Troops Rescue 349 Kidnap Victims, Arrest 333 Suspects in Oct
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Troops Rescue 349 Kidnap Victims, Arrest 333 Suspects in Oct
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Armed Forces of Nigeria have rescued 349 kidnapped persons, arrested 333 suspected terrorists and criminals and neutralised more than 217 others during military operations across the country in October.
The military also disclosed that 70 insurgents surrendered to troops, while 105 firearms and 3,174 rounds of ammunition were recovered during operations conducted between September 30 and October 30, 2026.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed this on Friday during the monthly briefing on ongoing military operations across the country.
He said troops, supported by the Nigerian Air Force and other security agencies, sustained offensive operations against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, oil theft and other criminal activities across the six geopolitical zones.
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According to him, the operations also led to the destruction of 49 illegal refining sites and the recovery of 756,837 litres of stolen petroleum products.
Onoja said troops recorded significant successes in the North-East, where Operation Hadin Kai neutralised 162 terrorists, rescued 39 kidnapped persons and arrested 98 suspects, while 68 terrorists surrendered.
He disclosed that troops of Operation Fansan Yamma in the North-West rescued 167 kidnapped persons, neutralised 18 terrorists and arrested 10 others during the period.
In the North-Central, Operation Whirl Stroke recorded the neutralisation of 24 terrorists, rescue of 68 kidnapped persons and arrest of 71 suspects.
Similarly, Operation Savannah Shield, which covers Kwara and Niger states, neutralised three terrorists, rescued 29 kidnapped persons, arrested three suspects and facilitated the surrender of one terrorist.
The military spokesman said Operation Enduring Peace recorded six criminals killed, 13 kidnapped persons rescued and 84 suspects arrested in Kaduna and Plateau states.
In the South-East, Operation Udo Ka rescued 33 civilians, neutralised two terrorists and arrested 22 criminals, while Operation Delta Safe in the South-South arrested 45 suspects and dismantled 49 illegal refining sites.
Onoja further disclosed that the Armed Forces recorded 98 attacks across the various theatres during the period, including 27 attacks under Operation Hadin Kai, 24 under Operation Fansan Yamma, 29 under Operation Enduring Peace and 12 under Operation Whirl Stroke.
He said Operation Udo Ka recorded four attacks, while Operation Delta Safe and Operation Savannah Shield recorded one each.
The Defence spokesman urged Nigerians to support security agencies with timely intelligence, warning that informants, logistics suppliers, recruiters and arms traffickers would be brought to justice.
He advised members of the public to report suspicious activities to the nearest military formation or through the toll-free emergency line 193.
