By ZAKAA LAZARUS
The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) say they have recorded major operational successes nationwide in the first quarter of 2026, intensifying pressure on terrorists, bandits, and criminal networks across all theatres.
While briefing Defence Correspondence in Abuja, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed that troops neutralised scores of terrorists, arrested 1,359 suspects, and rescued 813 kidnapped victims within the period under review.
Onoja reviewed that, in the North East, under Operation HADIN KAI, sustained air and ground offensives led to the elimination of key insurgent leaders, with ISWAP confirming the death of senior commander Abu Yahya Al-Muhajir. Troops also repelled multiple attacks and disrupted logistics supply routes.
Across the North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA rescued 386 victims, dismantled terrorist enclaves, and intercepted arms and fuel supplies meant for criminal groups.
In the North Central, coordinated operations foiled attacks, intercepted explosives, and led to multiple arrests, including suspects linked to terrorism logistics and illegal mining.
According to him, troops remain actively engaged in counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency and internal security operations across the North East, North West, North Central, South South and South East regions of the country in support of civil authorities.
In the North East, troops of Operation Hadin Kai sustained aggressive operations against remnants of Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province and Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad across Borno, Adamawa, Bauchi, Taraba, Yobe and Gombe states.
The operations, which were supported by aerial reconnaissance, air interdiction missions and close air support, targeted insurgent strongholds in remote and border areas. Within the quarter, troops neutralised several terrorist leaders and fighters, arrested 274 suspects, rescued 168 kidnapped victims and facilitated the surrender of 90 insurgents and their family members.
In a development that further highlighted the impact of the military campaign, ISWAP reportedly confirmed the death of one of its senior leaders and Shura Council members, Abu Yahya Al-Muhajir, describing the incident as a major loss to the group.
Onoja said the confirmation underscored the sustained effectiveness of military operations in degrading the command and leadership structure of the terrorist organisation.
Providing updates on operations conducted in March, he disclosed that troops neutralised scores of terrorists, arrested more than 20 suspects and rescued 24 kidnapped victims during the month.
Among the major operations was a precision air strike carried out on March 2 in Sambisa Forest which neutralised top terrorist ring leaders identified as Saddam, Saleh Garin Kago and Ba Alayi Benbem alongside more than 18 other ring leaders and 42 fighters.
Troops also repelled coordinated ISWAP attacks in Njimtilo, Baga, Buratai and Damboa, while the repulsion of a complex drone attack at Mallam Fatori in Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State yielded 74 terrorist corpses, 38 AK-47 rifles, three PKT machine guns, one RPG tube and other ammunition.
On March 11, troops neutralised more than 20 terrorists including a high-value target identified as Abu Yusu, popularly known as Munzir of Dursula, during a multi-directional ISWAP night attack at Goniri in Yobe State.
Fourteen insurgents also surrendered during the period, bringing the cumulative number of insurgents who have surrendered to troops of Operation Hadin Kai to 122,843.
Further operations along the Marte–Dikwa road in Borno State on March 27 forced terrorists to abandon their positions during an ambush, with troops recovering eight bicycles and assorted provisions.
The following day, troops successfully repelled another terrorist attack at Mandaraugirau in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State, neutralising four terrorists and recovering five AK-47 rifles, eight magazines, two RPG bombs and other ammunition.
Troops also foiled an attempted infiltration of an internally displaced persons camp in Damasak, repelled a terrorist attack in Askira Uba Local Government Area and arrested a terrorist collaborator at the Hausari IDP camp in Damboa.
In Yobe State, troops intercepted 34 jerricans of Premium Motor Spirit along the Karasuwa–Jajiri road, thereby disrupting a suspected terrorist logistics supply chain.
Similarly, on March 29, troops intercepted a vehicle in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State conveying cartons of pharmaceutical drugs, motorcycle tubes and tyres, mosquito nets, rolls of mats, air fastener cylinders for heavy trucks and detergents.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the items lacked the required security clearance and were being transported to Kusuri, a border community with Chad Republic, raising suspicion that the supplies were meant for terrorist elements operating across the border.
On the same day, troops working in conjunction with the Civilian Joint Task Force arrested a suspected terrorist logistics supplier at Muna Garage in Maiduguri who was found conveying 25 one-litre containers of engine oil concealed in sacks along with a sum of money.
Investigations revealed that the suspect had been involved in procuring and supplying logistics and motorcycle spare parts to terrorists for an extended period.
In the North West, troops of Operation Fansan Yamma maintained sustained operational tempo across Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states.
During the quarter, troops neutralised terrorists, arrested 114 suspects and rescued 386 kidnapped victims while destroying terrorist enclaves and disrupting logistics networks.
Among the key operations recorded in March were the destruction of a Lakurawa terrorist enclave in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State, the arrest of logistics suppliers transporting motorcycles and fuel in Sabon Birni, and the rescue of kidnapped victims in Katsina and Kaduna states.
Troops also rescued the Secretary of Kibiya Local Government Area from a forest hideout in a joint operation conducted with the Department of State Services.
In the North Central region, troops of Operation Savannah Shield carried out intelligence-driven offensives in Kwara and Niger states, neutralising terrorists in Roguwa Forest and intercepting eight 50-kilogram bags of ammonium chloride, an improvised explosive device precursor.
Troops also arrested suspected terrorists and illegal miners, including foreign nationals from the Niger Republic.
Meanwhile, troops under Operation Enduring Peace intensified operations across Plateau, Bauchi, Kaduna, Kogi, Benue and the Federal Capital Territory, neutralising extremists, arresting 210 suspects and rescuing 61 kidnapped victims.
The operations also led to the interception of more than 800 bags of ammonium sulphate in Bauchi State, the dismantling of illegal mining sites in the Federal Capital Territory and the arrest of suspected terrorist informants in Kuje Area Council.
Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke sustained security operations across Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa and parts of Kogi State to address farmer-herder conflicts, banditry and kidnapping.
Within the quarter, troops arrested 139 suspects and rescued 73 kidnapped victims while recovering several weapons, SIM cards and ATM cards from suspected criminals.
In the South South region, troops of Operation Delta Safe intensified the fight against crude oil theft, illegal refining and kidnapping.
During the quarter, troops arrested 219 suspects, dismantled 101 illegal refining sites and recovered more than 547,920 litres of petroleum products including crude oil, Automotive Gas Oil, Dual Purpose Kerosene and Premium Motor Spirit.
Operations in the region also led to the neutralisation of suspected kidnappers in Edo State, the rescue of abducted victims in Delta State and the disruption of illegal oil activities in Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Bayelsa states.
In the South East, troops of Operation UDO KA sustained operations targeting criminal elements of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network.
During the quarter, troops arrested 91 suspects and rescued 14 kidnapped victims while recovering arms, ammunition and improvised explosive device materials. Several militants also surrendered to troops, while clearance operations disrupted insurgent logistics hubs and destroyed illegal refining sites across Imo and Anambra states.
Summarising the nationwide operations, Onoja said the Armed Forces achieved significant strategic outcomes across seven operational theatres during the first quarter of the year.
These included the neutralisation of terrorist leaders, the arrest of 1,359 suspects, the rescue of 813 kidnapped civilians, the surrender of 197 insurgents, the recovery of 458 arms and 15,899 rounds of ammunition, the dismantling of 101 illegal refining sites and the recovery of more than 547,920 litres of stolen petroleum products.
He added that the Armed Forces remain committed to conducting operations in line with international humanitarian law, the Geneva Conventions and established rules of engagement while intensifying efforts to dismantle remaining terrorist and criminal elements.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede he said, commended the gallantry, professionalism and sacrifice of military personnel and expressed appreciation to sister security agencies, the media and the Nigerian public for their continued support and timely intelligence sharing.
Meanwhile, troops under Operation Enduring Peace intensified operations across Plateau, Bauchi, Kaduna, Kogi, Benue and the Federal Capital Territory, neutralising extremists, arresting 210 suspects and rescuing 61 kidnapped victims.
Operations included the interception of more than 800 bags of ammonium sulphate in Bauchi State, the arrest of drug suspects in Plateau State and the dismantling of illegal mining sites in the Federal Capital Territory. Troops also arrested suspected terrorist informants in Kuje Area Council and disrupted ransom collection networks in Kogi State.
Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke sustained security operations across Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa and parts of Kogi State to address farmer-herder conflicts, banditry and kidnapping. During the quarter, troops arrested 139 suspects and rescued 73 kidnapped victims while recovering several weapons and communication materials.
In the South South, troops of Operation Delta Safe intensified efforts against crude oil theft, illegal refining and kidnapping. Within the period under review, troops arrested 219 suspects, dismantled 101 illegal refining sites and recovered more than 547,920 litres of petroleum products including crude oil, Automotive Gas Oil, Dual Purpose Kerosene and Premium Motor Spirit.
Operations during March also led to the neutralisation of suspected kidnappers in Edo State, the rescue of abducted victims in Delta State, the disruption of illegal oil activities in Akwa Ibom State and the arrest of dozens of illegal miners.
In the South East, troops of Operation UDO KA sustained clearance operations targeting criminal elements of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network.
During the quarter, troops arrested 91 suspects and rescued 14 kidnapped victims while recovering arms, ammunition and improvised explosive device materials. Several militants also surrendered to troops, while key operations disrupted insurgent logistics hubs and destroyed illegal refining sites across Imo and Anambra states.
Summarising the first quarter results, Major General Onoja said the Armed Forces achieved significant strategic outcomes across seven operational theatres, including the elimination of terrorist leaders, the arrest of 1,359 suspects, the rescue of 813 kidnapped civilians, the surrender of 197 insurgents, the recovery of 458 weapons and 15,899 rounds of ammunition and the dismantling of over 100 illegal refining sites.
