Troops Neutralise 317 Terrorists, Arrest 314 Suspects, Rescue 221 Victims in May — DHQ
The Defence Headquarters on Tuesday disclosed that troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria neutralised 317 terrorists and other criminal elements, arrested 314 suspects, rescued 221 kidnapped civilians, and recorded the surrender of 18 terrorists during military operations conducted across the country in May 2026.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, made the disclosure during a press briefing on ongoing military operations by the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
According to him, the operations also led to the recovery of 21,910 litres of assorted petroleum products and the destruction of three illegal refining sites in the Niger Delta region.
Onoja said the military sustained coordinated land, air, and maritime offensives across all theatres of operation, targeting terrorists, kidnappers, oil thieves, gunrunners, and other criminal elements.
He stated that, “Overall, 317 terrorist/criminals were neutralised, 314 suspects were arrested, 221 civilians were rescued, 18 terrorists surrendered, 93 arms were recovered, three illegal refining sites were destroyed while 21,910 litres of assorted petroleum products were recovered.”
The Defence spokesman explained that troops of Operation HADIN KAI in the North-East accounted for 73 neutralised insurgents, 159 arrests, 112 rescued civilians, and 18 surrendered terrorists during operations across Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, and Taraba states.
He added that troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA in the North-West neutralised 24 terrorists, arrested 13 suspects, and rescued 22 civilians during operations in Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara states.
In the North-Central region, Onoja said Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD troops neutralised two insurgents, arrested 12 suspects, and rescued 24 civilians, while Operation ENDURING PEACE recorded nine neutralised terrorists, 36 arrests, and 15 rescued victims.
Similarly, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE neutralised six terrorists, arrested 20 suspects, and rescued 13 civilians across Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, and Taraba states.
In the South-South, Operation DELTA SAFE arrested 14 criminals, dismantled three illegal refining sites, and recovered 21,910 litres of stolen petroleum products during anti-oil theft operations across Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta, Edo, and Cross River states.
The Defence Headquarters also disclosed that troops of Operation UDO KA in the South-East neutralised three terrorists, arrested 60 suspects, and rescued 18 kidnapped civilians during operations against criminal elements and separatist groups.
The military high command further acknowledged the recent kidnapping incident in Oyo State, assuring Nigerians that reinforced security measures, including aerial surveillance and deployment of specialised troops, had already been activated to apprehend the perpetrators.
Onoja said the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, commended troops for their gallantry and professionalism, while urging Nigerians to continue providing timely and credible intelligence to security agencies.
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