The Armed Forces of Nigeria, AFN, has reassured Nigerians of its unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property, and passionately appealed to members of the public to remain vigilant, report suspicious activities promptly to security agencies.
Director of Defence Media Operation Major General Michael Onoja made the call in a statement detailing counter – operations the
military carried out during the week against insurgents, terrorists, kidnappers, oil thieves and other criminal elements and their collaborators.
He said that despite patches of attacks on vulnerable citizens and schools in recent times, the successes recorded by military across the operational theatres during the period under review underscore the professionalism of troops of the AFN in the conduct of internal security and counter-terrorism operations nationwide.
“The AFN reassure Nigerians of its unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property, degrading the capabilities of terrorists, kidnappers, militias and other criminal elements, and restoring lasting peace and stability across all theatres of operations.”
“The AFN continues to appeal to members of the public to remain vigilant, report suspicious activities promptly to security agencies, and support ongoing efforts to rid communities of criminal elements.”
According to him, “troops remain resolute and will sustain the tempo of operations until normalcy is fully restored across the country.”
He said that troops in the North East countered a Boko Haram/ISWAP attack at Kukawa LGA in Borno State on July 12, 2026 and neutralized Abu Salim Al-Barnawi, a senior terrorist commander and propaganda chief. He disclosed that “this action dealt a significant blow to the insurgents’ leadership structure and information network.”
Four days after the propagandist’s death, the Nigerian Army Aviation conducted air strikes on a group of ISWAP/JAS terrorists who were sighted at Yaganari, Bama LGA, Borno State and neutralised scores of terrorists.
He said that within the week also , specifically on July 17, 2026, troops foiled an attempt by terrorists to infiltrate into University of Maiduguri during hours of darkness.
The encounter led the neutralization of 2 terrorists, he said, adding that troops have continued to maintain vigilance in the institution to ensure the safety of the students and staff.
The Director said that troops efforts to weaken include the arrest of five logistics suppliers at Mafa checkpoint, three logistics suppliers at New Abbaram, Bama LGA and a suspected terrorist spy in Damasak.
Two collaborators were also apprehended along the Mandaraugirau-Kurtum-Nguma road in Biu LGA on 22 July 2026 while a logistics supplier was arrested along the Maiduguri-Munguno Road in Bama LGA.
While in the Niger Delta
troops in collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and Tantita Security Services continued recover stolen crude oil as troops battle against oil thieves and saboteurs .