The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) have rescued over 350 abducted citizens, neutralized scores of terrorists, and dismantled several illegal oil refining sites during coordinated operations nationwide between July 31 and August 6, 2026.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed the details during a press briefing, highlighting steady operational progress across all geopolitical zones in the sustained campaign against terrorism, kidnapping, and crude oil theft.
North East: Mass Rescues and Disrupted Logistics
In the North East, troops of Operation HADIN KAI rescued 31 civilians along the Buratai-Kamuya Road in Borno State after foiling an abduction attempt on July 31. On August 1, troops rescued two women and two children in Gwoza Local Government Area (LGA) who had been held captive since 2023. Further operations in Borno led to the rescue of an 18-year-old victim abducted in late 2025, the surrender of several terrorist family members, and the arrest of multiple logistics suppliers and informants across Borno, Adamawa, and Bauchi states.
North West: Precision Airstrikes and Arrests
Troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA intercepted 21 suspects transiting through Giwa LGA in Kaduna State, handing over five identified terrorists to the Department of State Services (DSS). In Sokoto State, troops arrested four suspects carrying rustled cattle and cash proceeds. Additionally, the Air Component executed a precision strike in Mariga LGA, Niger State, neutralizing scores of assembled terrorists and destroying logistical equipment and explosive ordnance.
North Central: Mass Rescue in Kainji Lake Park
Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD achieved a major breakthrough in Niger State on August 5, rescuing 308 abducted victims—primarily women and children—from the Kainji Lake National Park. The rescued individuals included 163 indigenes of Kwara State and 145 from Niger State. In separate engagements within the region:
- Operation WHIRL STROKE troops rescued nine kidnapped victims across Benue and Kogi states, apprehended a gunrunner in Makurdi, recovered AK-47 magazines, and neutralized two terrorists.
- Operation ENDURING PEACE arrested a youth leader in Kauru LGA, Kaduna State, in connection with a recent attack on the Naridon community.
South-South: Maritime Offensive and Crude Oil Recovery
Under Operations DELTA SAFE and DELTA SENTINEL, troops intercepted illegal oil operations in Rivers and Delta states, discovering and handling over 251,000 liters of stolen crude oil and illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) across several dugout pits and sites. Troops also rescued 11 kidnapped travelers along the Lagos-Benin Road in Edo State on July 30.
South East: Crackdown on Militancy and Secessionist Groups
Operation UDO KA troops arrested four principal suspects involved in a deadly May 2026 military ambush, recovering arms caches from hidden camps in Imo and Delta states. In Enugu State, troops arrested five suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), destroyed a forest hideout, confiscated General Purpose Machine Guns, and successfully foiled a kidnapping along the Nsukka-Obollo road.
Defence Leadership Commends Troops and Media
Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede, praised the troops for their discipline and lauded the cooperation between security agencies, local vigilance groups, and the public. Reaffirming the military’s commitment to restoring lasting peace, General Oluyede urged citizens to continue providing timely intelligence to support ongoing operations.
