From Atiku Sarki, Abuja
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says its troops in the last one week rescued over 70 abducted and kidnapped victims, including 27 villagers freed at Gamji in Katsina State and 29 farmers rescued in Mariga, Niger State.
Troops also recovered Ten Million Naira (₦10,000,000) suspected to be ransom payment in Kano State.
They further arrested a wanted terrorist kingpin in Mokwa, Niger State, as well as five members of the syndicate responsible for abducting prospective corps members in Imo State.
In a statement signed and issued to Defence Correspondents in Abuja by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja said between 15 to 22 of this month, the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) have sustained momentum of operations across the various geo-political zones of the country.
He noted that consistent efforts were made to deny terrorists, kidnappers, gunrunners and other criminal elements freedom of action.
Highlighting to some of the major successes and achievements recorded across various threatres of operations he said in the North East of operation Hadin Kai,troops sustained offensive operations against terrorists across Borno and Yobe States, consolidating the gains of recent engagements.
He said following the terrorist attack on troops’ location at Mairari in Guzamala LGA of Borno State, troops conducted clearance operations from 16 – 18 October 2026, and operations led to the capture of eight AK-47 rifles, two pump-action guns, 300 rounds of PKT ammunition, two rocket-propelled grenade bombs and chargers, a handheld radio and a motorcycle.
Similarly he said on 22 October 2026, troops intercepted an abductee who had escaped from Chikide Village on the Mandara Mountains along the Guduf-Bubayagwa axis in Gwoza LGA, and the individual was subsequently handed over to the IDP Camp Office in Gwoza.
Troops also recorded sustained surrenders and arrests during the period, including the arrest of suspected terrorist logistics suppliers and collaborators at Benisheikh Market in Kaga LGA of Borno State, and a suspected terrorist, who claimed to have been recruited through a social media group in 2024, as well as arrested suspected terrorist collaborators at Kanama in Yunusari LGA of Yobe State.
He said further arrests were also made in Damboa on 19 October 2026 where suspects were reportedly supplying clothing materials for terrorists’ uniforms in the Maidaji and Multe camps.
” Between 16 and 22 October 2026, a total of 19 terrorist fighters and family members surrendered to, or were intercepted by, troops in Bama, Konduga, Mafa and Gwoza LGAs of Borno State.
“They cited hunger, hardship and violent clashes between rival terrorist factions as reasons for fleeing the terrorist camps.” Major General Onoja said.
In the North West geopolitical zone under Operation Fansan Yamma, he explained that troops sustained offensive operations against terrorism and banditry across Kano, Katsina and Sokoto States.
According to him, within the period, troops continued clearance operations following an earlier encounter at Waria Forest and engaged terrorists at Sarma Village in Tangaza LGA of Sokoto State.
Subsequent exploitation of the area revealed an additional neutralised terrorist as troops captured six motorcycles and two AK-47 rifles, bringing the total number of AK-47 rifles captured during the operation to four.
He said troops also captured several rifle magazines, 23 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition and a handheld radio, engaged terrorists on three motorcycles at Kurba Village in Kankara LGA of Katsina State and captured one of the motorcycle.
Troops he said also recorded successful rescue operations in the geopolitical zone,responded to a distress call from Gamji Community in Sabuwa LGA of Katsina State where terrorists had abducted 27 locals, comprising 15 men and 12 women, as well as they engaged the terrorists with superior firepower, thereby forcing them to flee.
The engagement he said led to the rescue of all 27 victims, who were subsequently handed over to the village head after profiling. Confirming that many of the terrorist suffered gun shot wounds before fleeing.
” Between 16 – 17 October 2026, troops tracked kidnappers who had demanded ransom for a resident abducted at Fanyabo Village in Tudun Wada LGA of Kano State, to Yan Taburmi in Falgore Forest. Troops neutralised two of the kidnappers and rescued the victim.
“Troops searched the area and recovered Ten Million Naira (₦10,000,000.00) suspected to be the ransom paid by the family. Subsequently, troops handed over the money and the victim to the family in the presence of the District Head, the Head of the Local Security Group in the area and the Divisional Police Officer.” He stated.
The Director Defence Media Operations observed that under operation Enduring Peace in the North Central., troops sustained operations in Plateau State to protect communities and prevent violence, and troops operation Savannah Shield have sustained operations against terrorism and kidnapping in Niger State, while operation Whirl Stroke sustained operations against kidnapping, banditry and arms trafficking in Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Taraba States, resulting in timely rescues.
He stressed that On 16 October 2026, troops ambushed kidnappers moving victims from Kwara State into Kogi State along the route between Okoloke and Isanlu-Esa communities in Yagba West LGA of Kogi State.
The kidnappers were forced to abandon five victims, who were subsequently rescued and handed over to community leaders, and on 17 October 2026, troops, in collaboration with local security groups, rescued a herder kidnapped at Kabusu in Karu LGA of Nasarawa State.
Saying the victim was found tied up and abandoned under a tree along the Gurku-Kawu grazing route, while on 19 October 2026, troops pursued attackers who had assaulted a commercial bus along the Ayere-Kabba Road in Ijumu LGA of Kogi State, forcing them to withdraw and rescuing 11 passengers.
He said the driver and two other passengers who sustained injuries were evacuated for medical attention.
In the South-South operation Delta Safe, he said troops sustained operations against kidnapping in Edo State.
Troops carried out offensive operations against suspected kidnappers at Amendokhian Forest in Esan North East LGA of Edo State, neutralising one of the suspects.
They also confiscated a pump-action rifle with six live cartridges.
Major General Onoja however explained that in the South East, troops of operation Udo Ka sustained operations against kidnapping syndicates and secessionist elements across Anambra and Imo States.
He noted that within the period specifically on 16 October 2026, a joint security team arrested five suspects during sustained efforts to track members of a criminal syndicate involved in the kidnapping of 20 prospective corps members.
The operation which was conducted in the Irete/Orogwe area of Owerri West LGA, Imo State, led to the confiscation of three AK-47 rifles, one English pistol and 81 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition.
He also noted that In Anambra State, troops responded to a distress call from a local security group in Anambra following a suspected secessionist attack on its personnel at Udoka Layout Gate, Nsugbe Abata, in Anambra East LGA. The attack he said left one local security group member unconscious.
He further said troops pursued the fleeing suspects, forcing them to abandon a bus and escape in another vehicle. Noting that the abandoned bus, bearing the inscription of an anti-touting squad, was seized alongside one pump-action gun and five cartridges.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria’s sustained operations between 15 and 22 October 2026 reflect enhanced collaboration with other security agencies. ”
Major General Michael Onoja said the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede, GCOR, AFM, on behalf of the Armed Forces of Nigeria( AFN), commended the resilience of troops across all theatres of operations, particularly their efforts in rescuing the 27 villagers in Gamji and the 29 farmers in Mariga, recovering the ransom in Falgore Forest, and sustaining the steady flow of surrenders in the North East.
He said these achievements demonstrate that terrorists are being squeezed from all sides.
The Chief of Defence Staff while urging the troops to remain disciplined, uphold the rules of engagement, respect human rights at all times and guard against complacency, he also commended other security agencies for their collaboration, as well as appreciated the media for their reportage, urging them to continued caution and verification, particularly in reporting sensitive communal issues, to avoid inflaming tensions.
He however, appealed to traditional rulers, community leaders, youths and other stakeholders to report threats promptly, reject mob action and refrain from providing safe haven for criminals.
Assuring that terrorists and their collaborators, logistics suppliers, recruiters and gunrunners would be pursued and apprehended wherever they are hiding.
“The AFN remains focused on sustaining this operational tempo until peace and security are restored across the nation.” He concluded.
