Military Arrests 107 Suspects, Rescues 20 Abductees in Nationwide Operations
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says troops deployed in internal security operations across the country have arrested 107 suspected terrorists, kidnappers, oil thieves, and other criminal elements within one week.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, disclosed this during a press briefing on Thursday, covering military activities from August 7 to 14, 2025. He also confirmed that 20 kidnap victims were rescued within the same period.
In the North-East, Kangye said troops conducting clearance operations eliminated several terrorists, destroyed their logistics bases, recovered weapons, and dismantled criminal networks, thereby creating safer conditions for displaced persons to return home.
During the operations, 37 suspected terrorists were arrested, five hostages rescued, and various weapons, ammunition, vehicles, motorcycles, and logistics items recovered. Several improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were also safely detonated.
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In the North-West, troops arrested 11 suspected terrorists and rescued 17 hostages in multiple operations.
For the North-Central region, Kangye reported that 15 suspects were apprehended, nine hostages rescued, and sundry items recovered.
In the South-East, six suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its Eastern Security Network (ESN) were arrested, with weapons recovered during raids.
Meanwhile, in the South-South, 34 suspected oil thieves, cultists, and other criminal elements were arrested. Troops destroyed three illegal refining sites and seized stolen products valued at over ₦37.5 million. Items recovered included 24,575 litres of stolen crude oil, 9,140 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), and 2,650 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). Troops also destroyed two crude oil cooking ovens, nine dugout pits, four boats, and three storage tanks.
Maj.-Gen. Kangye reiterated the military’s commitment to sustaining pressure on criminal networks nationwide to ensure lasting peace and security.
By PRNigeria
