DHQs
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed on Friday during the monthly press briefing on military operations in Abuja, that troops also recorded the surrender of 70 insurgents, recovered 105 firearms and 3,174 rounds of ammunition, and dismantled 49 illegal refining sites.
He said the operations, conducted between Sept. 30 and Oct. 30, involved sustained kinetic and non-kinetic efforts across the country’s security theatres.
Troops, supported by the Air Component and other security agencies, repelled terrorist attacks, rescued abducted citizens and disrupted logistics, intelligence and arms trafficking networks.
One of the major operations was the killing of a senior Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) leader, Abdussamad Ohida, in Owo Forest, Ondo, on Oct. 2.
Onoja described Ohida as the deputy to the ISWAP leader in Central Nigeria, who was allegedly involved in planning large-scale attacks across several states.
Troops also repelled a major ISWAP attack on Kukawa, Borno, between Oct. 6 and 7, neutralising 25 terrorists and recovering rifles, ammunition and explosive devices.
The defence spokesman said the military had in another operation, rescued 20 abducted prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and other passengers in Imo after an attack on commercial buses along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway.
The victims, according to him, were rescued on Oct. 7 following sustained pressure by troops and other security agencies.
He said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai neutralised 162 terrorists, rescued 39 kidnap victims, arrested 98 suspects and received the surrender of 68 insurgents in the North East during the month.
Troops also disrupted terrorist supply and intelligence networks, arrested suspected collaborators and recovered weapons and ammunition during clearance operations in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.
In the North-West, he revealed that troops of Operation Fansan Yamma neutralised 18 terrorists, rescued 167 kidnap victims, arrested 10 suspects and recorded one surrender, repelling an attack by Lakurawa terrorists in Maiyama Local Government Area of Kebbi on Oct. 7, adding that the attackers reportedly advanced on more than 100 motorcycles, armed with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades.
According to him, troops neutralised 10 terrorists and recovered a machine gun, an AK-47 rifle, ammunition and a communication device.
Onoja said the troops rescued 27 villagers abducted at Gamji community in Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State on Oct. 16.
“They also rescued nine abducted persons, comprising five males and four females, during an ambush at Ghana Village in Malumfashi on Oct. 28.
“In the North-Central, troops of Operation Savannah Shield neutralised three terrorists, rescued 29 kidnap victims, arrested three suspects and facilitated one surrender.
“The operation included the rescue of 18 abducted persons in Kwara and 29 residents in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger.
“Troops also arrested a wanted terrorist kingpin and his accomplice in Mokwa, Niger, while operations in Patigi, Kwara, led to the neutralisation of two kidnappers and rescue of five victims.
“Similarly, troops of Operation Enduring Peace neutralised six criminals, rescued 13 kidnap victims and arrested 84 suspects across Plateau and Kaduna.
“The operations included the rescue of two persons abducted while travelling to Jos and the arrest of suspected arms traffickers and an arms fabricator,” he said.
Onoja further revealed that troops of Operation Whirl Stroke neutralised 24 terrorists, rescued 68 kidnap victims and arrested 71 suspects across Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Taraba, including the rescue of five victims along the Okoloke-Isanlu-Esa axis in Kogi and 11 passengers abducted from a commercial bus along the Ayere-Kabba Road.
According to him, troops also arrested a wanted gunrunner and militia leader in Benue, as well as suspected arms dealers and kidnappers in Taraba.
In the South-South, he said the troops of Operation Delta Safe neutralised two criminals and arrested 45 suspects.
Onoja said the troops also dismantled 49 illegal refining sites and recovered 756,837 litres of petroleum products in collaboration with Operation Delta Sentinel.
The operations, according to him, covered parts of Rivers, Edo and Cross River, including anti-kidnapping missions and efforts to disrupt illegal oil bunkering.
In the South-East, he said the troops of Operation Udo Ka neutralised two terrorists, arrested 22 suspects and rescued 33 civilians,” he said.
He added that troops also arrested five members of a kidnapping syndicate in Imo and neutralised 10 terrorists during a follow-up operation in Anambra.
Onoja said the military recorded 98 attacks across its operational theatres during the period.
“Operation Enduring Peace recorded 29 attacks, followed by Operation Hadin Kai with 27, Operation Fansan Yamma with 24 and Operation Whirl Stroke with 12.
“Operation Udo Ka recorded four attacks, while Operation Delta Safe and Operation Savannah Shield recorded one each,” he said.
The director, however, expressed condolences to the Government and people of Taraba over the killing of civilians in the terrorist attack on Binnari community in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area on Oct. 23.
He assured that the military would sustain efforts to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
On civil-military cooperation, Onoja said the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force undertook community development projects, medical outreaches and stakeholder engagements across several states.
He listed projects including boreholes, healthcare facilities, school infrastructure, solar streetlights and community halls.
He said the Nigerian Air Force also strengthened its civilian harm mitigation measures through engagements with Amnesty International Nigeria and the review of its Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan.
Onoja urged troops to remain disciplined, respect human rights and avoid complacency, particularly with the approach of the festive season.
He called on security agencies to deepen intelligence sharing and joint planning, while urging community leaders and residents to report suspicious activities.
He encouraged members of the public to provide timely information through the military’s toll-free line 193, assuring that all information would be treated confidentially.
