Nigeria’s military said in July that troops killed 102 terrorists and other suspected criminals, arrested 345 suspects and rescued 397 kidnapped victims during nationwide operations.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, made this known on Friday while presenting the Armed Forces’ operational scorecard for the month.
Troops also recovered 59 weapons and 1,811 rounds of ammunition, he said, while 57 insurgents and members of their families surrendered to security forces.
Onoja stated that one of the major breakthroughs recorded during the period was the surrender of a senior finance operative of the Islamic State West Africa Province.
The defence spokesman in a breakdown of operations in the North-East said troops of Operation Hadin Kai sustained coordinated ground and air offensives against Boko Haram, ISWAP and Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad.
The operations were conducted in Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno and Yobe states, he said.
“Operations led to the killing of 54 terrorists, the arrest of 102 suspects, the rescue of 102 kidnapped victims and the surrender of 57 insurgents and their family members, Onoja said.
“The theatre also registered a consistent trend of surrender occasioned by sustained offensive pressure on terrorists’ enclaves.
On July 25, a senior ISWAP finance operative surrendered to troops along the Ladari-Jegarawa-Tunokalia axis of the Gamboru-Wulgo Main Supply Route, Onoja said.
The suspect has been identified as the chief finance officer of an ISWAP enclave in Jubillaram, he said.
He further said: “One of the suspects, who is the Chief Finance Officer of the ISWAP enclave at Jubillaram, surrendered with two children and also submitted an AK-47 rifle, four magazines, 101 rounds of ammunition, a motorcycle and undisclosed amount of money.
“The surrender is indicative of the success of ongoing military operations in degrading operational capability and morale of insurgent groups.”
He said three other suspected terrorists surrendered to troops in Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State on July 28 after they fled their camps following sustained air strikes.
Onoja said the suspects confessed during interrogation that they were trained as gunboat operators and anti-aircraft gunners for operations around the Lake Chad region.
The military also arrested two suspected collaborators of terrorists in Magumeri Local Government Area for their alleged support to the activities of insurgents.
Troops Rescue Kidnap Victims in Taraba
Onoja said troops rescued three kidnapped victims during a fighting patrol to Bomanda village in Karim Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State.
The victims had been held captive for about 10 days before their rescue, he said.
“They were held for about 10 days and evacuated for medical attention and later reunited with their families,” he said.
On summarising the nationwide operations, Onoja said the military would continue to put pressure on terrorists, kidnappers and other criminal groups.
“The operational record for the month of July is a compelling testimony of the resolve of the Armed Forces to create an environment of security for socio-economic development,” Onoja said.
“During the month, 102 terrorists and criminals were neutralised, 345 suspects arrested, 397 kidnapped victims rescued, even as 57 insurgents surrendered. “Troops also recovered 59 weapons and 1,811 rounds of ammunition.”
He said operations against crude oil theft in the Niger Delta also disrupted activities of suspected economic saboteurs.
14 Kidnapped Persons Rescued By Army In Edo
Meanwhile, troops of the Nigerian Army 4 Brigade, operating under 2 Division, rescued 14 kidnapped victims in Edo State.
Kennedy Anyanwu, the Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, 4 Brigade, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday.
He said troops responding to a kidnapping incident along the Lagos-Benin Expressway in Ovia North-East Local Government Area, also participated in Operation WABAIZIGAN.
“The rescue operation was carried out at about 9:30 pm on July 30, 2026, following credible intelligence on the kidnap incident received by troops on routine patrol,” Anyanwu said.
“The troops, acting quickly and decisively, immediately pursued the kidnappers along their route of withdrawal, keeping up the pressure that obliged the criminals to abandon 11 of the abducted victims and flee into the surrounding forest.”
A follow-up operation the next day resulted in the rescue of the remaining three victims, he added.
“In a follow up clearance operation on July 31, 2026, troops aggressively combed the forest and successfully rescued the remaining three victims bringing the total number of rescued victims to 14,” he said.
