The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has announced that troops of the Nigerian Armed Forces neutralised more than 102 terrorists and other criminal elements across various theatres of operation in July, while intensifying efforts to tackle insecurity and restore peace across the country.
The military also disclosed that troops arrested 345 suspected terrorists and criminals, rescued 393 kidnapped victims, recovered 59 weapons and 1,118 rounds of ammunition, while 57 insurgents surrendered during the period under review.
The Director of Defence Media Operations (DMO), Major General Michael Onoja, made the disclosure during the military’s monthly operational briefing.
According to him, troops operating in the North-East recorded significant gains, neutralising 54 terrorists, arresting 102 suspects, rescuing 102 kidnapped victims and facilitating the surrender of 57 insurgents and their family members.
In the North-West, troops under Operation Fansan Yamma killed 33 terrorists, apprehended 66 suspects and rescued 191 kidnapped victims.
Similarly, security operations across the North-Central region led to the elimination of 15 terrorists, the arrest of 148 suspects and the rescue of 53 kidnapped victims.
In the South-South and South-East, troops rescued a combined total of 47 victims, including 37 in the South-South and 10 in the South-East, while arresting 29 suspected criminal elements—three in the South-South and 26 in the South-East.
Major General Onoja also highlighted successes recorded under Operation Delta Safe, where troops sustained anti-kidnapping and anti-oil theft operations across Akwa Ibom, Edo and Rivers states.
He said the operations led to the dismantling of 18 illegal refining sites and the recovery of more than 250,500 litres of stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products.
According to him, troops on July 4 uncovered a major illegal refining complex in the Egboama/Ogbogolo area of Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State, where three illegal refining sites were dismantled and large quantities of stolen crude oil and illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) were recovered.
He added that follow-up operations conducted on July 5 and 7 led to the destruction of two additional illegal refining sites within the Orashi National Forest, while further raids between July 11 and 22 uncovered more illegal refining camps in Ogbogolo community, Ahoada East Local Government Area.
Onoja disclosed that anti-oil theft operations carried out on July 19 and 22 also resulted in the discovery of five illegal bunkering camps in the Egboama and Ogbogolo areas, leading to the recovery of approximately 25,000 litres of stolen crude oil and 2,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has announced plans to establish a shared regional security database and deploy advanced surveillance technology, including drones and closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, across the South-East to strengthen efforts against kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes.
The security update comes amid growing concerns over reports that some political actors are allegedly recruiting and mobilising armed groups ahead of the 2027 general elections, raising fears of politically motivated violence despite ongoing military operations against terrorism and organised crime.
