Troops Neutralise 201 Terrorists, Rescue 188 Victims in April Operations
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Armed Forces of Nigeria on Thursday said its troops recorded sweeping operational successes across all theatres of operation in April 2026, neutralising 201 terrorists, rescuing 188 kidnapped civilians, and arresting 284 suspects nationwide.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed this in Abuja during a monthly briefing, where he presented a cumulative overview of military activities across the North-East, North-West, North-Central, South-South, and South-East zones.
He said the coordinated land and air offensives led to the destruction of multiple terrorist enclaves, criminal hideouts, and illegal armament facilities, significantly degrading the capacity of insurgent and criminal groups.
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Onoja described the outcomes as “an unambiguous account” of sustained military pressure across all fronts, noting that troops operated in synergy with other security agencies and local stakeholders.
“In April 2026, troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria neutralised 201 terrorists, rescued 188 kidnapped civilians, and arrested 284 suspects, including key ring leaders and collaborators,” he said.
A breakdown of the operations showed that in the North-East, troops of Operation Hadin Kai accounted for the highest number of neutralised insurgents, killing 136 terrorists, arresting 114 suspects, and rescuing 18 victims.
He said several Boko Haram and ISWAP enclaves were destroyed, while troops repelled coordinated attacks and recovered high-grade weapons in Borno and Yobe states.
In the North-West, Operation Fansan Yamma troops neutralised 20 terrorists, rescued 70 kidnapped victims, and dismantled bandit camps across Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kebbi states.
Among the notable feats was the rescue of 31 worshippers abducted from a church in Kaduna State, as well as the interception of a suspect conveying improvised explosive device materials.
In the North-Central, combined operations under Savannah Shield, Enduring Peace, and Whirl Stroke recorded significant gains, including the neutralisation of 53 terrorists, arrest of over 100 suspects, and rescue of scores of victims across Niger, Kwara, Plateau, Benue, Kogi, and Nasarawa states.
Onoja noted that troops also dismantled criminal camps, destroyed illicit weapons production sites, and recovered ransom money from kidnappers.
He added that in the South-South, Operation Delta Safe troops intensified anti-crude oil theft operations, destroying illegal refining sites and recovering over 101,000 litres of petroleum products, alongside the rescue of kidnapped victims.
Similarly, in the South-East, Operation Udo Ka disrupted IPOB/ESN activities through the arrest of key commanders and the destruction of major camps, including a strategic enclave in Enugu State.
Beyond kinetic operations, the military said it sustained civil-military cooperation initiatives, including peace meetings, community engagements, and support for farming activities in conflict-prone areas.
Onoja said the initiatives were aimed at fostering trust, facilitating resettlement, and promoting long-term stability.
