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 Nigerian troops neutralised 102 terrorists and other criminal elements during coordinated nationwide military operations in July.
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 Security forces rescued 393 kidnapped victims, arrested 345 suspects, and secured the surrender of 57 insurgents alongside their family members.
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 Operations across the North-East, North-West, North-Central, South-South, and South-East dismantled terrorist camps, illegal refineries, and criminal logistics networks.
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 Defence Headquarters hailed improved synergy among security agencies and urged Nigerians to sustain intelligence sharing through the toll-free emergency line 193.
July 31, (THEWILL) — The Nigerian military sustained its nationwide offensive against terrorism and violent crime in July, dealing significant blows to insurgent and criminal networks with the killing of 102 terrorists, the rescue of 393 kidnapped victims, and the arrest of 345 suspects in coordinated operations across multiple theatres of operation.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, unveiled the operational scorecard on Friday during the military’s monthly briefing in Abuja.
He stated the successes were recorded through joint operations involving the Armed Forces of Nigeria, other security agencies, and local vigilante groups.
According to him, the operations also compelled 57 insurgents and their family members to surrender, while troops recovered 59 assorted weapons and 1,811 rounds of ammunition, further weakening the capabilities of terrorist and criminal groups operating across the country.
Onoja said sustained offensives across the North-East, North-West, North-Central, South-South, and South-East significantly degraded the operational capabilities of Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), kidnappers, armed militias, secessionist groups, and other criminal elements threatening national security.
Providing a breakdown of the operations, Onoja said troops of Operation Hadin Kai recorded major successes against Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists in the North-East, including the neutralisation of a senior terrorist commander and propaganda chief, Abu Salim al-Barnawi, during a counterattack in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.
He said troops also dismantled terrorist logistics networks, arrested suspected collaborators, rescued abductees, and recorded fresh surrenders by insurgents who succumbed to sustained military pressure.
In the North-West, troops under Operation Fansan Yamma rescued 191 kidnap victims, neutralised 33 terrorists, and arrested 66 suspects during operations conducted in Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, and Zamfara states.
According to Onoja, the troops also foiled several kidnapping attempts, recovered assorted arms and components used in the fabrication of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and rescued dozens of abductees from terrorist camps and attack locations.
He added that troops operating under Operations Savannah Shield, Enduring Peace, and Whirl Stroke maintained pressure on kidnappers, militia groups, and arms traffickers across the North-Central, leading to multiple arrests, the rescue of victims, and the recovery of weapons and ammunition.
Oil Theft Crackdown, Air Power Strengthens Offensive
In the South-South, Onoja said troops of Operation Delta Safe intensified the fight against crude oil theft by dismantling 18 illegal refining sites and recovering more than 250,500 litres of stolen petroleum products.
He added that anti-crude oil theft operations also led to the arrest of suspected kidnappers and economic saboteurs while disrupting several illegal refining activities, particularly in Rivers State.
In the South-East, troops of Operation Udo Ka sustained operations against criminal elements and secessionist agitators, arresting 26 suspects, rescuing 10 civilians, and recovering assorted weapons and ammunition.
The defence spokesman further disclosed that the Air Component of the Armed Forces provided critical support to ground operations through precision air interdiction missions, including successful strikes against terrorist targets in Niger State that disrupted planned attacks and facilitated rescue operations.
Beyond kinetic operations, Onoja said the Armed Forces expanded civil-military cooperation through peace-building engagements, public health interventions, and community development projects across various operational theatres to strengthen public confidence and community support for ongoing security operations.
He said the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, commended troops for their professionalism, resilience, and operational successes throughout the month.
According to Onoja, the CDS also praised the synergy among the Armed Forces, other security agencies, and local vigilante groups, citing the successful rescue of 44 pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State without any concession being made to the abductors.
Reaffirming the military’s commitment to protecting lives, property, and Nigeria’s territorial integrity, Onoja urged Nigerians to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible intelligence through the Federal Government’s toll-free emergency line, 193.
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