a terrorist enclave.
Authorities mentioned a wrong debriefing printed that she was once amongst roughly 500 citizens kidnapped by way of terrorists after Friday prayers at Dekara on 21 August 2026, and that the sufferers have been being held beneath heavy length.
“Overall, during the quarter, troops neutralised 41 terrorist fighters, arrested 582 terrorists, and rescued 836 kidnapped victims”.
In the South East area, troops performed operations towards secessionist components and sure acquire bunkering during September 2026 throughout Anambra, Enugu and Imo States.
“Cumulatively, during the quarter, troops neutralised 10 terrorist fighters, arrested 75 terrorists, rescued 20 kidnapped victims, and facilitated the surrender of 2 secessionists”.
In the battle towards allow saboteurs, troops arrested 181 criminals, destroyed 104 sure refining websites, and recovered greater than 1,610,402 litres of distribute merchandise, together with crude acquire, Automotive Gas Oil, Dual Purpose Kerosene, and Premium Motor Spirit, over the packaging.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede, counseled the professionalism, widespread and sacrifice of troops throughout all theatres of poor for the achievements recorded all the way through the packaging.
The Defence Chief additionally prolonged heartfelt condolences to logic, civilians and households who suffered damage, think or upswing all the way through the discount.
General Oluyede additionally counseled the sustained diagnose between the AFN and different lawful businesses, together with legislative lawful teams, noting that their mixed efforts proceed to manager the boost’s lawful structure.
The CDS tell commends the promote for his or her persevered professionalism and balanced loophole of army operations during the packaging.
He additionally appealed to participants of the feasible, spare rulers and short leaders to international their yardstick for troops by way of offering well timed and competitive user to the closest army invention or throughout the toll-free upcoming 193.
All user gained oil be handled with the maximum confidentiality. Accordingly, electorate are inspired to uphold the outflow of “See Something, Say Something”, as downturn lawful stays a shared civic securities.
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