Troops rescue 398 kidnap victims, arrest 31 terrorists, neutralise 10 —DHQ
By Kingsley Omonobi
Troops fighting to rid the nation of terrorists and other criminal elements have rescued 388 kidnapped victims, arrested 31 terrorists and neutralized 10 terrorists in various encounters in the theatres of Operation in the last one week.
Major General Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations made this known on Tuesday while giving an update of military offensive against criminal elements in Abuja.
He said, “In the North West, troops of Operation Fansan Yamna recorded decisive gains against terrorists and criminal elements in Kaduna, Katsina, and Zamfara States.
“On 5 June 2026 at a snap checkpoint enroute from Gusau to Shinkafi LGA of Zamfara State, troops intercepted a vehicle and recovered a locally fabricated 9mm pistol, 1,002 rounds of 7.62mm by 39mm ammunition, 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and 10 rounds of 9.4mm ammunition, all concealed in a sack of millet. .
“The suspect, Mallam Mustapha Abubakar, arrested with the items, is believed to be an arms dealer.
“Preliminary interrogation revealed the weapons were destined for an unidentified contact in Shinkafi LGA; troops subsequently tracked and arrested the intended recipient at Tupa village in Shinkafi LGA.
“On the same date, troops conducted a fighting patrol to Birnin Tsaba, Boko, and Tsanu villages in Birnin Magaji LGA of Zamfara State made contact with terrorists, neutralized one and recovered seven motorcycles with no casualties recorded on troops.
“On 7 June 2026 at Tudun Wada village in Maru LGA of Zamfara State, troops conducted a fighting patrol and established contact with terrorists.
“Following the engagement, eight suspected terrorists were arrested and seven motorcycles were recovered.
“Additional items recovered included 30 phone batteries, 19 mobile phones, 41 power banks, seven phone chargers, four Baofeng handheld radios, four pairs of camouflage uniforms, and three pairs of boots.
“A shop belonging to the terrorists was destroyed. Separately, on 9 June 2026 in Kanoma District of Maru LGA of Zamfara State, troops responded to a terrorist attack on local communities, engaged the assailants at Kanoma Hill, neutralized one terrorist and recovered an AK-47 rifle with ammunition and two motorcycles.
“On 8 June 2026 at Angwan Garke village in Giwa LGA of Kaduna State, troops recovered four motorcycles, carted away by terrorists during an earlier attack, while separately confirming that seven of the terrorists neutralized during the incident had been discovered in the forest.
“Additionally, on 4 June 2026 at Dangani village in Musawa LGA of Katsina State, troops conducted a cordon and search of a suspected terrorists’ hideout, discovered and recovered an abandoned motorcycle believed to belong to a fleeing suspect.
“In the North East, tTroops of Operation Hadin Kai sustained heavy pressure on remnants of Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists through intensive fighting patrols, clearing enclaves and severing vital logistic supply links.
“Between June 5 and June 11, 2026, troops executed several tactical interceptions across Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states. Notably, on 5 June 2026, troops conducted clearance operations in the Amuda general area of Gwoza LGA of Borno State, and safely recovered an 8-year-old child,
“Ali Musa, who had successfully escaped from a terrorist enclave in Saha. This was followed by the recovery of 3 additional women and children in the same area on 6 June 2026, who escaped after rigorous military bombardments forced their abductors to abandon camp.
“Furthermore, on 11 June 2026, another 3 abductees were intercepted wandering in the bush around Amuda, having broken free from the Saha and Chinene terrorist hideouts due to relentless military operations on the Mandara Mountains.
“All escapees received medical screening, administrative registration, and first aid at military facilities before being safely reunited with their communities.
“The operational achievements peaked on 6
June 2026, when troops executed a highly sophisticated multi-axis raid across the Mandara Mountains in Gwoza LGA of Borno State.
“This daring maneuver induced widespread chaos within the terrorist networks, enabling ground troops to successfully rescue 360 civilians, predominantly women and children, who had been held since their abduction during an attack on the Ngoshe community on March 3, 2026.
“Regrettably, 2 infants lost their lives due to the extreme hardships of the rugged mountain terrain.
“The remaining 358 survivors were swiftly evacuated to the emergency department of the General Hospital in Gwoza for medical treatment, nourished, and safely housed in a secure holding area prior to their formal handover to local authorities.
“Additionally, on 5 June 2026, a 20-year-old terrorist, Fannami Ali, surrendered to troops deployed in Monguno town, surrendering a bicycle, a wristwatch, a torchlight, and N2,500.00 in cash.
“In Gujba LGA of Yobe State, on 5 June 2026, a suspected terrorist informant was arrested at Buni Yadi.
“Another informant was apprehended on 6 June 2026, during market patrols in Madagali town, Adamawa State.
“In Borno State, aggressive anti-logistics operations led to the arrest of multiple suppliers: on 7 June 2026, a suspect was caught in Damboa town with 86 mosquito nets, a bicycle, a radio, a phone, and technical equipment; another was intercepted at Tashan Bama in Jere LGA on 9 June 2026, carrying N100,000.00 worth of sweets and milk creamers funded directly by terrorists; another informant was arrested on 8 June 2026, along the Mandaragirau–Sabon Gari road in Biu LGA with illicit tramadol capsules, herbicides, and Indian hemp.
“On the same date, an additional supplier was apprehended at the Damboa market with 19 wristwatches and agro-allied chemicals. On 11 June 2026, troops In Kukawa LGA of Borno State intercepted 11 suspected collaborators in two Toyota trucks at Kekeno.
“Tactical victories were also recorded on 7 June 2026, when troops conducted an exploitation patrol along a withdrawal route following an attack in Mandaraugirau, Biu LGA. Troops recovered 7 motorcycles, a PKT gun, and over 1,070 rounds of ammunition.
“On 11 June 2026, troops in Mallam Fatori expertly foiled an attack on their defensive location, engaged the adversaries and forced them to flee, leaving behind an AK-47 rifle bearing Arabic inscriptions, a magazine, and 31 rounds of special ammunition.
“In the North Central, troops of Operation Savannah Shield on 4 June 2026 at Kara Market, Wawa, acting on credible intelligence arrested a high-value terrorist informant who had been on the watch list and is currently undergoing detailed interrogation.
“On 6 June 2026 in separate operations within Wawa Cantonment and along the Doro axis in Borgu LGA of Niger State, troops arrested a total of five suspected terrorists and informants.
“ Investigation of a recovered mobile phone revealed a photograph of a beheaded individual dated 2 May 2026, indicating possible links to terrorist networks.
“Among items recovered were Android and Tecno phones, an MP3 device containing recorded propaganda attributed to a notorious terrorist commander, a motorcycle, and cash totalling ¦ 199,500.
“The suspects and all recovered items are in military custody for further investigation.
“Troops of Operation Enduring Peace on 5 June 2026 along Hawan Kibo – Rafin Sayin road in Riyom LGA of Plateau State, responded to reports of kidnappers blocking the road discovered an abandoned vehicle and launched a search and rescue operation that successfully recovered six passengers.
“The driver remains missing, and search operations continue.
“On June 7, 2026, troops deployed at Chanso carried out a tactical cordon operation that led to the arrest of a suspected kidnappers’ informant at Mungi village in Mangu LGA of Plateau State.
“Troops subsequently recovered a concealed pistol from his residential compound. The security umbrella expanded on 10 June 2026, when troops discovered an abandoned Sharon vehicle along the highway at Kassa village in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State.
“Troops launched an immediate search-and-rescue operation that resulted in the safe recovery of 2 passengers who had successfully broken free from their abductors.
“On the same date, a joint military operation carried out across the Kafi Habu Fulani hamlets in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State culminated in the successful arrest of two wanted kidnappers.
“The suspects were positively identified by a former victim, Mr. Benson Habu Yakubu, as the exact criminal perpetrators behind his earlier abduction; a thorough field search by troops yielded N82,530.00 in cash, several mobile phones, and electronic communication devices.
“These decisive sweeps have effectively disrupted the operational freedom of kidnap-for-ransom rings across the Plateau, restoring a sense of safety to travelers and agrarian communities alike.
“Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke demonstrated active responsiveness to security threats in Benue, Kogi and Taraba States.
“On 4 June 2026 along Road Ijaha – Ikpe in Apa LGA of Benue State, troops on a fighting patrol sighted a known cattle-rustling suspect who fled while firing sporadically at troops.
“The suspect escaped into the forest but abandoned an AK-47 rifle, three magazines, 38 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, and a motorcycle, all of which were recovered.
“On 6 June 2026 at Mba-Dyer village in Katsina-Ala LGA of Benue State, troops acting on intelligence about terrorists associated with Jukumayi moved to the location, causing the terrorists to flee.
“A bag abandoned by the fleeing terrorists was recovered and found to contain a locally made pistol, three SIM cards, and charms.
On 7 June 2026 along Rd Lokoja- Obajana – Kabba in Lokoja LGA of Kogi State, troops responded to a reported attack on three commercial vehicles, engaged the criminals, forcing them to withdraw.
“Two passengers sustained injuries and were evacuated to hospital while 13 others were rescued unharmed.
“Separately, on 8 June 2026 at Mountain Mass along Road Lokoja – Okene in Adavi LGA of Kogi State, troops arrested a suspected IPOB member, recovering an IPOB Code of Conduct, charms, a microscope, land documents, a mobile phone, and ¦ 53,000.
“On 9 June 2026 at Ogbe in Yagba West LGA of Kogi State, troops acting on a tipoff intercepted terrorists attempting to cross with kidnap victims, forcing the criminals to abandon their captives.
“The victims who is a bar manager and a sales girl abducted on 6 June 2026 at Ikoyi in Ijumu LGA of Kogi State were rescued and reunited with their families.
“A raid on 10 June 2026 at Mutum Biyu in Gassol LGA of Taraba State, led to the recovery of a Smith and Wesson revolver pistol, 160 rounds of CCI.38 ammunition, and nine rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition.
“In the Niger Delta, troops of Operation Delta Safe sustained the campaign against illegal oil bunkering, crude oil theft, and violent crime across Akwa Ibom, Delta, Edo, and Rivers States.
“On 4 June 2026, troops conducted anti-illegal oil bunkering operations at Okarki Forest in Ahoada West LGA of Rivers State, discovered and appropriately handling an illegal siphoning rig, a reservoir, and approximately 100 metres of pipes.
“On 7 June 2026 along Road Eket–Etinan in Eket LGA of Akwa Ibom State, troops pursued a Lexus Jeep conveying suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and, upon interception, recovered approximately 1,200 litres of suspected AGO valued at approximately ¦ 2,256,000.
“The suspects fled into the bush while their vehicle and product were appropriately handled.
“On 7 June 2026 at Emuado in Ekpoma, Esan West LGA of Edo State, troops arrested five suspected kidnappers and recovered eight mobile phones from the suspects, who confessed to involvement in kidnapping activities over the past two years.
“On 9 June 2026 at Amukpe in Sapele LGA of Delta State, troops in conjunction with Tantita Security Services conducted anti-illegal oil bunkering operations and discovered a trampoline tank containing approximately 4,000 litres of stolen crude oil, along with other illegal refining infrastructure, all of which were appropriately handled.
“On 11 June 2026 at Ikot Akpan Ido community in Ikot Abasi LGA of Akwa Ibom State, acting on information from Sterling Petrochemical and Fertilisers Limited (SPFL), troops recovered approximately 325 litres of suspected stolen AGO valued at ¦ 611,000, which had been concealed in sacks in a bush.
“The recovered product was handed over to SPFL management.
“In the South East, troops of Operation Udoka on 7 June 2026 at Amaetiti Iheshiowa in Arochukwu LGA of Abia State, troops in conjunction with other security agencies conducted a cordon and search operation that led to the arrest of three suspects and the recovery of seven Xane guns, 22 live cartridges, and a motorcycle. A bus linked to an escaped suspect was also impounded.
“On 9 June 2026 troops in conjunction with Department of State Services (DSS) operatives arrested six suspected IPOB/ESN members at Nenwe community in Aninri LGA of Enugu State.
“A follow-up operation to a suspected arms hideout disguised as a piggery at Gariki in Enugu South LGA led to the recovery of one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), one RPG-7 tube, three AK-47 rifles, two hand grenades, a tear gas gun, 2 tear gas cartridges, six AK-47 magazines, and 748 rounds of assorted ammunition.
“On 10 June 2026 at a suspected IPOB/ESN safe house at Agbani in Nkanu West LGA of Enugu State, troops recovered eight AK-47 rifles, 12 AK-47 magazines, a tear gas gun, 323 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, and 10 pairs of IPOB uniforms.
“The coordinated exploitation of intelligence obtained from earlier arrested suspects significantly degraded the operational capacity of the proscribed group, and all suspects and recovered items were handed over to DSS Enugu State Command for further action.
“On 10 June 2026 at Umuokpu in Ohaji/Egbema LGA of Imo State, troops acting on credible intelligence raided a suspected crude oil storage facility and recovered 14 white tanks of 1,000 litres each and 30 jerrycans of 25 litres each containing suspected stolen crude oil and petroleum products, all of which were destroyed in situ.
“On 11 June 2026 at Ogwulangwu community in Ohaozara LGA of Ebonyi State, following the earlier arrest of five armed robbery suspects, a suspect led troops to a hideout where a locally made pistol, two live cartridges, 10,000 CFA, and ¦ 1,800,000 suspected to be proceeds of criminal activities were recovered.
“Efforts to apprehend other members of the criminal gang are ongoing.”
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