By Miriam Humbe
The Nigerian Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Tuesday said troops deployed to different theatres of operations across the country neutralised 317 terrorists and criminal elements.
The military authority also said troops arrested 314 suspects, and rescued 221 abducted civilians during coordinated operations across the country in May 2026.
Briefing defence correspondents in Abuja, Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, said troops sustained “unrelenting and comprehensive offensive” across all theatres, working with sister security agencies to defend Nigeria’s territorial integrity and protect civilians.
In a breakdown, General Onoja said in the North East, troops of Operation HADIN KAI neutralized 73 Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters and arrested 159 suspects between 1-25 May. He added that eighteen terrorists surrendered.
He said Key operations included a 7 May repelled ISWAP assault in Magumeri where troops neutralized scores of attackers and recovered PKT anti-aircraft guns and AK-47 rifles.
He however, said two soldiers died in the encounter.
He said between 8-14 May, troops rescued 12 women and children abducted from Ngoshe, Borno State, in March 2026.
“On 23 May, troops intercepted a mass kidnapping along the Buratai–Kamuya Road in Biu LGA, forcing militants to abandon 8 vehicles and 92 captives comprising 52 men, 33 women, and 7 children,” he said.
*North West: 24 Terrorists Neutralized, 22 Civilians Rescued Under Operation FANSAN YAMMA*
The Armed Forces of Nigeria [AFN] has disclosed that they neutralized 317 terrorists and criminal elements, arrested 314 suspects, and rescued 221 abducted civilians during coordinated operations across the country in May 2026.
Briefing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, said troops sustained “unrelenting and comprehensive offensive” across all theatres, working with sister security agencies to defend Nigeria’s territorial integrity and protect civilians.
In the North East, troops of Operation HADIN KAI neutralized 73 Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters and arrested 159 suspects between 1-25 May. Eighteen terrorists surrendered.
Key operations included a 7 May repelled ISWAP assault in Magumeri where troops neutralized scores of attackers and recovered PKT anti-aircraft guns and AK-47 rifles. Two soldiers died in the encounter.
Between 8-14 May, troops rescued 12 women and children abducted from Ngoshe, Borno State, in March 2026. On 23 May, troops intercepted a mass kidnapping along the Buratai–Kamuya Road in Biu LGA, forcing militants to abandon 8 vehicles and 92 captives comprising 52 men, 33 women, and 7 children.
He said in the North West, he said troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA killed 24 terrorists and arrested 13 suspects across Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara states. Twenty-two civilians were rescued.
He said that, a major rescue occurred on 8 May in Matazu LGA, Katsina State, where 32 kidnapped victims and 26 livestock were freed from a terrorist enclave.
He said: “Troops also arrested a major gunrunner in Batsari LGA supplying weapons to bandit kingpin Bello Turji”.
In the North Central, the defence spokesperson said arms factories were dismantled and 24 hostages freed.
He disclosed that troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD in Kwara and Niger states neutralized 2 insurgents, arrested 12 suspects, and rescued 24 civilians.
He said troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE in Plateau, Nasarawa, FCT, and environs neutralized 9 terrorists, arrested 36 suspects, and rescued 15 civilians.
”Troops dismantled an illegal arms manufacturing complex in Vom, Jos South LGA, recovering 9 fabricated AK-47s and industrial equipment,” he said.
General Onoja said that Operation WHIRL STROKE in Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, and Taraba states killed 6 terrorists, arrested 20 suspects, and rescued 13 civilians.
He said a major logistics consignment for insurgents was intercepted in Agbaja Forest, Kogi State.
