The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) says it neutralised 129 terrorists and other criminal elements, arrested 486 suspects, and rescued 542 kidnapped victims during nationwide operations in June 2026.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed this on Wednesday during the Defence Headquarters' monthly and second-quarter operational briefing in Abuja.
He said troops also recovered 130 firearms, 5,538 rounds of ammunition, dismantled seven illegal refining sites, and seized more than 308,515 litres of stolen petroleum products.
"The Armed Forces of Nigeria recorded significant operational successes across all theatres through sustained joint operations, intelligence-led engagements and close air support," Onoja said.
According to him, troops sustained pressure on terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, oil thieves and other criminal groups across the country.
One of the military's biggest successes came under Operation Hadin Kai, where troops rescued 360 civilians, mostly women and children, during a major operation in the Mandara Mountains of Gwoza Local Government Area, Borno State. The victims had been held captive since March.
The military also reported rescuing students abducted during an attack on a secondary school in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
In the North-West, troops under Operation Fansan Yamma neutralised 33 terrorists, arrested 165 suspects, and rescued 51 kidnap victims, while operations in the North-Central and South-South led to more arrests, rescues and the disruption of illegal oil bunkering activities.
In the South-East, Operation Udo Ka targeted members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), leading to the arrest of 39 suspects and the recovery of weapons and explosives.
The Nigerian Air Force also conducted precision air strikes against terrorist hideouts in Kaduna and Niger states, while providing aerial security along the Abuja-Kaduna rail corridor.
For the second quarter of 2026, the military said it neutralised 662 terrorists and criminals, arrested 1,084 suspects, rescued 951 kidnapped victims, recovered 328 firearms and 12,590 rounds of ammunition, dismantled 12 illegal refining sites, and recovered more than 464,268 litres of stolen petroleum products.
Onoja said the Armed Forces would sustain offensive operations nationwide until terrorist groups and other criminal networks are dismantled.
"The Defence Headquarters will continue to intensify operations against all threats to national security while urging Nigerians to support security agencies with timely and credible intelligence," he said.
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