AFN Neutralises 102 Terrorists, Rescues 393 Kidnap Victims in July Operations

By Harriet Tornguvan 

The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) has recorded significant operational successes across the country in July, neutralising over 100 terrorists, rescuing hundreds of kidnapped victims and dismantling criminal networks in sustained offensives against insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and economic sabotage.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed this during the monthly briefing on military operations, saying troops operating in collaboration with other security agencies and local vigilante groups intensified offensives across the six geopolitical zones, leading to major gains in the fight against insecurity.

According to him, troops also secured strategic highways and rail corridors, destroyed terrorist camps, recovered arms and ammunition, dismantled illegal refining sites and compelled several insurgents and their family members to surrender.

In the North-East, troops of Operation HADIN KAI sustained pressure on Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists across Adamawa, Borno, Yobe and Bauchi states. The operation led to the neutralisation of 54 terrorists, arrest of 102 suspects, rescue of 102 kidnapped victims and the surrender of 57 insurgents and their family members.

Among the notable achievements was the killing of Abu Salim al-Barnawi, a senior Boko Haram commander and propaganda chief, during a failed terrorist attack in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State on July 

Troops also destroyed terrorist enclaves in Ngala and Gubio Local Government Areas and arrested logistics suppliers, including a foreign fighter from Sudan and an illegal immigrant from Ghana.

The military also reported the surrender of a senior ISWAP finance operative and other terrorists who fled sustained aerial bombardments and ground offensives in the Lake Chad region.

In the North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA troops rescued 191 kidnapped victims, neutralised 33 terrorists and arrested 66 others during operations in Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi and Zamfara states.

Major General Onoja said troops successfully rescued victims from several terrorist attacks, including commuters, community residents and families abducted across Zamfara, Katsina and Kaduna states. Among those rescued were the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Kaura Namoda, Dr Aminu Yusuf, members of his family and dozens of other abductees.

Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD recorded the rescue of 11 kidnap victims, neutralisation of eight terrorists and arrest of 18 suspects across Kwara and Niger states. Troops also disrupted arms trafficking networks, recovered weapons and dismantled terrorist hideouts during clearance operations.

Similarly, troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE operating in Plateau and Kaduna states arrested 60 criminal suspects, neutralised two terrorists and rescued 18 kidnap victims. The operation also led to the interception of illegal firearms and the arrest of suspects linked to previous attacks in Plateau State.

In the North-Central, Operation WHIRL STROKE troops operating across Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Taraba states neutralised five terrorists, arrested 70 suspects and rescued 24 kidnapped victims.

The operation included the elimination of a notorious terrorist kingpin identified as Puuga in Benue State, the destruction of criminal camps, arrest of militia members and recovery of arms and ammunition. Troops also rescued several victims, including school officials, students, women and elderly persons abducted in separate incidents across the region.

In the South-South, Operation DELTA SAFE sustained the campaign against crude oil theft and piracy, arresting three suspects, rescuing 37 civilians, dismantling 18 illegal refining sites and recovering over 250,500 litres of stolen petroleum products.

The military also arrested notorious kidnapping suspects in Edo State, rescued abductees and intensified operations against illegal oil refining activities in Rivers State.

Troops of Operation UDO KA operating in the South-East arrested 26 suspected criminals and rescued 10 civilians while intensifying operations against IPOB/ESN elements, gunrunners and economic saboteurs across Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Imo and Rivers states. Several weapons, ammunition and illegal bunkering facilities were recovered and destroyed.

Onoja further disclosed that the Air Component of the Armed Forces provided critical support through precision air strikes and armed reconnaissance missions, including successful operations that neutralised terrorists in Niger State and enabled kidnapped victims to escape from their captors.

Beyond combat operations, the military also intensified Civil-Military Cooperation initiatives nationwide by constructing community projects, mediating disputes between oil companies and host communities, promoting peace meetings in Benue and Nasarawa states and supporting public health interventions during a cholera outbreak in parts of Borno State.

Reaffirming the commitment of the Armed Forces to restoring peace and security, the Chief of Defence Staff assured Nigerians that troops would sustain offensive operations against terrorism, kidnapping, secessionist activities and other criminal threats across the country.

The Defence Headquarters also urged citizens to continue supporting security agencies with credible and timely intelligence through the military's toll-free emergency line, assuring that all information provided would be treated with strict confidentiality.