Troops rescue over 60 abductees, arrest 44 suspects nationwide
The Defence Headquarters, DHQ, has said troops of the Armed Forces rescued more than 60 kidnapped victims and arrested 44 suspects during operations across the country between September 18 and 24, 2026. The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed this on Saturday while briefing defence correspondents on the military’s operations against terrorism, kidnapping, […]…
Between September 18 and 24, 2026, troops rescued over 60 kidnapped individuals and apprehended 44 suspects across Nigeria during military operations. Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, reported the findings in a briefing to defense correspondents. A Nigerian Air Force jet facilitated the rescue by disrupting the movement of terrorists transporting kidnapped victims around Bazama in Kebbi State.
The operation led to the escape of more than 60 victims, while an additional rescue occurred in Katsina State, where ground troops freed 17 kidnapped individuals and seven university students. In Zamfara State, soldiers rescued five victims, including the Executive Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area, from terrorist captivity in Sekpore village.
In Borno State, troops intercepted 44 members of terrorist families, including 13 women and 31 children, who had escaped from terrorist camps. Over 20 terrorist fighters and family members also surrendered to troops in Borno State due to hardships in terrorist enclaves on the Mandara Mountains. Arrests were made in various states for suspected terrorist informants, collaborators, logistics suppliers, and kidnappers.
In Sokoto, four suspected terrorists were arrested while allegedly transporting rustled cattle. In Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, and Taraba States, troops under Operation Whirl Stroke arrested suspects involved in kidnapping and arms trafficking. Two suspected kidnappers were apprehended in Benue, and a suspected gunrunner was arrested in Kwande.
In Bauchi, troops and Forest Guards killed three suspected kidnappers during an ambush and rescued six kidnapped victims. Plateau State saw troops arresting 11 suspects during raids on suspected kidnapping syndicate hideouts. In Imo State, troops engaged suspected secessionist terrorists, who abandoned weapons and fled. The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, commended the troops' efforts and urged the public to provide credible information to security agencies.
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