By Ahmed Yusuf, Abuja
National News – The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has announced that troops engaged in various military operations across the country rescued 398 kidnapped victims, arrested 31 suspected terrorists and collaborators, and neutralised 10 terrorists within the past week.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed this on Tuesday during a briefing in Abuja, highlighting the military’s ongoing efforts to combat terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, oil theft, and other criminal activities across the nation.
According to him, troops operating under various military formations recorded significant successes in the North-West, North-East, North-Central, South-South, and South-East regions. In Zamfara State, security operatives intercepted an arms dealer transporting over 1,000 rounds of ammunition concealed in a sack of millet and later apprehended the intended recipient. Several terrorists were also neutralised during combat patrols, while motorcycles, communication devices, and military-style equipment were recovered.
In the North-East, troops of Operation Hadin Kai sustained pressure on Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters through a series of coordinated offensives. The military rescued hundreds of civilians, including women and children, from terrorist enclaves in Borno State. A major operation in the Mandara Mountains led to the rescue of 360 abductees who had been held captive since an attack on Ngoshe community in March. Military authorities, however, reported that two infants died due to the harsh conditions encountered during the rescue mission.
The military also recorded multiple arrests of suspected terrorist informants and logistics suppliers in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states. Several weapons, motorcycles, ammunition, communication gadgets, and supplies allegedly meant for terrorist groups were recovered during the operations.
In the North-Central region, troops rescued kidnapped passengers in Plateau and Kogi states, arrested suspected informants and kidnappers, and recovered firearms and communication equipment. In Benue, Kogi, and Taraba states, security personnel thwarted criminal attacks, rescued victims, and intercepted suspected terrorists. A suspected member of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) was also arrested in Kogi State.
Operations in the Niger Delta resulted in the disruption of illegal oil bunkering activities across Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Edo, and Delta states. Troops recovered thousands of litres of stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products, dismantled illegal refining infrastructure, and arrested suspected kidnappers in Edo State.
In the South-East, troops, working alongside other security agencies, arrested suspected members of IPOB and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), during raids in Abia and Enugu states. Security operatives recovered a cache of weapons, including AK-47 rifles, a General Purpose Machine Gun, an RPG launcher tube, hand grenades, ammunition, and uniforms allegedly linked to the group.
Major General Onoja said the operations demonstrate the military’s commitment to restoring peace and security across the country. He added that all arrested suspects and recovered items are undergoing further investigation, while efforts continue to track down fleeing criminals and dismantle their networks nationwide.
