The Armed Forces of Nigeria said its troops rescued 1,736 kidnapped victims and neutralised 554 terrorists and other criminals during nationwide operations carried out between July and September 2026.
The Defence Headquarters disclosed this on Wednesday during its combined monthly and third-quarter briefing on military operations across the country.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, said troops also arrested 1,333 suspected terrorists and criminals, while 333 insurgents voluntarily surrendered during the period.
He added that soldiers recovered 244 firearms, 8,160 rounds of ammunition and dismantled 104 illegal refining sites used by oil thieves.
According to him, security forces also recovered more than 1.61 million litres of stolen crude oil and refined petroleum products in different operations.
Onoja said the military recorded 367 security attacks across its operational theatres during the three months but responded with raids, ambushes, rescue missions and other offensive actions that disrupted criminal activities.
He explained that Operation ENDURING PEACE recorded the highest number of attacks, followed by Operation FANSAN YAMMA, while other operations also faced security threats in different parts of the country.
In September alone, troops neutralised 52 terrorists and criminals, arrested hundreds of suspects and rescued hundreds of kidnapped civilians in various operations.
The North-East remained one of the major theatres of operation, where troops intercepted fleeing terrorist family members, arrested suspected collaborators and recovered supplies meant for insurgents.
In the North-West, air and ground operations helped to free dozens of kidnapped victims, including captives rescued after terrorists were intercepted in Kebbi and Zamfara states.
Troops also recorded successful rescue operations in the North-Central, South-South and South-East, while destroying illegal refining sites and recovering weapons used by criminal groups.
Beyond combat operations, the military said it continued humanitarian activities by supporting education, skills acquisition and anti-drug awareness campaigns in affected communities.
Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, praised troops for their commitment despite the security challenges facing the country and expressed sympathy to families affected by the conflict.
He also commended security agencies, local security groups and private organisations that partnered with the military to improve national security and the welfare of personnel.
The Defence Headquarters urged Nigerians to continue providing credible information to security agencies, saying public cooperation remains essential to defeating terrorism, kidnapping and other violent crimes across the country.
