By Nkechi Eze
The Defence Headquarters has reported sweeping gains across all theatres in the past week, with troops working alongside Hybrid Forces and other security agencies neutralizing terrorists, rescuing kidnapped victims, arresting gunrunners and collaborators, and wrecking illegal oil operations worth tens of millions of naira.
Briefing senior officers and the media in Abuja, Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, said the tempo of raids, ambushes, fighting patrols and covert missions remained high, while the air component executed close air support, reconnaissance and interdiction missions that “eliminated several Boko Haram, JAS and ISWAP terrorists and destroyed their camps.” He added that the security gains are already translating into safer livelihoods: farmers are “carrying out farming activities unhindered,” an assurance the military intends to sustain through the season and beyond. “Our men have continued to demonstrate courage, resilience and more determination to dismantle terrorists’ networks, defeat banditry and all other forms of crime and criminalities across all theatres of operations,” he said.
In the North East, under Joint Task Force North East OPERATION HADIN KAI (OPHK), troops sustained pressure between 7 and 13 August 2025 to deny Boko Haram, ISWAP and JAS freedom of action across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States. Coordinated operations with the Air Component, Hybrid Forces and local security stakeholders yielded the elimination of multiple fighters, the arrest of 16 suspects and the rescue of five kidnapped victims across Limankara, Kilangar, Pulka–Warabe, Kana, Kereto and Jakwa villages in Gwoza, as well as in Askira-Uba, Biu, Mobbar, Kukawa, Bama, Dikwa and Maiduguri Metropolitan City. Additional actions in Mubi North, Madagali and Michika (Adamawa) and in Gujba, Nguru, Buni Yadi and Damaturu (Yobe) supported safe resettlement efforts and farmers’ return to the fields. Follow-on offensives during the same period in Bula Dilima, Borno Yessu, Bulunguwa Maibe and Damasak (Bama, Kukawa, Dikwa, Magumeri and Mobbar LGAs) led to further neutralisations, 21 additional arrests, the recovery of weapons, ammunition, vehicles, motorcycles and logistics items, and the safe detonation of several improvised explosive devices.
Across the North West, Joint Task Force North West OPERATION FASAN YAMMA up-scaled operations from 7 to 13 August. Rapid responses and deliberate strikes in Malumfashi, Kankara and Matazu (Katsina) and Gudu and Illela (Sokoto), as well as Kaura Namoda (Zamfara), Arewa Dandi (Kebbi) and Birnin Gwari (Kaduna), resulted in terror casualties, three arrests and the rescue of 14 kidnapped victims. In related offensive pushes, troops eliminated more terrorists, arrested eight and rescued three additional victims in Chikun, Birnin Gwari and Zaria (Kaduna) and in Maradun, Tsafe, Kaura Namoda, Shinkafi and Anka (Zamfara). Further operations in Tangaza and Tureta (Sokoto) on 10 and 11 August disrupted regrouping attempts.
In the North Central theatre, Joint Task Force North Central OPERATION SAFE HAVEN responded to multiple distress calls between 7 and 14 August, conducting offensive actions in Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, Bassa, Riyom and Mangu (Plateau), Zangon Kataf and Sanga (Kaduna) and Bogoro (Bauchi). Troops killed several assailants, arrested four criminals and rescued six kidnapped victims, seizing weapons, ammunition, motorcycles and vehicles. A notable stop-and-search on 10 August along Kwoi–Keffi Road in Jama’a LGA (Kaduna) intercepted a suspected gunrunner who had concealed an AK-47 rifle and ammunition inside a sack of animal feed.
Also in the North Central, Joint Task Force North Central OPERATION WHIRL STROKE recorded significant successes across Ukum and Logo (Benue), Jalingo, Lau, Karim Lamido, Wukari and Takum (Taraba), Lokoja and Kabba (Kogi) and the Gwagwalada Area Council of the FCT. Troops eliminated armed elements, arrested 13 suspects and rescued nine kidnapped victims, recovering arms, ammunition, motorcycles and vehicles. On 11 August, two suspected notorious gunrunners, Mohammed Sanusi and Usman Alhaji Bala were arrested in Obajana, Lokoja LGA (Kogi), while a large quantity of ammunition was seized the same day from a deserted extremists’ camp in Karim Lamido (Taraba).
In the South-South, Joint Task Force South South OPERATION DELTA SAFE thwarted oil theft valued at ₦37,518,630.00, seizing 24,575 litres of stolen crude oil, 9,140 litres of illegally refined AGO and 2,650 litres of PMS. Troops discovered and destroyed two crude-oil cooking ovens, nine dugout pits, four boats, three storage tanks and three illegal refining sites; they also recovered pumping machines, mobile phones and two vehicles, arrested five oil thieves and seized assorted arms, ammunition and explosives. In further offensive activities, 29 suspected oil thieves, cultists, kidnappers and other criminals were arrested in Emohua, Eleme, Ahoada and Onelga (Rivers) and in Patani, Isoko North (Delta), Yenagoa and Ekeremor (Bayelsa), with additional weapons, ammunition and vehicles recovered.
In the South East, Joint Task Force South East OPERATION UDO KA maintained an aggressive posture, engaging and killing armed elements and arresting six suspected IPOB/ESN members and one kidnapper in Orsu, Okigwe and Ohaji/Egbema (Imo), Nnewi North and Ihiala (Anambra) and Ikwo (Ebonyi). Weapons, ammunition and a vehicle were recovered; interrogations are ongoing.
Major General Kangye closed the briefing by reaffirming the Armed Forces’ resolve to keep the pressure on across all fronts. “Our gallant troops, in conjunction with other security agencies as well as Hybrid Forces, will continue to work together in ensuring that peace and security is returned to all troubled parts of the country,” he said.
