Military neutralises 60 terrorists, rescues 42 kidnap victims

…Arrests 56 suspected collaborators, logistics suppliers in nationwide operations By Kingsley Omonobi Troops of the Nigerian Armed Forces have neutralised 60 terrorists, rescued 42 kidnapped victims and arrested 56 suspected terrorist collaborators, arms dealers and logistics suppliers in a series of joint military operations across the country in one week.

The operations also led to the surrender of more than 15 terrorists and their family members, as well as the recovery of several weapons, ammunition and other items from criminal hideouts. The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed this in an operational update, saying troops recorded significant successes across the North-East, North-West, North-Central and South-East geopolitical zones.

He said troops successfully repelled terrorist attacks at Buni Yadi in Yobe State and Bitta in Borno State, neutralising more than 50 terrorists in the engagements. Onoja also disclosed that troops overran kidnappers’ hideouts in Edimogbo and Obele forests in Kogi State, recovering weapons and other items, while operations in Kwara, Kebbi, Niger, Abia and Anambra states resulted in the rescue of several kidnapped victims, including a baby.

Giving details of the operations, he said troops of Operation Hadin Kai, on October 29, 2026, repelled terrorists who approached Buni Yadi in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State from the Timbuktu Triangle axis. A follow-up operation on October 30 led to the recovery of 48 terrorist bodies, 42 AK-47 rifles, five PKT machine guns, four general-purpose machine guns, one 60mm mortar, 105 magazines and two video cameras.

On October 31, troops operating around Apama and Jauro Bashir, along the terrorists’ withdrawal route, recovered three more bodies, an AK-47 rifle and 188 rounds of ammunition. The same day, terrorists attempted to infiltrate a military position at Bitta in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State but were forced to retreat. According to Onoja, subsequent exploitation of the area resulted in the recovery of seven terrorist bodies, four AK-47 rifles, an RPG tube, four RPG bombs, three RPG chargers, a PKM machine gun and a radio.

He said 12 terrorist fighters and their family members surrendered between November 2 and 4 at New Abaram Resettlement Village, Banki Junction in Bama LGA and near Ngurusoye in Gwoza LGA of Borno State. The surrendering terrorists reportedly cited sustained military pressure and disagreements between rival JAS and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) factions.

On November 2, troops also rescued a female abductee who escaped from the Mandara Mountains at Hudugum, Hambagda, along the Gwoza-Limankara Road. Onoja said troops arrested 50 suspected terrorists, collaborators and logistics suppliers in the North-East, including suppliers and informants at Benisheikh in Kaga LGA on October 31 and November 2. He added that three suppliers at Damboa and two suspected fighters from the Diffa region of Niger Republic were intercepted at Garin Gada in Yunusari LGA of Yobe State on November 3 while allegedly attempting to procure logistics for terrorists operating along the Nigeria-Niger border.

On November 5, troops and operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency conducted search operations at several motor parks in Maiduguri to disrupt terrorist supply networks, leading to the arrest of 36 suspects. North-West In the North-West, troops of Operation Fansan Yamma, acting on a distress call from Ribah in Danko/Wasagu LGA of Kebbi State on October 30, cleared the Ribah-Dirindaji Road.

A subsequent search-and-rescue operation and night pursuit towards Rambo Village forced terrorists to abandon seven kidnapped victims. On October 31, troops patrolling the Wasagu-Falfala Road in the same local government area responded to an ambush, forcing the attackers to flee and abandon four victims abducted from their farms in Wasagu Village. Onoja said troops also rescued seven kidnapped victims from Sabon Tunga and Binoni villages in Danko-Wasagu LGA on November 3, following search-and-rescue operations around Geso and Ayan Geso in Maru LGA of Zamfara State.

On November 2, two suspects allegedly involved in kidnapping and cattle rustling were arrested at Sabon Gida Village in Chikun LGA of Kaduna State. Similarly, troops and operatives of the Department of State Services on November 5 apprehended a suspected terrorist who reportedly sneaked into a clinic in Kagarko LGA of Kaduna State to receive treatment for gunshot wounds sustained during a clash with a rival faction.

North-Central In the North-Central, troops of Operation Enduring Peace, during stop-and-search operations at Kukawa Village in Kanam LGA on November 4, intercepted a suspected terrorist with an AK-47 magazine and a round of 7.62mm special ammunition. Preliminary interrogation reportedly revealed that the suspect belonged to a terrorist syndicate allegedly led by one Kaura.

Onoja said troops of Operati