The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has reported that the military carried out 7,062 security operations in Nigeria during July and August. In these operations, they neutralised 1,487 terrorists and insurgents and rescued 777 victims of kidnapping.
Major General Samaila Uba, the Director of Defence Information (DDI), shared this information on Tuesday in Abuja at a Joint Security News Briefing attended by security and law enforcement agencies.
Mr Uba explained that the operations involved coordinated efforts on land, air, and sea. They aimed to target terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, arms trafficking, oil theft, and other crimes.
During these operations, troops arrested 354 suspects, seized 91 firearms, recovered 1,331 rounds of ammunition, and found 44 improvised explosive devices.
According to him, the goal of the military’s operations is to weaken the capabilities of criminals, disrupt their logistics, rescue victims, and protect communities as well as critical national infrastructure.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria remain committed to defeating all forms of criminality threatening national security,” he said.
Mr Uba noted that troops have been actively responding to threats across all six geopolitical zones. These threats include terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, and attacks on communities.
The military’s focus also included countering separatist violence, stopping crude oil theft and illegal refining, and breaking down criminal networks and their support systems.
He mentioned that there were significant achievements in the North-east. Troops from Operation HADIN KAI neutralised 309 Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province fighters. They also arrested several suspected collaborators and logistics providers.
The defence spokesperson added that troops rescued hundreds of people held captive in terrorist hideouts. Continuous pressure from military operations led to the surrender of many terrorist fighters and their families in different areas.
In other regions, military operations also resulted in the rescue of many kidnapped victims and disrupted the movements of terrorists and criminals.
He pointed out that the armed forces achieved notable successes through intelligence-led operations, targeted raids, and coordinated rescue missions.
The air component provided steady combat support and reconnaissance for ground forces, improving the military’s ability to find and engage hostile elements.
“On the non-kinetic front, nine dialogue and peace-building initiatives were undertaken, alongside 15 stakeholder engagement meetings with traditional and religious leaders,” he said.
Mr Uba added that the military issued 137 press releases during this period and identified and corrected 13 cases of misinformation.
He said there were no major border or transnational security incidents, no vandalism of critical infrastructure, no prison breaks, and no threats to pipelines, railways, and highways during this time.
The DDI stressed that these operational successes showed the importance of joint military actions, inter-agency cooperation, and community support.
He urged Nigerians to stay alert and provide timely information to security agencies to assist ongoing operations.
Mr Uba also acknowledged the backing and strategic guidance from President Bola Tinubu, the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, in strengthening military capacity and effectiveness.
He praised military personnel and other security agencies for their sacrifices. He also called on the media to continue reporting security matters accurately and responsibly.
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