Troops Rescue 349 Kidnap Victims, Neutralise 217 Criminals In October
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
The safe return of 349 kidnapped Nigerians and the surrender of 70 insurgents have emerged as major gains in the military’s October operations, as the Armed Forces of Nigeria intensified offensives against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping across the country.
The military said troops rescued the victims, neutralised 217 terrorists and criminals, arrested 333 suspects and repelled 98 attacks across various theatres of operation between 30 September and 30 October 2026.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed this during the monthly military operations briefing in Abuja on Friday.
He said troops also recovered 105 firearms and 3,174 rounds of ammunition, while dismantling terrorist logistics networks and disrupting arms trafficking activities.
In the North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA rescued 167 kidnap victims and neutralised 18 terrorists, while Operation HADIN KAI recorded 162 terrorists killed and 39 victims rescued in the North-East.
In the South-East, troops of Operation UDO KA rescued 33 civilians, including 20 prospective NYSC corps members abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway in Imo State.
The military also reported the rescue of 29 kidnapped residents in Niger State, 27 villagers in Katsina State and 18 victims in Kwara State during separate operations.
Beyond the battlefield, the Armed Forces dismantled 49 illegal refining sites and recovered 756,837 litres of petroleum products in operations against crude oil theft.
However, the month recorded 98 terrorist and criminal attacks, including 29 under Operation ENDURING PEACE and 27 under Operation HADIN KAI.
The military also expressed condolences to families of civilians killed in the 23 October terrorist attack in Binari, Karim Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State.
Onoja said the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, had urged troops to sustain operational pressure, uphold human rights and remain vigilant ahead of the festive season.
He called on Nigerians to provide credible intelligence to security agencies, adding that information could be reported through the military’s toll-free line, 193.
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