The Nigerian military says its troops rescued more than 40 kidnapped victims and arrested over 20 suspected terrorists, collaborators and other criminal suspects during coordinated operations conducted across the country between July 10 and 16.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja, adding that several terrorists were also killed while criminal networks were disrupted during the operations.
According to Onoja, the operations involved troops of Operations Hadin Kai, Fansan Yamma, Savannah Shield, Enduring Peace, Whirl Stroke, Delta Safe and UDO KA, working alongside other security agencies and local vigilante groups.
In the North-East, Operation Hadin Kai troops received the surrender of 10 family members of terrorists, arrested six suspected logistics suppliers and collaborators, rescued 13 kidnapped victims, foiled attempted attacks around Maiduguri and apprehended a suspected foreign spy in Mallam Fatori, Borno State.
Operation Fansan Yamma troops in the North-West arrested suspected terrorist collaborators, killed three terrorists and rescued 14 kidnapped victims in Zamfara and Kebbi states. Operation Savannah Shield also rescued four abductees in Niger and Kwara states, while forest guards in Kwara killed a suspected terrorist and recovered an AK-47 rifle, magazines and a dane gun.
In the North-Central, Operation Enduring Peace arrested suspected arms traffickers in Kaduna State, apprehended wanted criminal suspects in Plateau State and rescued four kidnap victims. Meanwhile, Operation Whirl Stroke arrested a suspected ammunition courier in Nasarawa State with 60 rounds of ammunition and four suspected terrorist collaborators in Kogi State.
The military also rescued a school principal, a NECO official and two students abducted during an attack on an examination centre in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State after sustained security operations forced the kidnappers to abandon them.
In the South-South, Operation Delta Safe destroyed illegal oil refining sites in Rivers State, killed two suspected kidnappers in Edo State, recovered three rifles with ammunition and rescued three abducted victims. In the South-East, Operation UDO KA arrested suspected members of a banned separatist group, recovered weapons and ammunition, and rescued two kidnapped victims along the Aba-Port Harcourt highway.
Onoja said the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, commended the troops for their professionalism and dedication. He also praised security agencies for the intelligence-led operation that secured the unconditional release of 44 pupils and teachers abducted in Oyo State after 56 days in captivity.
The military urged Nigerians to continue supporting security agencies with credible intelligence, assuring that ongoing operations would be sustained to restore peace and security across the country.
