By Nkechi Eze
The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) has sustained its offensive against terrorism and other forms of criminality, recording fresh successes across the country, including the neutralisation of 31 terrorists and rescue of 13 kidnap victims in operations conducted between September 30 and October 1, 2026.
According to an official statement signed by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, the operations were conducted across the North East, North Central, South South and South East theatres as troops intensified efforts to disrupt terrorist and criminal networks.
In the North East, troops of Operation HADIN KAI recorded several successes in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, including the surrender of four terrorists and their family members and the arrest of suspected terrorist collaborators.
On September 30, a female terrorist family member and her daughter surrendered to troops along the Dikwa-Gulumba route in Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State, while three terrorists surrendered in Monguno on October 1 after escaping from their camp at Tumbunma village in the Lake Chad region.
Troops also arrested a suspected terrorist posing as an Islamic cleric in Babbangida, Tarmuwa LGA of Yobe State, as well as a suspected terrorist informant in Monguno, Borno State.
In Adamawa State, troops supported by the Air Component conducted coordinated operations in Gombi LGA, neutralising five terrorists and recovering three AK-47 rifles, two pump-action rifles, one Dane gun, six AK-47 magazines and a belt of pump-action cartridges.
In a separate air operation, surveillance detected a concentration of terrorists and motorcycles, leading to a precision air strike that neutralised 16 terrorists and destroyed 15 motorcycles.
In the North Central, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE rescued three persons who had reportedly been released by kidnappers in Gbise Community, Katsina-Ala LGA of Benue State.
The victims told troops they had been abducted in Takum LGA of Taraba State, while efforts were ongoing to track the kidnap syndicate responsible for their abduction.
In the South South, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE responded to a security incident in Abi LGA of Cross River State, where residents reportedly mobbed and disarmed personnel of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) during a raid operation at Ekureku Community.
The troops rescued the NDLEA personnel and recovered five FN rifles and two Beretta pistols that had been seized by the residents before escorting the operatives safely to Ugep Community.
In the South East, troops of Operation UDO KA responded to a mass kidnapping along the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway at Umonuwa village in Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA of Imo State.
The military said gunmen had stopped two commercial buses carrying 30 passengers and abducted 20 persons, including several prospective National Youth Service Corps members.
Ten passengers, including eight identified prospective corps members, were rescued unharmed, while a joint search and rescue operation involving the military, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services and the Nigerian Air Force Component of Operation UDO KA continued to locate the remaining abductees.
In Anambra State, troops working with the Anambra Local Security Group rescued three persons abducted from the Osakwa area of Ihiala LGA.
Following information obtained from an arrested kidnap suspect, troops located the gang’s camp at Abator in Ogbaru LGA and conducted a follow-up operation by canoe on October 1.
The troops engaged the terrorists and neutralised 10 of them, recovering two AK-47 rifles, three pump-action rifles, three Dane guns, ammunition and materials reportedly used to fabricate improvised explosive devices.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, commended the troops for their courage and professionalism, particularly their intervention in support of NDLEA personnel in Cross River State and the ongoing multi-agency effort to rescue the remaining abductees in Imo State.
Oluyede also commended the collaboration among security agencies and urged members of the public, traditional rulers and community leaders to continue providing credible and timely information to troops.
He assured that the Armed Forces would sustain the current tempo of operations until lasting peace and security are secured across the country.
