By Tunji Braimoh, Abuja

The Nigerian Armed Forces have recorded significant successes in ongoing counterterrorism and anti-crime operations across the country, neutralising more than 102 terrorists and criminal elements, arresting 345 suspects, and rescuing 393 kidnapped victims during operations conducted in July 2026.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major-General Michael Onoja, disclosed this on Friday in Abuja during the military’s monthly briefing on operational activities nationwide.

According to him, the achievements were recorded through coordinated operations involving the Armed Forces, other security agencies, and local vigilante groups working together to combat terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, oil theft and other criminal activities.

Major-General Onoja stated that the military also received the surrender of 57 insurgents and their family members during the period under review. Troops further recovered 59 assorted weapons and 1,811 rounds of ammunition from various operational theatres.

He explained that sustained military offensives across the North-East, North-West, North-Central, South-South and South-East have continued to weaken the operational capacity of terrorist groups, kidnappers, armed militias, separatist elements and other criminal networks.

In the North-East, troops of Operation HADIN KAI recorded major breakthroughs against Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Among the notable achievements was the elimination of Abu Salim al-Barnawi, a senior terrorist commander and propaganda leader, during a counteroffensive operation in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.

The military spokesperson noted that troops also dismantled several terrorist logistics networks, arrested suspected collaborators, rescued abducted persons and continued to witness fresh defections by insurgents as military pressure intensified across the region.

Providing updates on operations in the North-West, Onoja said troops under Operation Fansan Yamma rescued 191 kidnapped victims, neutralised 33 terrorists, and arrested 66 suspects during operations carried out in Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi and Zamfara states.

He added that military personnel successfully foiled multiple kidnapping attempts, recovered weapons and components used in the fabrication of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and secured the release of several abductees from terrorist hideouts.

In the North-Central region, troops operating under Operations Savannah Shield, Enduring Peace and Whirl Stroke intensified operations against kidnappers, armed militias and illegal arms traffickers, resulting in numerous arrests, rescues and the recovery of weapons and ammunition.

The Defence Headquarters further revealed that troops of Operation Delta Safe made significant gains in the South-South by dismantling 18 illegal refining sites and recovering more than 250,500 litres of stolen petroleum products.

The operation also led to the arrest of suspected kidnappers, oil thieves and economic saboteurs involved in crude oil theft and illegal refining activities, particularly in Rivers State and other parts of the Niger Delta.

In the South-East, troops of Operation UDO KA sustained offensive operations against criminal gangs and separatist elements, leading to the arrest of 26 suspects, the rescue of 10 civilians, and the recovery of assorted weapons and ammunition.

Major-General Onoja also highlighted the contribution of the Nigerian Air Force and other air components of the Armed Forces, noting that precision air strikes played a crucial role in supporting ground troops and disrupting terrorist activities.

He cited successful air interdiction missions in Niger State, where targeted strikes neutralised terrorist positions, disrupted planned attacks and facilitated rescue operations.

Beyond combat operations, the Defence spokesman said the Armed Forces continued to strengthen civil-military relations through community engagement programmes, peace-building initiatives, medical outreach services and development projects in various operational areas.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the military to sustaining the momentum against terrorism and criminality, assuring Nigerians that troops remain focused on protecting lives, securing communities and preserving the nation’s territorial integrity.