The Defence Headquarters on Saturday, October 10, said troops rescued no fewer than 50 abducted persons, killed 36 terrorists and arrested several suspected terrorists and collaborators during operations across the country within one week.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General. Michael Onoja, said this in a statement on Saturday, on ongoing military operations covering the period under review.
Onoja said the troops recorded significant successes across various theatres, including foiling an ISWAP assault on Kukawa, Borno State, rescuing 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Imo State and killing a senior ISWAP commander in Ondo State.
He said troops of Operation Hadin Kai killed 26 terrorists during engagements in Borno and Yobe states, including 25 who attempted to infiltrate Kukawa town.
According to him, troops also rescued several abductees, including three persons held for seven years, while arresting suspected terrorist collaborators, logistics suppliers and smugglers in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.
In the North-West, Onoja said the troops of Operation FansanYamma killed 10 Lakurawa terrorists during an encounter with a large group of fighters in Maiyama Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
He added that troops recovered 17 motorcycles, a machine gun, an AK-47 rifle, ammunition and a communication device during the operation.
“They also rescued 18 kidnap victims in Katsina State and a seven-year-old boy abducted in Kaduna State, while arresting suspected terrorists and collaborators.
“In the South-East, troops of Operation Udo Ka rescued 20 prospective corps members abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway in Imo State, alongside a local woman abducted while travelling to the market.
“The victims were rescued at Ndegwu community in Owerri West LGA following sustained pressure by troops and other security agencies,” he said.
The defence spokesman said a combined security team neutralisedAbdussamadOhida, a senior ISWAP commander, in Owo forest, Ondo State, on October 2.
He added that Ohida was the deputy to the ISWAP Central Nigeria leader and had assumed leadership of the group following the leader’s arrest by the Department of State Services in 2023.
He said investigations revealed that the commander had been planning large-scale attacks on citizens in some southern states ahead of the forthcoming festive season.
In the North-Central, Onoja said troops of Operation Savannah Shield arrested a wanted terrorist in Niger State and rescued three persons who had escaped from their abductors in a forest in Kwara State.
He added that troops of Operation Enduring Peace also arrested two suspected kidnappers in Kaduna State, while Operation Whirl Stroke recovered illegal firearms and ammunition during raids in Taraba State.
In the South-South, Onoja said that troops of Operation Delta Safe discovered three illegal refinery sites in Rivers State and recovered about 2,500 litres of suspected stolen Premium Motor Spirit.
He said the successes reflected the military’s sustained efforts to dismantle terrorist networks, rescue abducted citizens and disrupt criminal logistics.