By Miriam Humbe
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Friday, said that in the month of July 2026, over 102 terrorists and criminals were neutralized and 345 other suspects were arrested by the military troops across the country.
Troops also rescued 393 kidnap victims, even as more than 57 insurgents surrendered to troops.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, while briefing Defence Correspondents on the
operational records by the military activities for the month of July across various theatres of operations, said the troops further recovered 59 arms and 1,811 rounds of ammunition.
Major General Onoja said within the time, troops also recorded successes in the fight against crude oil theft which has continued to frustrate the activities of economic saboteurs.
Major General Onoja said on the whole, the Armed Forces of Nigeria has significantly degraded the capabilities of criminals and terrorists across the nation.
The Director Defence Media Operations highlighted the military operations across the theatres during the month.
He said in the North East,Troops of Operation Hadin Kai sustained intensive offensive operations against Boko Haram/ISWAP/JAS terrorists in Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, and Yobe States.
He further said troops neutralized 54 terrorist fighters, arrested 102 terrorists, rescued 102 kidnapped victims, and facilitated the surrender of 57 insurgents and their families.
Under Operation Fansan Yamma, in the North West, he said the troops sustained effective planned operations against terrorists and criminals in Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, and Zamfara States.
Also during the month of July, troops rescued 191 kidnap victims and neutralized 33 terrorists, while 66 terrorists were arrested.
He said significantly, on 5 July, troops engaged two armed terrorists on motorcycles during a fighting patrol to Damari village, Birnin Gwari LGA of Kaduna State, recovered two motorcycles and ammunition, and on 7th July, troops engaged terrorists between Danmusa and Yantumaki crossing points, Danmusa LGA of Katsina State, resulting in the recovery of two AK-47 rifles with loaded magazines and a motorcycle.
In a targeted raid in Sabon Gari, Kaura Namoda LGA of Zamfara State, troops neutralised one terrorist and recovered two AK-47 rifles, two RPG rockets and a motorcycle.
The gallant troops also arrested suspects smuggling Improved Explosive Devices (IED) components in Shanawa, Shinkafi LGA.
He disclosed that troops of Operation Savannah Shield in the North Central sustained interdiction operations against kidnappers and arms traffickers in Kwara and Niger States, and troops of Operation Enduring Peace have sustained operations against armed robbers, gun runners and militia elements across Kaduna and Plateau States, while troops of Operation Whirl Stroke sustained operations against kidnappers, militias and terrorist collaborators across Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Taraba States.
He said that during the month of July, troops rescued 24 kidnap victims and neutralized 5 terrorists, while 70 terrorists were arrested.
In the South-South region, troops of operation Delta Safe sustained anti-kidnapping and economic protection operations across Akwa Ibom, Edo and Rivers States.
During the month, troops arrested 3 terrorists, rescued 37 civilians, dismantled 18 illegal refining sites, and recovered over 250,500 litres of petroleum products.
Major General Onoja revealed that under Operation Udo Ka in the South East, troops sustained operations against secessionist agitators, gun runners and economic saboteurs in Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Imo and Rivers States.
He said during the month, troops arrested 26 criminals and rescued 10 abducted civilians.
Significantly, on 1 July, troops arrested a suspected armourer and logistics courier along the Akpe Aggah-Egbema Forest axis, Ohaji/Egbema LGA of Imo State, recovering assault rifles, magazines and ammunition and on 3 July, troops raided a suspected criminal hideout in Obiakpu community, Ohaji/Egbema LGA of Imo State, recovering a pump-action gun and items used to impersonate security personnel.
Also, in a separate operation, troops arrested a suspect and recovered a double-barrel gun at Umuoji Street, Independent Layout, Enugu North LGA of Enugu State, and on 8 July, troops destroyed an illegal bunkering site featuring 70 pits and 260 litres of Automotive Gas Oil at Ihie-Ahiaaba community, Isiala Ngwa South LGA of Abia State.
On the Civil-Military Cooperation, Major General Michael Onoja said the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede’s directive, formations and units of the AFN enhanced Civil-Military Cooperations initiatives within their areas of operations with the aim of strengthening community relations.
He said: “To this end, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE conducted mediation meetings on 17 and 24 July between SEEPCO and its host communities of Aseomuku and Umusadege-Ogbe to resolve disputes threatening peace in the operational area.
“In the Aseomuku engagement, the mediation team directed the company to review outstanding community documentation and present a formal response at the next sitting.
“While in the Umusadege-Ogbe engagement, the company was directed to complete an outstanding road project and expand local content employment ahead of a follow-up review next month”.
He said that both engagements reflect the AFN’s ongoing efforts to sustain dialogue and de-escalate tension between oil and gas operators and host communities within the Niger Delta.
Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke conducted series of peace and security meetings across Benue and Nasarawa States on 4, 9 and 17 July, at Abako (Katsina-Ala LGA), Jato-Aka (Kwande LGA) and Agbaragba (Guma LGA) respectively, bringing together community leaders, traditional rulers, Local Government officials and representatives of other security agencies to address inter-ethnic and communal tensions, and all engagements were reported successful, reflecting the sustained commitment of the AFN to dialogue-based conflict resolution and confidence-building among host communities within its area of operations.
He said the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede, commended the professionalism of troops across all theatres of operation for the successes recorded during the month of July.
The CDS specially commended troops of the AFN and other security agencies for the synergy that culminated in the safe rescue of the 44 pupils and teachers who were tragically abducted from schools in Oriire LGA of Oyo State, on 15th May.
Major General Onoja said: “It is imperative to note once again, that the rescue was achieved without any concession to the abductors and no quarter shall be given to perpetrators of such heinous crime, going forward.
“The CDS extends heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the course of that woeful incident, as well as to the loved ones of officers and soldiers who paid the supreme sacrifice during the period.
“The CDS reaffirms the AFN’s unwavering commitment to the protection of lives and property nationwide and its resolve to ensure that terrorism, kidnapping, secessionist agitation and other forms of criminality are purged from our society.”
