By ZAKAA LAZARUS
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) recorded major successes across the country between 2 and 8 October 2026, including foiling an ISWAP attack on Kukawa in Borno State, rescuing 20 abducted prospective NYSC corps members in Imo State and neutralising a senior ISWAP commander in Ondo State.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, who disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday, said troops sustained aggressive operations across all theatres.
In the North East, under Operation HADIN KAI, troops foiled an attack on Abakurari village in Geidam LGA of Yobe State on 5 October, killing one terrorist and recovering an AK-47 rifle.
He said on the night of 6 October, ISWAP terrorists attempted to infiltrate Kukawa town in Borno State, but troops, supported by the Air Component, repelled them in a fierce battle that lasted till the morning of 7 October, killing 25 terrorists and recovering six AK-47 rifles, 10 magazines, 797 rounds of PKT ammunition, three RPG bombs and an anti-tank bomb.
Troops also rescued two female abductees at Kuranabasa in Gwoza LGA, three escapees from Cameroon who were handed over to the Cameroonian Rapid Intervention Battalion at Kirawa, and six other abductees including three persons held for seven years around Armuda and Gava in Gwoza LGA.
According to him, troops arrested 12 suspected collaborators conveying fish from Niger Republic at Kanama in Yunusari LGA of Yobe State, a suspected logistics supplier at Mubi Market in Adamawa and a high-profile terrorist at Magumeri town in Borno State.
In the North West, under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, troops on 7 October repelled over 100 Lakurawa terrorists on motorcycles armed with machine guns and RPGs in Maiyama LGA of Kebbi State, killing 10 and recovering 17 motorcycles, a machine gun, AK-47 rifle and communication devices.
He said troops also rescued 18 kidnap victims at Unguwan Hudu in Bakori LGA of Katsina State on 1 October and a seven-year-old boy abducted from Dogon Dawa in Birnin Gwari LGA of Kaduna State.
In the North Central, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE recovered a fabricated sub-machine gun and 100 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition in Lau and Donga LGAs of Taraba State, while troops of Operations ENDURING PEACE and SAVANNAH SHIELD arrested two suspected kidnappers in Sanga LGA of Kaduna State and a wanted terrorist along Luma Road in Borgu LGA of Niger State.
In the South South, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE destroyed three illegal refining sites at Okarki Forest in Ahoada West LGA of Rivers State and recovered 2,500 litres of stolen PMS at Eleme LGA.
In the South East, troops of Operation UDO KA rescued 20 prospective corps members abducted on 1 October along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway at Umunoha in Mbaitoli LGA of Imo State and a market woman at Ndegwu Community in Owerri West LGA on 7 October.
In another operation on 2 October, combined security forces neutralised several terrorists in Owo forest, Ondo State, including a senior ISWAP leader, Abdussamad Ohida, deputy to the ISWAP Central Nigeria leader who had been planning large-scale attacks in southern states ahead of the festive season.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede, commended troops for their courage and professionalism, paid tribute to personnel who paid the supreme price, and urged vigilance ahead of the festive season.
