How Military Pressure Forced 406 Terrorists To Surrender In 3 Months

For three months, sustained navy bombardments, floor offensives, and blockades of provide routes left terrorist fighters throughout the North-East and North-West with no escape. Cut off from meals, gas and ammunition and continually hunted by troops, 406 fighters, together with their households, laid down their arms and surrendered. During the identical interval, operations rescued 1,736 victims from captivity. TARKAA DAVID experiences

Sustained navy stress throughout the nation has compelled 406 terrorist fighters and their households to give up to authorities forces and led to the rescue of 1,736 kidnapped hostages within the third quarter of 2026.

The repentant terrorist fighters and their relations surrendered to troops whereas fleeing hardship inside terrorist enclaves as steady offensive disrupted intensive arms and logistics trafficking networks, and denied financial saboteurs continued entry to the nation’s petroleum assets.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) just lately revealed that troops killed 554 terrorists/criminals, arrested 1,333 and rescued 1,736 hostages throughout three months of operations within the third quarter of 2026.

The Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, briefing journalists, mentioned the interval recorded 367 assaults throughout varied theatres of operation.

In September alone, he mentioned troops neutralised 52 terrorists/criminals; arrested 350 terrorists/criminals; rescued 655 kidnapped civilians; and 75 insurgents surrendered.

Troops recovered 52 arms and a couple of,335 rounds of ammunition; dismantled eight unlawful refining websites; and recovered greater than 304,822 litres of stolen petroleum merchandise.

According to him, the Armed Forces of Nigeria demonstrated sustained capability to confront the complete spectrum of safety challenges dealing with the nation, from terrorism and banditry within the northern theatres to kidnapping, oil theft and secessionist agitation within the southern theatres.

“The scale of successes recorded for the Third Quarter 2026, ranging from the naturalisation of 554 terrorists and criminals; the arrest of 1,333 terrorists/criminals; the rescue of 1,736 kidnapped civilians; the surrender of 333 insurgents; the capture of 244 arms and 8,160 rounds of ammunition; the dismantling of 104 illegal refining sites; and the recovery of 1,610,402 litres of stolen petroleum products, represents a significant degradation of criminal and terrorist operational capacity nationwide,” he mentioned.

Onoja, offering a breakdown of the 367 assaults recorded throughout varied theatres of operation, mentioned Operation HADIN KAI recorded 33 assaults, Operation FANSAN YAMMA recorded 115, Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD recorded 13, Operation ENDURING PEACE recorded 147, Operation WHIRL STROKE recorded 55, and Operation UDO KA (OPUK) recorded 4, whereas Operation DELTA SAFE recorded no assaults.

He mentioned, “troops responded decisively to these incidents, swiftly engaging the assailants with superior firepower and tactical manoeuvring, and successfully countering the attacks. Through their resolve and professionalism, troops neutralised several of the attackers, forced others to flee, and denied them the opportunity to achieve their objectives.”

He reiterated that every one Kinetic operations throughout the interval enhanced safety throughout all theatres of operations and the nation by disrupting terrorist and kidnapping actions, rescuing kidnapped civilians, and defending communities and key provide routes from assault.

“Troops also cleared improvised explosive devices, dismantled suspected terrorist camps, recovered arms and ammunition, and prevented planned attacks, thereby improving freedom of movement, strengthening confidence among residents and commuters in affected communities, and protecting critical national infrastructure,” he added.

Explaining the information, he mentioned the third quarter 2026 knowledge exhibits vital month-to-month fluctuations in operational outcomes.

According to him, from July to August, bandit/prison killings elevated by 171.9 per cent, whereas arrests declined barely by 4.2 per cent, civilians rescued elevated by 51.4 per cent, terrorists who surrendered elevated by 252.6 per cent, arms recovered elevated by 28.6 per cent, ammunition recovered elevated by 12.5 per cent, and crude oil recovered elevated by 11.0 per cent.

He mentioned these modifications replicate the depth and nature of operational engagements throughout August.

He continued, “From August to September, most indicators declined from their August peaks, including 85.8 per cent for bandits/criminals killed, 28.3 per cent for arrests, 10.8 per cent for civilians rescued, 62.7 per cent for surrenders, 51.9 per cent for arms recovered, 24.3 per cent for ammunition recovered, and 55.6 per cent for crude oil recovered.”

“However, the September figures still demonstrate sustained operational activity, with 581 civilians rescued, 345 arrests, 75 surrenders, 52 arms and 2,335 rounds of ammunition recovered, alongside continued efforts to protect national economic resources.”

“The variations, therefore, reflect the changing operational environment, while troops maintained their commitment to national security throughout the period.”

Providing a breakdown of navy achievements for September 2026, he mentioned troops within the North East geopolitical zone sustained counter-terrorism operations all through the month throughout Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States, countering terrorist assaults, disrupting logistics networks and denying terrorists freedom of motion.

The troops neutralised 27 terrorist fighters, arrested 49 terrorists, rescued 103 kidnapped victims, and facilitated the give up of 73 insurgents and their households.

The Director mentioned that troops in one of the crucial vital rescue operations intercepted and rescued 44 terrorist relations, comprising 13 ladies and 31 kids, at Konduga in Bama LGA of Borno State on 24 September 2026, who had fled their enclaves amid clashes between rival terrorist factions.

According to him, over 70 terrorist fighters and relations surrendered to troops at varied places, together with Monguno, Pulka and alongside the Gwoza-Limankara Road in Gwoza LGA, in addition to Dikwa, Bama and Ngala LGAs, all in Borno State.

“The surrendering persons consistently cited harsh living conditions, hunger and a lack of basic provisions in terrorist enclaves in the Mandara Mountains and the Lake Chad region as reasons for their surrender,” he mentioned.

Troops’ relentless operations led to the arrest of quite a few suspected terrorist collaborators, informants, spies and logistics suppliers throughout the theatre all through the month.

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He additional revealed that troops arrested suspected informants and spies at varied places, together with the cities of Damasak, Biu, Monguno, and Kukawa. Troops additionally arrested a logistics provider transporting Starlink web gadgets destined for Chad alongside the Dikwa-Gamboru Road.

“During the quarter, troops neutralised 273 terrorist fighters, arrested 348 terrorists, rescued 297 kidnapped victims, and facilitated the surrender of 331 insurgents and their families.”

In the North West, troops neutralised seven terrorist fighters, arrested 26 terrorists and rescued 171 kidnapped victims.

Troops additionally arrested suspects transporting rustled cattle close to Illela in Sokoto State and seized N2,700,000 in money meant for a terrorist kingpin in Faskari LGA, Katsina State.

In different associated operations, troops disrupted intensive arms-trafficking and terrorist-logistics networks all through the theatre.

“Cumulatively over the quarter, troops neutralised 230 terrorist fighters, arrested 147 terrorists and rescued 508 kidnapped victims.”

In the North Central, troops throughout the three theatres sustained offensive operations in opposition to terrorism and kidnapping all through September 2026 in Kwara and Niger States.

Troops carried out a number of profitable Improvised Explosive Device (IED) clearance operations throughout Borgu and Kaiama LGAs in Niger and Kwara States all through the month, safely defusing 12 gadgets in whole. These included one recovered at Dekara Village on 9 September 2026 and 9 discovered alongside a predominant provide route between Machan-Gyada and Masaka Villages on 21 September 2026. All affected roads had been subsequently declared secure for vehicular motion.

During the month, troops neutralised 5 terrorists, arrested 2 terrorists and rescued 27 kidnapped victims. The most important success of the month got here on 15 September 2026, when troops attacked terrorists at Muchiya village in Rafi LGA of Niger State and rescued 22 kidnapped victims, who had been reunited with their households.

In one other vital growth, troops intercepted an escaped sufferer, Hadiza Sani, at Garauji Village underneath Babana in Borgu LGA of Niger State on 25 September 2026, three days after she escaped from a terrorist enclave.

Authorities mentioned a preliminary debriefing revealed that she was amongst roughly 500 residents kidnapped by terrorists after Friday prayers at Dekara on 21 August 2026, and that the victims had been being held underneath heavy guard.

“Overall, during the quarter, troops neutralised 41 terrorist fighters, arrested 582 terrorists, and rescued 836 kidnapped victims”.

In the South East area, troops carried out operations in opposition to secessionist parts and unlawful oil bunkering all through September 2026 throughout Anambra, Enugu and Imo States.

“Cumulatively, during the quarter, troops neutralised 10 terrorist fighters, arrested 75 terrorists, rescued 20 kidnapped victims, and facilitated the surrender of 2 secessionists”.

In the struggle in opposition to financial saboteurs, troops arrested 181 criminals, destroyed 104 unlawful refining websites, and recovered greater than 1,610,402 litres of petroleum merchandise, together with crude oil, Automotive Gas Oil, Dual Purpose Kerosene, and Premium Motor Spirit, over the quarter.

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede, recommended the professionalism, dedication and sacrifice of troops throughout all theatres of operation for the achievements recorded throughout the quarter.

The Defence Chief additionally prolonged heartfelt condolences to personnel, civilians and households who suffered harm, loss or hardship throughout the interval.

General Oluyede additionally recommended the sustained collaboration between the AFN and different safety companies, together with native safety teams, noting that their mixed efforts proceed to strengthen the nation’s safety structure.

The CDS additional commends the media for his or her continued professionalism and balanced protection of navy operations all through the quarter.

He additionally appealed to members of the general public, conventional rulers and neighborhood leaders to maintain their help for troops by offering well timed and credible data to the closest navy formation or via the toll-free line 193.

All data obtained shall be handled with the utmost confidentiality. Accordingly, residents are inspired to uphold the precept of “See Something, Say Something”, as nationwide safety stays a shared civic duty.