By David Torough, Abuja

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has announced significant operational gains by the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) across the country, including the rescue of 359 kidnapped and abducted victims, the arrest of suspected terrorists and logistics suppliers, the neutralisation of armed criminals, and the destruction of illegal oil refining sites between July 31 and August 6, 2026.

Speaking during a press briefing on Friday, Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, said troops sustained coordinated offensives across all operational theatres against terrorism, kidnapping, oil theft and other criminal activities threatening national security.

In the North East under Operation Hadin Kai, troops foiled an attempted mass abduction along the Buratai–Kamuya Road in Borno State, rescuing 31 civilians after pursuing fleeing terrorists.

They also rescued four captives, including two women and two children, from a terrorist enclave in Gwoza, while several family members of suspected terrorists surrendered in Borno communities.

Troops further arrested suspected terrorist informants and logistics suppliers, intercepted food supplies meant for terrorists, and rescued an 18-year-old abductee, Blessing Tuggur, who was reunited with her family after medical treatment.

In the North West, Operation Fansan Yamma troops intercepted 21 persons travelling through Kaduna State, with five identified as suspected terrorists and handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS). Troops also arrested four suspected cattle rustlers in Sokoto State and recovered six rustled cattle, mobile phones and ₦165,000.

An air strike in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State reportedly neutralised scores of terrorists preparing for an attack and destroyed their logistics and explosive materials.

Under Operation Whirl Stroke in the North Central, troops arrested a suspected gun runner in Benue State, rescued seven kidnapped victims abducted in July, destroyed a hideout linked to a wanted terrorist leader and arrested five of his associates.

Troops also intercepted ammunition in Nasarawa State, foiled kidnapping attempts in Kogi State, rescued two abducted victims and neutralised one terrorist during separate operations, although one member of a local security group was killed.

Operation Enduring Peace also recorded the arrest of a youth leader in Kaduna State over his alleged connection to a recent terrorist attack on Naridon community.

One of the most significant operations was recorded under Operation Savannah Shield, where troops rescued 308 abducted victims, mostly women and children, during a joint operation in Kainji Lake National Park in Niger State.

The military said 163 of those rescued were from Kwara State, while 145 were from Niger State. Troops also arrested a suspected terrorist informant in Kwara and repelled terrorists attempting to launch a reprisal attack on a military base in Niger State, killing one insurgent and recovering nine motorcycles.

In the South-South, Operation Delta Safe troops rescued 11 kidnapped travellers along the Lagos–Benin Road in Edo State. They also intensified operations against crude oil theft, dismantling three illegal refining sites in Rivers State and recovering more than 251,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products in Rivers and Delta states.

Meanwhile, troops of Operation Udo Ka in the South East arrested suspects linked to the May 2026 ambush that killed a soldier, leading to the recovery of weapons and ammunition from camps in Imo State. A militant leader also voluntarily surrendered a cache of buried arms through the Imo State Amnesty Programme.

Troops further arrested five suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), destroyed their hideout in Enugu State, recovered machine guns and an improvised explosive device, and foiled a kidnap attempt along the Nsukka–Obollo Road.

Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, commended troops for their professionalism and resilience, as well as the collaboration between the Armed Forces, other security agencies, local security groups and the public.

He assured Nigerians that the military would sustain the current tempo of operations until peace and stability are fully restored across the country while urging citizens to continue providing credible information to security agencies.

By David Torough, Abuja

The Nigerian Army has intensified efforts to strengthen its operational capability with the graduation of soldiers from the Advanced Infantry Training Programme, Exercise RESTORE HOPE X, as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, urged the troops to uphold professionalism, discipline and operational excellence in their future assignments.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony held on Friday at the Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATC), Kachia, Kaduna State, the Army Chief described Exercise RESTORE HOPE X as the flagship of the Army’s post-basic infantry training programme, designed to enhance combat proficiency, reinforce the warrior ethos and prepare soldiers for the demands of modern military operations.

Shaibu said the graduation coincides with a major transformation within the Nigerian Army, marked by an ongoing force expansion and capability enhancement initiative.

He disclosed that following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval for the restructuring of the Army, additional divisions, formations and units have been established to improve force deployment and operational response to evolving security challenges across the country.

According to him, many of the graduating soldiers will form the core personnel of the newly created formations, making it imperative for them to translate their training into operational effectiveness.

The COAS charged the soldiers to justify the investment in their training by demonstrating sound judgment, professionalism and unwavering commitment to mission success.

He also urged them to remain physically fit, technologically proficient and adaptable to emerging security threats while maintaining respect for the rule of law, human rights and the rules of engagement.

Shaibu commended President Tinubu for his continued support to the Nigerian Army’s operational, training and administrative activities, describing the President’s strategic guidance and sustained investment as critical to the Army’s transformation and expansion efforts. He stressed that realistic, mission-focused training remains central to building a highly capable fighting force.

Earlier, the Chief of Training (Army), Major General Valentine Okoro, described Exercise RESTORE HOPE X as a key component of the Army’s training architecture, noting that it has consistently produced combat-ready soldiers who have excelled in various operational theatres.

Okoro said the exercise exposed participants to realistic combat scenarios, tactical operations, marksmanship, field craft, combat endurance, leadership development and counter-insurgency operations.

He added that the programme has improved trainees’ confidence, decision-making abilities and battlefield competence while strengthening the Army’s institutional capacity through standardised post-basic infantry training and improved instructional methods.

From Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu

A joint security team comprising Police operatives, Forest Guards, and members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group has intensified operations and is on the trail of armed men alleged to have abducted three persons within the precinct of a church at Inoyi, Affa Community, Udi Local Government Area, in the early hours of today, August 2, 2026.

In a statement signed by the Police public relations officer Enugu State command headquarters Daniel Ndukwe said that the operatives, while closing in on the fleeing suspects, forced them to abandon one of the victims, who was immediately rescued unhurt.

The Commissioner of Police, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, has directed the Area Commander, Oji-River, and the Head of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) to further intensify ongoing operations and deploy all available operational assets to ensure the safe rescue of the remaining victims and the apprehension of the suspects.

He also directed the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Intelligence Department (SID) to immediately generate actionable human and technical intelligence in support of the operation, while activating the surveillance and technical capabilities of the Enugu State Command-and-Control Centre to bolster the ongoing rescue efforts.

The Commissioner urges residents of the community to remain calm and continue to support the Police with credible and actionable information, assuring them that every available resource is being deployed to secure the safe rescue of the remaining victims and bring the perpetrators to justice. Such information can be reported through the following emergency lines: 08032003702, 08086671202, 112, 09134666668, or 09134448093, or via email at pproenugu@npf.gov.ng.