The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) have stepped up operations across the country, eliminating numerous terrorists, rescuing 67 kidnapped individuals, and arresting 94 suspects within a two-week span.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Olatokunbo Bello, provided the update on Friday in Abuja, detailing activities carried out between November 3 and 14.
Bello said that troops recovered a significant cache of weapons ranging from automatic rifles and machine guns to RPG tubes, locally crafted firearms, and materials used for constructing improvised explosive devices. Security forces also dismantled criminal hideouts and logistics hubs across multiple regions.
In the Northeast, Bello explained that troops under Operation Hadin Kai maintained heightened pressure on Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters in Borno and Adamawa States. According to him, troops neutralised several insurgents, apprehended 45 informants, collaborators, and logistics agents, and rescued one abducted civilian.
He said the troops of Operation Fansan Yamma in the Northwest also dealt heavy blows to terror groups across Sokoto, Zamfara, Niger, Katsina, Kebbi and Kano States. During the period, security forces arrested two suspects, rescued 13 kidnapped victims, and recovered firearms, vehicles, and rustled livestock.
In the North Central region, Bello reported that troops of Operation Enduring Peace responded to a series of attacks in Plateau and Kaduna States. They eliminated violent extremists, arrested 16 suspects, and freed five kidnapped individuals. He noted that a notorious criminal, Ibrahim Wakili, was also apprehended on November 9 in the Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Bello added that troops under Operation Whirl Stroke continued to record gains in Kogi, Kwara, Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba States, where they killed several criminals, arrested 10 suspects, and rescued 48 victims. Additionally, two arms traffickers and two extremist collaborators were caught in Nasarawa State.
The Defence spokesperson disclosed that troops of Operation Delta Safe thwarted oil theft worth more than N15.8 million in the Niger Delta during the reporting period. The troops uncovered and destroyed multiple illegal refining sites and arrested nine suspected oil thieves in Bayelsa and Delta States.
In the Southeast, troops of Operation Udo Ka sustained pressure on armed groups, killing one terrorist and arresting seven suspects in operations across Imo, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River States.
Bello praised the troops for their dedication and urged the media to continue sharing credible and verified information in support of national security efforts.
What You Should Know
Nigeria’s security forces have intensified operations nationwide, achieving notable successes across all regions within a short timeframe.
From dismantling terror cells in the Northeast to cracking down on banditry, kidnappings, and oil theft elsewhere, the AFN continues to conduct coordinated missions through multiple joint task forces. The rescue of 67 kidnapped victims and the arrest of 94 suspects highlight improving intelligence gathering and rapid-response capabilities.
These efforts demonstrate a sustained push by the military to stabilise volatile regions and disrupt criminal networks threatening national security.
