Military rescues 125 kidnap victims, neutralises eight terrorists

By: Kingsley Omonobi The Defence Headquarters says troops have rescued 125 kidnapped victims, neutralised eight terrorists and arrested 10 suspected collaborators and logistics suppliers in military operations across the country in the last one week. The operations, conducted between November 6 and 12, 2026, also led to the surrender of 12 terrorist fighters and their family members, while the Emir of Bogwas in Bauchi State handed over six AK-47 rifles and six magazines recovered from suspected criminal elements.

Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed this on Saturday while briefing journalists on the activities of troops across the various theatres of operation. Onoja said the North-East operations recorded the rescue of 119 travellers abducted by terrorists along the Dutsen Kura-Bulazarma-Kamuya Road in Buratai, Biu Local Government Area of Borno State.

He said the abduction occurred on November 6, following which troops mobilised and pursued the terrorists along the Mangari-Dora Road, forcing them to abandon their captives. According to him, the rescued victims comprised 69 adult males, 35 adult females and 15 children. Troops also discovered an improvised explosive device planted by the terrorists in the area.

On the same day, following an attack on a military location around Kalla Maula in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, troops captured a PKT machine gun, two AK-47 rifles, three magazines and 125 rounds of ammunition. Onoja said troops also rescued abductees and confiscated their vehicle during an encounter with terrorists along the Monguno-Maiduguri Road on November 8.

In Adamawa State, troops, working with local security groups, rescued a woman and two other residents at Dutse-Uku in Mubi South Local Government Area on November 9. The victims’ vehicles and farm produce were also recovered and returned to their owners. He further disclosed that troops repelled an attack on their location at Zangular Kilba Junction in Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State on November 10, recovering two AK-47 rifles, four magazines and 115 rounds of PKT ammunition after discovering the bodies of two terrorists.

On the same day, troops engaged terrorists along the Damaturu-Buni Yadi-Buni Gari Road in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State, neutralising one terrorist and recovering an AK-47 rifle. The Defence spokesman said the military also recorded the surrender of four terrorist fighters and 13 members of their families between November 6 and 8 at Ngurusoye in Bama Local Government Area, along the Dikwa-Gulumba Road in Dikwa and at Banki.

He said one of the fighters surrendered with an FN rifle and seven rounds of ammunition, while nine family members, including two women, were handed over to Nigerian troops by the Cameroonian Defence Force at Banki. According to him, the surrendering fighters attributed their decision to abandon terrorism to sustained military pressure and conflicts among rival factions.

Onoja added that troops arrested suspected collaborators, informants, spies and logistics suppliers at various locations in Borno State. He said troops also intercepted a vehicle along the Maiduguri-Bama Road conveying six occupants who claimed to be repentant terrorists but could not substantiate their claims. In another operation, two suspects allegedly supplying provisions to terrorists were arrested at Kwatan Turare Gate in Doron Baga, Kukawa Local Government Area.

Troops also arrested a suspect in Monguno who allegedly confessed to terrorising motorists along the Monguno-Maiduguri Road, particularly around Gasarwa and Ali Gambori. In the North-West, troops of Operation Fansan Yamma conducted clearance operations in communities and adjoining forests in Bukkuyum and Anka Local Government Areas of Zamfara State, rescuing two kidnapped victims.

On November 10, troops engaged terrorists on two motorcycles at Yarcantar Gora in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State, neutralising one of them and recovering an AK-47 rifle, five magazines, 90 rounds of ammunition, a motorcycle and three mobile phones. The following day, troops responding to an attack and abduction of commuters along the Kombo-Gurusu Road in Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State rescued three victims.

However, the driver of the vehicle was found dead and his body evacuated. Onoja said troops also arrested two suspected terrorists, a father and his son, with an AK-47 rifle at Bauni Forest in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State. Emir hands over six AK-47 rifles In the North-Central, troops under various operations recorded encounters with suspected terrorists in Bauchi, Plateau, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Niger and Kwara states.

He said troops operating in Dajin Madam, Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State, cleared terrorist camps and destroyed structures used to sustain their activities. The operation led to the recovery of 135 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition