The Defence Headquarters says troops of the Nigerian military intensified operations against terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and oil theft between July 17 and 23, 2026, recording significant successes across all theatres, even as a senior finance operative of the Islamic State West Africa Province and several other fighters surrendered to troops in the North East.
Director of Defence Media Operations Major General Michael Onoja said the week’s operations led to the neutralization of terrorists, arrests of collaborators and logistics suppliers, rescue of kidnap victims and recovery of weapons intended for insurgents and other criminal groups, while troops also secured major road and rail corridors to protect the movement of people and goods.
In the North East, Operation Hadin Kai foiled an attempted infiltration of the University of Maiduguri, rescued several kidnapped women and children, and arrested suspected collaborators including a foreign fighter. In the North West, Operation Fansan Yamma rescued 11 abducted passengers after terrorists blocked the Gummi Sokoto Road, with efforts continuing to rescue remaining victims, while troops across the North Central rescued kidnap victims and arrested suspects in joint operations with local vigilantes in Kwara, Plateau, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Taraba states. In the Niger Delta, Operation Delta Safe dismantled illegal refining sites in Rivers State and arrested suspects linked to oil theft, with similar operations in Edo State leading to arrests of suspected kidnappers and arms suppliers, while Operation Udo Ka in the South East arrested suspects linked to a banned separatist group and recovered weapons from a forest hideout in Enugu State.
Separately, a statement from the Joint Task Force North East said the senior ISWAP finance operative surrendered to troops along the Gamboru Wulgo supply route on July 25, following sustained land and air operations against terrorist enclaves, part of a wider wave of about 46 terrorists and family members who have voluntarily surrendered to troops in recent days. The operative was identified as having managed the group’s finances and logistics at an enclave in Jubillaram, and surrendered alongside two male children.
In a separate incident, troops of Operation Fansan Yamma rescued 48 kidnap victims following a rapid response to a terrorist attack on Magami village in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State early on July 26. According to Joint Task Force spokesperson Aliyu Danja, troops received a distress call after a large group of terrorists on motorcycles invaded the community to round up residents for abduction, and engaged the attackers in a firefight that forced them to abandon their captives and flee into the bush. One civilian was killed and two others were injured and evacuated for treatment, while troops launched follow up patrols in the area to prevent further attacks.
