Terrorist and criminal networks across the country came under sustained military pressure in August as the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) neutralised 324 terrorists and criminals, arrested 373 others and rescued 610 kidnapped victims in intensified operations across the country.
The military also recovered 88 arms and 2,077 rounds of ammunition, while 201 terrorists and their associates surrendered to troops during the month, according to the Defence Headquarters (DHQ).
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during the monthly press briefing on ongoing military operations for August 2026.
He said the Armed Forces sustained coordinated land, air and maritime operations across the geopolitical zones, targeting terrorist and criminal networks, their logistics chains, arms traffickers, kidnappers and economic saboteurs.
Major General Onoja said the operations were also focused on rescuing abducted citizens, protecting critical national assets and creating a secure environment for socio-economic activities.
According to him, the August operations demonstrated the military’s resolve to deny terrorists and other criminal elements freedom of action through sustained offensive operations, intelligence-led engagements and collaboration with other security agencies.
In the North-East, troops of Operation HADIN KAI maintained aggressive counter-terrorism operations across Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno and Yobe States.
The troops rescued 60 kidnap victims, neutralised 114 terrorists and arrested 146 suspects, while 201 terrorists surrendered during the period.
Several of the rescued victims had spent months or years in terrorist enclaves, including women and children recovered around Amuda Bridge and Ngoshe in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
The military also intensified efforts to dismantle terrorist logistics and intelligence networks, leading to the arrest of suspected suppliers, informants, spies and collaborators across the theatre.
Major General Onoja said troops conducted a clearance operation around Kopre Mountain in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State between August 26 and 27, destroying a terrorist camp and neutralising 21 terrorists.
Six AK-47 rifles, 23 magazines and 586 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the camp.
The theatre recorded another major success on August 28 when troops foiled a terrorist attack on Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State through a coordinated ground and air response.
Several terrorists were neutralised during the engagement, while subsequent air strikes killed 25 fleeing terrorists and destroyed 10 motorcycles along the Tunbuns/Kangarwa axis.
In the North-West, troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA recorded the highest number of terrorist casualties during the month, neutralising 190 terrorists, arresting 47 and rescuing 126 kidnap victims across Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara States.
The troops also disrupted terrorist logistics and arms supply chains, including the interception of 180 units of Super Power Explosives along the Kaura-Zurmi Road in Zamfara State.
A major clearance operation in Maikujera Town, Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State, on August 28 resulted in the neutralisation of 30 terrorists and the recovery of 10 AK-47 rifles and five RPGs.
According to the military, the terrorists were suspected to be linked to the network of notorious terrorist kingpin Bello Turji.
Troops also rescued 12 commuters during a distress operation at Kwanoni Hill Gate in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State after terrorists attempted to abduct them.
In the North-Central, Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD rescued 329 kidnap victims, neutralised seven terrorists and arrested four others during operations across Kwara and Niger States.
A significant breakthrough was recorded on August 5 when troops rescued 308 abducted persons, mainly women and children, from the Kainji Lake National Park in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
The rescued persons included 163 indigenes of Woro Village in Kwara State and 145 persons from Niger State.
Troops also rescued the Onigbesi of Igbesi Kingdom, Oba Moses Oyinloye Iwedunmoye I, alongside two women abducted in Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State.
Meanwhile, Operation ENDURING PEACE recorded 15 rescued kidnap victims, five terrorists neutralised and 82 arrests across Plateau and adjoining areas.
The operation focused on preventing communal violence, terrorist incursions, kidnapping and the proliferation of illegal weapons.
In Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Taraba States, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE rescued 38 kidnap victims, neutralised three terrorists and arrested 31 others.
The operation also recorded significant arms recoveries, including 10 AK-47 magazines and 551 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition intercepted from a motorcycle in Nasarawa State.
In Kogi State, troops rescued several groups of abducted victims during operations along major road corridors.
On August 28, troops responding to a kidnapping incident along the Ogbulu-Alloma Road in Ofu Local Government Area engaged the kidnappers and rescued nine passengers and a bus driver.
The South-South theatre also recorded major gains, particularly against crude oil theft and illegal refining.
Troops of Operation DELTA SAFE arrested 43 criminals, rescued 38 civilians, dismantled 21 illegal refining sites and recovered 686,800 litres of stolen crude oil products during the month.
The military’s offensive against oil theft networks targeted illegal refining sites, crude oil storage facilities and vessels used in the illicit petroleum trade across Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and neighbouring areas.
Among the significant operations was the disruption of crude oil storage infrastructure containing approximately 93,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil around Allison Community in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.
In the South-East, troops of Operation UDO KA arrested 20 criminals, neutralised five terrorists and rescued four civilians while conducting operations against secessionist elements, armed criminal gangs, kidnapping networks and illegal oil bunkering.
The troops recovered weapons and ammunition from suspected IPOB/ESN hideouts and cleared 11 improvised explosive devices during operations around the “Mother Valley” in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The military’s Air Component also sustained precision strikes, armed reconnaissance and surveillance missions in support of ground troops.
In Niger State, an air operation around Kampani Bobi and Beri Settlement in Mariga Local Government Area targeted terrorists assembled with motorcycles in preparation for hostile activities.
Another armed reconnaissance operation around Sangeko and Baba-Doka in Mariga Local Government Area disrupted the activities of a large terrorist concentration, while a subsequent operation around Maburya resulted in the neutralisation of 46 terrorists.
Beyond combat operations, the Armed Forces sustained civil-military cooperation initiatives aimed at strengthening relations with communities and supporting humanitarian activities.
In Borno State, troops donated educational materials to schools in Monguno, while the military worked with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to improve humanitarian access and civilian protection across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States.
The Nigerian Navy also commissioned a solar-powered water project for residents of Ward F2 in Surulere, Lagos State, as part of its community engagement initiatives.
Major General Onoja said the military remained concerned about the safety of residents displaced or abducted from communities in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
He assured affected communities that troops would sustain operations around the Kainji Lake National Park and other identified terrorist corridors to prevent further incursions and create conditions for the safe return of displaced residents.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede, GCOR, AFM, commended troops for their gallantry, discipline and resilience, while assuring Nigerians that the Armed Forces would sustain the current operational tempo.
He also commended the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, local security groups and other stakeholders for their operational synergy.
The CDS sympathised with families of civilians and security personnel who lost their lives during the operations and wished injured personnel and other victims speedy recovery.
He urged Nigerians to continue providing credible and timely information to security agencies, stressing that the fight against terrorism and criminality remained a collective national responsibility.
The Armed Forces, he said, would continue to protect lives and property, defend Nigeria’s territorial integrity and work with relevant stakeholders until peace, stability and security are firmly consolidated across the country.
