Troops kill over 200 terrorists, arrest 284 in April operations

The Defence Headquarters on Thursday said troops recorded major successes in ongoing operations across the country in April 2026, killing 216 terrorists, and arresting 284 suspects, including key ring leaders.

Also, no fewer than 188 kidnapped victims were rescued.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Michael Onoja, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Abuja on the military’s monthly operational activities.

He said troops also recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition during the period, while dismantling several terrorist camps and criminal hideouts.

He said, “During this period, the Armed Forces neutralised over 200 terrorists in multiple engagements, rescued 188 abducted civilians—including women, children, the elderly, farmers, and worshippers—and restored them to their families.

“Troops also stormed and destroyed terrorist camps, IED-laden hideouts, and illegal arms production facilities, while arresting 284 key ring leaders, logisticians, and collaborators.”

Providing a breakdown of operations, Onoja said in the North-East, troops killed 136 terrorists, arrested 144 suspects, rescued 18 victims, and nine insurgents surrendered.

In the North-West, he said troops neutralised 24 terrorists, arrested 32 suspects, rescued 70 victims, and recorded the surrender of one terrorist.

In the North-Central, troops under Operation Savannah Shield killed 21 terrorists, arrested 17 suspects, and rescued 10 kidnap victims.

Similarly, troops of Operation Enduring Peace killed 18 terrorists, arrested 48 suspects, and rescued 53 kidnap victims, while Operation Whirl Stroke recorded 14 terrorists killed, 40 suspects arrested, and 35 victims rescued.

In the South-South, troops of Operation Delta Safe arrested 17 suspects, dismantled two illegal refining sites, and recovered 101,443 litres of petroleum products.

Meanwhile, in the South-East, troops under Operation Udo Ka killed three terrorists, arrested 16 suspects, and rescued two kidnap victims.

Onoja emphasised that the outcomes went beyond statistics, noting that “behind every rescued victim is a family made whole, and behind every destroyed enclave is a community reclaimed.”

He added that the military remained committed to accountability, stressing that all operations were conducted in line with the rules of engagement, the laws of armed conflict, and international humanitarian law.

“The CDS assures every Nigerian that all communities are considered important to the AFN protection, and no criminal or terrorist organisation, regardless of its financial resources, geographic spread, or ideological ambition, is beyond the AFN.

“The Nigerian public is urged to continue partnering with the AFN by providing timely and credible intelligence through available reporting channels; the media is called upon to sustain responsible, factual, and patriotic reporting that supports national security objectives and counters terrorist propaganda,” Onoja added.