813 Kidnapped Nigerians Freed as Military Cracks Down on Terrorists
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Nigerian military has rescued over 800 citizens kidnapped by terrorists and criminal gangs across the country in the first quarter of 2026.
Major General Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations, said troops conducted operations in the North East, North West, North Central, South South, and South East regions, saving civilians from Boko Haram, ISWAP, bandits, and militants.
Onoja noted that in Borno and Yobe States, Operation HADIN KAI rescued 168 victims and facilitated the surrender of 90 insurgents.
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He added that in the North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA freed 386 abducted citizens, while North Central operations under SAVANNAH SHIELD and ENDURING PEACE thwarted kidnappings and rescued multiple victims across Kwara, Kogi, Niger, and Plateau States.
The South South and South East regions also witnessed successful operations.
DELTA SAFE and UDO KA operations dismantled criminal networks involved in kidnapping and oil theft, recovering thousands of litres of stolen petroleum products and arresting dozens of suspects.
“The safety of our citizens remains our priority,” Onoja said, urging communities to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities.
