The Army Forces of Nigeria (AFN) said on Wednesday that it’s troops had made substantial and far-reaching progress in the ongoing campaigns against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, oil theft and secessionist agitations as 554 terrorists were neutralized in the third quarter of this year
The troops in the process rescued 1,732 civilians that were held hostage and arrested 1, 333 terrorists and criminals while 333 of the terrorists surrendered.
Troops also made astonishing recoveries of arms ammunition .During its numerous operations across the theatre 244 arms and 8,160 ammunition were recovered.
On the war against economic saboteurs troops discovered not less than 104 illegal refineries and destroyed them. They also recovered 1,610, 402 litres of crude oil products.
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. Military operations spokesperson and Director of Defence Media Operation Major General Michael Onoja disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja while providing “factual updates on the operational engagements of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN),”
According to him, within the..month of September 2026 “troops neutralised scores of terrorists, rescued hundreds of kidnapped and abducted citizens, received the surrender of well over 90 terrorist fighters and their family members who fled hardship within terrorist enclaves
Troops also disrupted extensive arms and logistics trafficking networks within the period and denied economic saboteurs continued access to the nation’s petroleum resources.
He said numerous operations carried out by the troops contributed to restoring stability in several parts of the country, protecting the lives and property of Nigerians and safeguarding the nation’s territorial integrity.”
In the North East geopolitical zone, where troops of Operation HADIN KAI are engaged in sustained counter-terrorism, troops neutralized 27 terrorist fighters, arrested 49 terrorists, rescued 103 kidnapped victims, and facilitated the surrender of 73 insurgents and their families.
On 1 September 2026, troops encountered a command-detonated Improvised Explosive Device (IED) along the Miyanti-Banki Junction Main Supply Route in Bama LGA of Borno State. In the ensuing engagement, troops neutralised one terrorist and confiscated a rifle, ammunition and the IED initiator.
On 17 September 2026, troops at Gajiram in Nganzai LGA of Borno State, supported by an Air Component helicopter gunship, countered a large-scale terrorist advance, forcing the terrorists to withdraw.
Further operations near Benisheikh on 18 September 2026 and at Azare Village in Gujba LGA of Yobe State on 21 September 2026 resulted in the arrest of four terrorists and the recovery of ammunition.
Troops also conducted several rescue operations throughout the month. In the most significant rescue operation, troops intercepted and rescued 44 terrorist family members, comprising 13 women and 31 children, at Konduga in Bama LGA of Borno State on 24 September 2026. The individuals had fled their enclaves amid clashes between rival terrorist factions.
Troops also recorded a sustained wave of surrenders from terrorist enclaves throughout September 2026. Over 70 terrorist fighters and family members surrendered to troops at various locations, including Monguno, Pulka and along the Gwoza-Limankara Road in Gwoza LGA, as well as Dikwa, Bama and Ngala LGAs, all in Borno State.
In the North West zone troops neutralised 7 terrorist fighters, arrested 26 terrorists and rescued 171 kidnapped victims in September 2026,
Significantly, on 4 September 2026, troops, supported by an attack helicopter, assaulted the hideout of a terrorist kingpin at Yantumaki Forest in Danmusa LGA of Katsina State.
“Similar operations were conducted at Magarya Forest in Tangaza LGA of Sokoto State on 5 September 2026 and along the Gundumi Road in Isa LGA of Sokoto State on 6 September 2026.”
During these engagements, troops discovered rifles, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, a machine gun and ammunition. While in a major clearance operation on 14 September 2026, troops neutralised several terrorists around Gumki Village, towards the Nigeria-Niger border in Arewa Dandi LGA of Kebbi State,
On 26 September 2026, troops neutralised one terrorist during an offensive operation at Karani Village in Gudu LGA of Sokoto State and discovered a rifle, a motorcycle and other items. On 27 September 2026, troops conducting an ambush operation at Tulua Village in Arewa LGA of Kebbi State neutralised one terrorist, while others fled into the surrounding forest.
” The items confiscated included one motorcycle, one Republic of Mali military uniform, one blanket and one prayer mat.”
Troops also conducted numerous rescue operations across the theatre throughout the month. Early successes included the rescue of 23 abducted civilians who had been held for approximately three weeks at Wuya Town in Anka LGA of Zamfara State .