Military airstrikes, ground offensive kill over 160 terrorists in North-West

By Kingsley Omonobi

The Nigerian military says troops conducting coordinated air and ground operations under Operation Fansan Yamma have neutralised more than 160 terrorists and recovered about 300 motorcycles in the North-West in the past week.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed this on Saturday while providing an update on military operations across the country.

Onoja said the Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma carried out a successful armed reconnaissance mission on August 9, 2026, over Sangeko and Baba-Doka areas of Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State, following intelligence on a large concentration of terrorists, many of them riding motorcycles.

He said the aircraft engaged the terrorists with rockets and cannon fire, disrupting their movement and activities.

“Initial reports indicated the recovery of approximately 120 bodies and about 300 motorcycles at the location. Monitoring of the area is ongoing to further assess the outcome of the operation,” he said.

In a separate operation on August 13, the Air Component conducted armed reconnaissance around Maburya in Mariga LGA after detecting a large group of terrorists moving with rustled cattle.

According to Onoja, an aircraft was subsequently deployed to conduct a clearance patrol along the Kainji-Daban Woko axis.

He said terrorists were sighted fleeing with a herd of rustled cattle and were engaged with onboard weapon systems, resulting in the neutralisation of 46 terrorists.

Operations in North-East

Giving an update on operations in the North-East, Onoja said troops of Operation HADIN KAI neutralised a terrorist at a hideout in Kaniram East, Abadam LGA of Borno State, on August 7.

He said the operation followed a probing attack on a military location in Mallam Fatori on July 29, adding that troops recovered arms, ammunition and other items before destroying the hideout.

On the same day, troops engaged terrorists collecting illegal taxes from herders along the Gaba-Dzangola axis in Guyaku District, Gombi LGA of Adamawa State, forcing them to withdraw and recovering weapons and ammunition.

Onoja said troops also arrested suspected logistics facilitators in Adamawa and Borno states, including five suspected terrorist collaborators and cattle rustlers at a checkpoint along the Mandaragirau-Sabon Gari Road in Biu LGA.

He added that a suspected terrorist informant was arrested at the Damboa Internally Displaced Persons camp in Borno State on August 10.

The military spokesman said 19 persons comprising terrorist fighters, women, children and teenagers also surrendered to troops at various locations in Borno State.

He said the surrendering persons cited food shortages, sustained military pressure and internal clashes among terrorist factions as reasons for abandoning the groups.

Onoja further disclosed that troops rescued five female abductees around Amuda Bridge along the Ngoshe-Gava Road in Gwoza LGA after they escaped from a terrorist enclave in the Mandara Mountains.

18 terrorists killed in Kebbi

In Kebbi State, troops responding to a terrorist attack at Makuku Village in Sakaba LGA on August 10 neutralised 18 terrorists.

Onoja, however, said some personnel of a local security outfit, another local security group member and a civilian were killed during the encounter.

He said troops subsequently intensified surveillance in the area to prevent further attacks.

The military also arrested two suspected terrorists, described as foreign nationals believed to be Improvised Explosive Device (IED) experts, at Zurmi in Zamfara State.

₦5.3m recovered from suspected logistics facilitator

In Zamfara State, troops arrested a suspected terrorist collaborator and logistics facilitator at Maradun on August 7 and recovered N5.302 million reportedly intended for delivery to terrorist associates.

A follow-up operation led to the arrest of another suspect, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend other members of the network.

Onoja said troops also engaged terrorists around Magazu Village in Tsafe LGA on August 8, forcing them to abandon some kidnapped victims who were subsequently rescued.

In Kaduna State, troops arrested a suspected terrorist at Kadage in Giwa LGA on August 12 and recovered foreign camouflage items, mobile phones and identification documents.

Another suspected terrorist logistics supplier was arrested along the Gwarzo-Kano Road in Kano State, with ammunition and other items recovered.

Troops rescue 25 kidnap victims in Kogi

In the North-Central, troops of Operation Whirl Stroke, working with the police and local security personnel, rescued 16 kidnap victims along the Ojuwo-Ajengo-Memarebo and Ojiwo-Itobe axes in Ofu LGA of Kogi State.

The victims comprised six men, six women and four children.

Onoja said one member of a local security outfit was killed during the operation, while a police officer sustained injuries.

He added that troops rescued another nine victims along the Ajaokuta-Itobe Road on August 11 after intercepting the kidnappers’ vehicles and forcing them to abandon their captives.

In Benue State, troops engaged armed assailants attacking residents at Azege village in Logo LGA, killing one armed herder and recovering a rifle and ammunition.

One civilian and three cattle were also killed during the encounter, according to the military.

Nine victims rescued in Niger

Troops of Operation Savannah Shield also rescued nine male kidnap victims in Mariga LGA of Niger State on August 12 following sustained operations against terrorists in the area.

In Kwara State, troops raided the residence of suspected terrorist collaborators at Latan Daji in Patigi LGA, arresting four suspects.

They also conducted an ambush operation at Majai and Tungan Bissalah villages, forcing terrorists to withdraw and recovering a rifle, ammunition and six motorcycles.

Crude oil theft operations in Niger Delta

In the Niger Delta, troops of Operation Sentinel recovered about 24,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil at Bethel Community in Bonny LGA of Rivers State.

The operation also uncovered an illegal refining site containing two pits and extensive hoses allegedly used for crude oil theft.

In a related operation, troops intercepted a speedboat carrying about 17,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil along the Onne-Okrika waterways.

They also discovered concealed storage facilities along the Oteghele axis containing about 60,000 litres and 45,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil.

Kidnap syndicate dismantled in South-East

In the South-East, troops of Operation Udoka, working with the Department of State Services, recorded progress in dismantling a kidnap syndicate operating across Enugu State and neighbouring areas.

Onoja said following the abduction of two persons in Udi LGA on August 2, troops tracked the syndicate and ambushed its members on August 9.

One syndicate commander was neutralised, while another sustained gunshot wounds while attempting to escape.

Troops recovered $1,600, N187,000, mobile phones and herbal medicine.

Another suspected member of the syndicate was arrested in Gariki, Enugu State, on August 10, with $1,000, N785,900 and other items recovered.

Using the arrested suspects as guides, troops subsequently recovered four AK-47 rifles, seven magazines and 133 rounds of ammunition from a forest hideout.

Onoja said all suspects were in custody and undergoing interrogation to support further investigations.

The Defence spokesman said the operations across the various theatres demonstrated the sustained tempo, coordination and effectiveness of the Armed Forces in tackling terrorism, kidnapping and other criminal activities.

He said the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, commended troops for their commitment and also acknowledged the contributions of the DSS, Nigeria Police Force, local security groups and other agencies.

The military chief, he added, assured Nigerians that the Armed Forces would remain committed to protecting lives and property and would not relent until peace and stability were restored across the country.

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