Abuja: The Defence Headquarters has announced significant gains in its operations against terrorism in the North East, revealing that troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) successfully neutralised 114 terrorists, arrested 146 suspects, and rescued 60 abducted individuals throughout August.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations (DMO), provided these updates during a press briefing in Abuja on Monday. The operations, conducted across Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, and Bauchi, also led to the surrender of 201 terrorists and the recovery of various weapons and ammunition. Onoja highlighted the success of aggressive counter-terrorism efforts aimed at disrupting logistics and support networks of terrorist groups.
In a series of targeted rescue missions, troops saved multiple abductees, including the rescue of two women and two children near Amuda Bridge in Borno on August 1. These victims, held since the 2023 farming season, were safely returned to their communities. Another notable rescue involved an 18-year-old named Blessing Tugul, abducted in November 2025, who was reunited with her family after receiving medical care.
Onoja detailed further rescues, such as five female abductees found around Amuda Bridge on August 10 and a 63-year-old Cameroonian national alongside eight others liberated on August 22. Simultaneously, intelligence-led operations dismantled terrorist support structures, resulting in multiple arrests of suspected logistics suppliers and informants throughout the region.
The operations also saw significant engagements with terrorist forces. On August 15, troops repelled a dual attack at Mandaragirau, neutralising two terrorists and recovering dangerous ordnance. A major clearance operation at Koprik Mountain in Adamawa on August 26-27 resulted in the destruction of a terrorist camp and the elimination of 21 terrorists.
The military’s sustained pressure has led to a wave of surrenders by terrorists and their families, with significant numbers turning themselves in at various locations across Borno. These actions underscore the effectiveness of the Armed Forces’ offensive strategies and their commitment to eradicating terrorism.
Onoja concluded by assuring the public of the military’s ongoing dedication to collaborating with other security agencies to protect lives and national assets, demonstrating a firm resolve against terrorism and criminal activities.