Nigeria’s Armed Forces have announced major breakthroughs in ongoing counter-insurgency and anti-banditry operations across the country, reporting the neutralisation of several terrorists, the arrest of 450 suspects, and the rescue of 180 kidnapped victims in September alone.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja, highlighting the successes of military operations conducted nationwide within the month.

According to Kangye, a total of 39 terrorists also voluntarily surrendered to troops, while 63 assorted weapons and 4,475 rounds of ammunition were recovered during various clearance operations. He added that the recovered items included grenades, improvised explosive device (IED) components, communication gadgets, vehicles, motorcycles, and logistics materials used for criminal activities.

Kangye stated that troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF) North East, Operation HADIN KAI, maintained aggressive momentum against Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States. The troops neutralised several terrorists, arrested 21 collaborators and informants, and recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition in Konduga, Gwoza, Mafa, Monguno, Damboa, Biu, and Kukawa. The operations also led to the destruction of terrorist camps, interception of logistics networks, and facilitated the return of internally displaced persons to their ancestral communities.

In the North West, troops under Operation FANSAN YAMMA conducted successful clearance and rescue missions in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, and Kaduna States. Many bandits were neutralised, while 46 suspects, including a notorious terrorist leader, Ali Saidu, were apprehended. Thirteen kidnapped victims were rescued, and several bandit supply routes in Maradun, Isa, and Sabon Birni Local Government Areas were disrupted.

Under Operation ENDURING PEACE, troops responded to multiple distress calls and executed clearance missions in Plateau and Kaduna States, neutralising several extremists, arresting 12 suspects, and rescuing four kidnap victims. Similarly, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE neutralised armed criminals and arrested six suspects in Benue, Taraba, Kogi, and Nasarawa States, as well as parts of the Federal Capital Territory, rescuing two additional victims.

In the South East, troops of Operation UDO KA neutralised insurgents and arrested four suspects in Anambra and Imo States, recovering weapons, ammunition, vehicles, and IEDs.

Maj.-Gen. Kangye reaffirmed the military’s unwavering commitment to restoring peace and stability across the nation through coordinated operations with other security agencies and hybrid forces. He assured that troops would continue to sustain offensive operations and intelligence-driven missions until lasting peace is achieved in every part of Nigeria.