10 Terrorists Killed, 31 Arrested As Troops Rescue 388 Kidnap Victims In One Week

June 17, () — No fewer than 10 terrorists were killed, 31 suspected terrorists and criminal collaborators arrested, while 388 kidnapped victims rescued by troops of the Nigerian Armed Forces during coordinated military operations conducted across multiple theatres nationwide within the last one week, as security forces intensified offensives against insurgents, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed this on Tuesday during a media briefing in Abuja, where he provided an update on military operations carried out between June 4 and June 11, 2026.

Onoja said troops deployed under various internal security operations across the North West, North East, North Central, South East and Niger Delta regions sustained aggressive pressure on terrorists, insurgents, kidnappers, oil thieves and other criminal elements threatening national security.

According to him, troops operating under Operation Fansan Yamma recorded significant breakthroughs against armed groups operating in Kaduna, Katsina and Zamfara states.

He revealed that on June 5, troops manning a snap checkpoint along the Gusau-Shinkafi route in Zamfara State intercepted a suspected arms trafficking operation and recovered a locally fabricated 9mm pistol, 1,002 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition and 10 rounds of 9.4mm ammunition concealed inside a sack of millet.

The suspect, identified as Mallam Mustapha Abubakar, was arrested and is believed to be an arms dealer supplying terrorists operating within Shinkafi Local Government Area. Troops later tracked and arrested the intended recipient at Tupa village.

In separate operations in Birnin Magaji and Maru local government areas of Zamfara State, troops engaged terrorists during fighting patrols, killing one, arresting eight suspected terrorists and recovering seven motorcycles.

Additional items recovered included 19 mobile phones, 30 phone batteries, 41 power banks, 7 chargers, 4 Baofeng handheld radios, camouflage uniforms and military boots. Troops also destroyed a shop allegedly being used by terrorists for logistics operations.

On June 9, troops responding to a terrorist attack on communities in Kanoma District of Zamfara State engaged the attackers at Kanoma Hill, neutralised one terrorist and recovered an AK-47 rifle, ammunition and two motorcycles.

In Kaduna State, soldiers recovered four motorcycles stolen by terrorists during an earlier attack in Giwa Local Government Area, while seven terrorists neutralised in previous operations were later discovered dead inside a forest hideout.

Operations in Katsina State also led to the recovery of an abandoned motorcycle at a suspected terrorist hideout in Musawa Local Government Area after troops carried out a cordon-and-search exercise.

Providing updates on operations in the North East under Operation Hadin Kai, Onoja said troops sustained relentless pressure on Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents through aggressive combat patrols and bombardment campaigns across Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

He said one of the biggest military breakthroughs occurred on June 6 when troops launched what he described as a “highly sophisticated multi-axis raid” across the Mandara Mountains in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

The operation led to the rescue of 360 civilians, mainly women and children, who had been held captive by terrorists since insurgents attacked the Ngoshe community on March 3, 2026.

According to him, the offensive triggered confusion within terrorist enclaves, forcing insurgents to flee and abandon captives.

He, however, disclosed that two infants died during the evacuation process due to the harsh conditions of the mountainous terrain, while the remaining 358 survivors were immediately evacuated to General Hospital Gwoza for medical treatment and temporary shelter before handover to local authorities.

Troops also rescued an eight-year-old boy, Ali Musa, after he escaped from a terrorist camp in Saha, while additional women and children were recovered during follow-up operations around Amuda after sustained bombardments forced insurgents to abandon their camps.

On June 5, a 20-year-old Boko Haram fighter identified as Fannami Ali surrendered voluntarily to troops stationed in Monguno, handing over a bicycle, wristwatch, torchlight and ₦2,500 cash.

Counter-intelligence operations across Yobe, Adamawa and Borno states also resulted in the arrest of several terrorist informants and logistics suppliers accused of providing food items, communication gadgets, illicit drugs and operational materials to insurgents.

Among items recovered were mosquito nets, agrochemicals, radio equipment, mobile phones, tramadol capsules, Indian hemp and over ₦100,000 cash allegedly meant for terrorist operations.

In Borno State, troops conducting exploitation patrols in Biu and Mallam Fatori areas recovered seven motorcycles, a PKT machine gun, over 1,070 rounds of ammunition, an AK-47 rifle and additional combat supplies after repelling attempted terrorist attacks.

In the North Central zone, troops under Operation Savannah Shield and Operation Enduring Peace recorded major successes in Niger and Plateau states.

On June 4, troops arrested a high-value terrorist informant at Kara Market in Niger State who had reportedly been under military surveillance for some time.

Further operations within Borgu Local Government Area led to the arrest of five suspected terrorists and collaborators. Investigators reportedly discovered graphic evidence on a recovered mobile phone showing a beheaded victim, suggesting links to extremist networks.

Recovered exhibits included Android phones, Tecno phones, an MP3 player containing extremist propaganda, a motorcycle and ₦199,500 cash.

In Plateau State, troops responding to reports of kidnappers blocking the Hawan Kibo-Rafin Sayin road in Riyom Local Government Area launched a search-and-rescue operation and successfully recovered six kidnapped passengers.

Additional operations in Mangu and Barkin Ladi local government areas led to the arrest of suspected kidnappers and informants, rescue of two abducted passengers and recovery of firearms, communication devices and cash.

The military said former kidnap victim Benson Habu Yakubu positively identified two suspects arrested during operations in Barkin Ladi as members of the gang responsible for his earlier abduction.

Under Operation Whirl Stroke covering Benue, Kogi and Taraba states, troops recorded further successes against kidnappers and armed criminal gangs.

In Benue State, troops recovered an abandoned AK-47 rifle, three magazines and ammunition after a suspected cattle rustler fled into the forest while firing at soldiers.

In Kogi State, troops responding to an attack on commercial vehicles along the Lokoja-Obajana-Kabba road engaged the attackers, forcing them to retreat.

Two passengers sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital, while 13 others were rescued unharmed.

Troops also intercepted criminals attempting to move kidnapped victims through Yagba West Local Government Area and rescued two victims abducted earlier in Ijumu Local Government Area before reuniting them with their families.

In the Niger Delta region under Operation Delta Safe, troops intensified the crackdown on crude oil theft and illegal bunkering activities across Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Delta and Edo states.

At Okarki Forest in Rivers State, troops uncovered an illegal oil siphoning site containing pipes, reservoirs and illegal refining infrastructure.

In Akwa Ibom State, troops intercepted a Lexus Jeep conveying approximately 1,200 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil valued at over ₦2.2 million.

In Delta State, troops in collaboration with Tantita Security Services uncovered a trampoline tank containing approximately 4,000 litres of stolen crude oil.

Meanwhile, five suspected kidnappers were arrested in Ekpoma, Edo State, after allegedly confessing to involvement in kidnapping operations spanning two years.

In the South East under Operation Udoka, troops recorded fresh gains against suspected members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN).

Operations conducted in Abia, Enugu, Imo and Ebonyi states led to several arrests and the recovery of large quantities of arms, including AK-47 rifles, a General Purpose Machine Gun, RPG-7 launcher tube, hand grenades, tear gas launchers, magazines and hundreds of rounds of assorted ammunition.

Onoja said the Armed Forces remain committed to sustaining aggressive operations nationwide until terrorist groups, criminal networks and economic saboteurs are completely dismantled.

He said recent operational successes reflect the military’s determination to restore security across the country and protect citizens from the growing threats posed by insurgents and violent criminal organisations.