The Armed Forces of Nigeria rescued three persons who spent seven years in terrorist captivity in Borno State, neutralised 217 terrorists and criminals, and freed 349 kidnapped victims during military operations across the country in October 2026. The October operational review also recorded the arrest of 333 suspects, the surrender of 70 insurgents and the recovery of 105 weapons and 3,174 rounds of ammunition.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed this on Friday during the Armed Forces’ October 2026 review of ongoing military operations in Abuja. He said the three long-term captives were rescued by troops of Operation Hadin Kai around Armuda in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State between October 4 and 8. Three other abductees were also rescued around Gava community in the same local government area.
According to Onoja, troops also rescued two female abductees around the Kuranabasa axis of Gwoza during the period. He added that more than 50 terrorist fighters and their family members surrendered to troops across Bama, Dikwa, Gwoza, Konduga, Mafa and Monguno local government areas of Borno State. “The surrendered persons consistently cited hunger, hardship, and violent clashes between rival terrorist factions as their reasons for fleeing,” he said.
In another major operation in the North-East, troops repelled an attempted ISWAP attack on Kukawa town in Borno State between October 6 and 7. The military said 25 terrorists were neutralised during the engagement, while six AK-47 rifles, ammunition, rocket-propelled grenade bombs and an anti-tank bomb were recovered. Troops also neutralised a senior ISWAP commander, Abdussamad Ohida, in Owo Forest, Ondo State, on October 2. Ohida was identified as the deputy to the group’s leader in Central Nigeria and was allegedly involved in planning attacks across several states.
In the North-West, troops of Operation Fansan Yamma rescued 167 kidnapped persons and neutralised 18 terrorists during operations across Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states. One of the major engagements occurred on October 7 when troops repelled an attack by a large group of Lakurawa terrorists on more than 100 motorcycles in Maiyama Local Government Area of Kebbi State. Ten terrorists were neutralised, while a machine gun, an AK-47 rifle, ammunition and a communication device were recovered.
Troops also rescued 27 villagers abducted by terrorists in Gamji community, Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State, on October 16. In another operation, 18 kidnapped persons were freed unharmed at Unguwan Hudu village in Bakori Local Government Area of the state on October 1. The military further reported the rescue of nine abductees, comprising five males and four females, during an ambush at Ghana village in Malumfashi Local Government Area on October 28.
In the North-Central, Operation Savannah Shield recorded the rescue of 29 kidnapped persons and the arrest of three suspected terrorists during operations in Kwara and Niger states. On October 15, troops responding to a distress call in Magaji Mai Kadarko village, Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State, rescued 29 residents from nearby bushes after terrorists attempted to abduct farmers. However, one resident had been killed before the arrival of the troops. Earlier, on October 10, troops rescued 18 abducted residents from the Eruku-Egbe-Koro Forest area of Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State.
Similarly, troops of Operation Whirl Stroke rescued 68 kidnapped victims and arrested 71 suspected terrorists during operations across Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Taraba states. On October 19, troops rescued 11 passengers abducted after armed men attacked a commercial bus along the Ayere-Kabba Road in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. Five other victims were rescued on October 16 when troops intercepted kidnappers moving their captives from Kwara State into Kogi State.
In a separate operation in Taraba State, troops arrested a wanted gunrunner and militia leader at Jape village in Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State, while a suspected arms dealer was arrested in Jalingo over an attempted sale of 200 rounds of ammunition. The military also reported the arrest of a suspected kidnapper in Yorro Local Government Area of Taraba State, whose confession led to the arrest of other members of a kidnapping syndicate allegedly operating with six AK-47 rifles.
In the South-East, troops of Operation Udo Ka rescued 33 civilians and arrested 22 suspected criminals during operations across Abia, Anambra and Imo states. Among the major achievements was the rescue of 20 persons abducted by gunmen who stopped two commercial buses along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway in Imo State. The victims included prospective National Youth Service Corps members. They were rescued on October 7 following pressure from troops and other security agencies.
A follow-up operation on October 16 led to the arrest of five members of the suspected kidnapping syndicate in the Irete and Orogwe areas of Owerri West Local Government Area. Three AK-47 rifles, an English pistol and 81 rounds of ammunition were recovered. In Anambra State, troops also rescued three abducted persons from the Osakwa area of Ihiala Local Government Area, while a raid on a suspected criminal camp in Ogbaru Local Government Area led to the neutralisation of 10 terrorists and the recovery of firearms and materials used in making improvised explosive devices.
In the South-South, troops of Operation Delta Safe arrested 45 suspected criminals, dismantled 49 illegal refining sites and recovered 756,837 litres of petroleum products during operations against crude oil theft and other criminal activities across Cross River, Edo and Rivers states. The military said troops also rescued an abducted person and neutralised suspected kidnappers during operations in Edo State.
The operations included the discovery of three illegal refining sites at Okarki Forest in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State on October 7. In Edo State, troops rescued an abductee and neutralised three suspected kidnappers during an operation at Sasaro Forest in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area on October 11. Another operation at Amendokhian Forest in Esan North-East Local Government Area on October 20 led to the neutralisation of a suspected kidnapper and the recovery of a pump-action rifle.
Onoja said the military recorded 98 attacks across its operational theatres during the October review but troops successfully repelled the incidents. Operation Enduring Peace recorded 29 attacks, Operation Hadin Kai 27, Operation Fansan Yamma 24, Operation Whirl Stroke 12, while Operations Udo Ka, Delta Safe and Savannah Shield recorded four, one and one attack respectively.
He said the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, commended troops for their resilience and urged them to maintain discipline, respect human rights and remain vigilant, particularly as the festive season approaches. The military chief also appealed to traditional rulers, community leaders and residents to provide timely information on security threats and reject attempts by criminal elements to use their communities as hideouts.
The Defence spokesman encouraged members of the public to report suspicious activities to the nearest military formation or through the toll-free telephone line 193, assuring that information received would be treated confidentially.
