Nigerian troops rescued 384 kidnapped victims across various theatres of operation between July 31 and August 6, 2026, while arresting 49 suspected terrorists and other criminal elements, according to the Defence Headquarters.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, commended the troops for their discipline, professionalism and dedication to protecting the country.
A major breakthrough came on August 5, when troops rescued 308 victims in Kwara and Niger states. They included 163 people abducted from Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama LGA, Kwara State, and 145 others kidnapped from rural communities in Niger State. Both groups were abducted in February 2026, with women and children reportedly making up a significant portion of the victims.
Speaking at the weekly military operations briefing in Abuja, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major-General Michael Onoja, said troops also neutralised several terrorists and recovered weapons and ammunition during operations nationwide.
Among those rescued was a teenage girl abducted in November 2025 around the Dogoba-Kopre axis of Askira-Uba LGA, Borno State. She received medical attention before being reunited with her family. Troops also rescued two women and two children abducted near Amuda Bridge in Gwoza LGA during the 2023 farming season and handed them over to the community head of Ngoshe.
In Kaduna State, troops intercepted 21 suspected terrorists travelling through Giwa LGA from Hadejia and reportedly heading towards Birnin Kebbi. After profiling, five were identified as terrorists and handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS), while the remaining passengers were released to continue their journey.
The military also recorded an air-operation success on August 6 in Mariga LGA, Niger State. The Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma carried out a precision strike on terrorists gathered around Kampani Bobi and Beri settlements with about 15 motorcycles. Several terrorists were reportedly neutralised, while secondary explosions during the subsequent assessment indicated the destruction of additional logistics, equipment and explosive ordnance.
In the Niger Delta, troops of Operation Delta Safe, under Operation Sentinel, recovered approximately 251,000 litres of suspected stolen petroleum products, including crude oil and illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
The CDS also praised the media for what he described as professional and balanced coverage of military operations and urged Nigerians to continue providing credible information to security agencies to support efforts to protect lives and property.
Source: The Guardian Nigeria