Troops arrest over 150 terrorists, rescue 117 kidnapped victims in one week

Onslaught against terrorism, insurgency, and other security threats by the Nigerian Armed Forces has continued to yield results as over 150 criminals were arrested within last week while 117 kidnapped hostages were freed across the country .

The Director of Defence Media Operations Major General Markus Kangye who disclosed this on Friday , said troops in conjunction with other stakeholders successfully executed a number of strategic operations neutralizing hostile elements and restoring security in affected regions.

According to the director , the operational activities of Joint Task Force North East OPERATION HADIN KAI (OPHK) troops for instance during the week spanned 21 – 27 August 2025, sustained the momentum by denying Boko Haram, ISWAP and JAS terrorists freedom of action in the North East region.

He said that “the re-newed operational strategy have afforded our farmers to carry out farming activities unhindered,” and that “the effort will be sustained throughout the farming season and beyond.”

He maintained that troops effort during the week “led to the elimination of terrorists, their logistics suppliers, recovery of weapons, dismantling of terrorists’ networks and support for safe resettlement of displaced persons and their safe return to farming activities.”

“Our gallant troops conducted kinetic operations against terrorists in Bama, Gwoza, Mobbar, Chibok, Monguno and Konduga LGAs of Borno State as well as Gujba LGA of Yobe State. During the encounters, troops eliminated scores of terrorists, while 5 kidnapped victims were rescued.”

Troops conducted operations in Ngazai, Askira Uba, Monguno, Chibok and Maiduguri Metropolitant Council of Borno State as well as Damaturu and Gujba LGAs of Yobe State.

He said that during the encounters, “11 collaborators/informants were arrested. Ammunition, logistics items, illicit drugs, PMS, vehicles, motorcycles and the sum of N70,050.00 were also recovered from them, while some IEDs were safely detonated in Abadam, Gwoza and Mobbar LGAs of the State.”

In the North West the JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION FANSAN YAMMA carried out serious operations in
Kankara, matazu and Danmusa LGAs of Katsina State as well as Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Makarfi, Igabi and Zaria LGAs of Kaduna State.

They also conducted operations in Rabah and Tangaza LGAs of Sokoto state as well as Maradun LGA of Zamfara State. During these operations, some terrorists were killed, 28 of them and other criminals were arrested, while 76 kidnapped victims were rescued during an aircraft bombardment of terrorist location at Pauwa Hill in Kankara LGA of Katsina State.

Relatedly, “our gallant troops responded to information about terrorist activities in Malumfashi and Kankara LGAs of Katsina State as well as Tsafe, Anka, Matazu and Bakura LGAs of Zamfara State, he said.

He added that troops further their operation to Tureta and Sabon Birni LGAs of Sokoto State and during the encounters, troops eliminated terrorists and rescued 3 kidnapped victims.

Similar offensive operations were conducted by troops of JOINT TASK FORCE NORTH CENTRAL OPERATION SAFE HAVEN in checkmating terrorists’ activities in Bokkos, Bassa, Wase, Jos East, Mangu and Barkin Ladi LGAs of Plateau State as well as Jamaá, Kaura and Zangon Kataf LGAs of Kaduna State.

During the firefights, troops killed some of the terrorists, arrested 19 criminals and rescued 7 kidnapped victims. Some weapons, ammunition, motorcycles and vehicles were also recovered from them.