The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has announced that Nigerian troops killed scores of terrorists, arrested more than 270 suspects and rescued at least 230 kidnapped victims during sustained military operations across the Northern parts of the country in January 2026.
Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations, disclosed this during a press briefing on Friday in Abuja, stating that the successes were recorded through coordinated ground and air offensives targeted at dismantling terrorist and bandit networks and restoring security to affected communities.
Onoja said troops operating under Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), in collaboration with the Air Component, hybrid forces and local security groups, carried out extensive operations against Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Jama’at Ahl al-Sunna (JAS) in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.
According to him, between January 1 and January 29, troops killed scores of terrorists, arrested 74 suspects and rescued 40 kidnapped victims in the North-East theatre.
He added that 44 terrorists and their family members surrendered to troops during the period, while five top commanders and three lieutenants were neutralised during fierce firefights.
The Director said the operations covered several flashpoints, including Gwoza, Damboa, Mobbar, Askira Uba and Konduga local government areas of Borno State, Michika LGA of Adamawa State and Damaturu LGA of Yobe State.
He disclosed that two notorious terrorist commanders, identified as Basulhu and Ubaida, were killed by troops in the Mandara Mountains on January 22, with a cache of arms and ammunition recovered from the encounter.
Onoja added that the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai, working alongside the Nigerian Army Aviation, conducted precision air strikes on identified terrorist enclaves, including a newly discovered hideout in the northern Tumbuns.
He said dozens of ISWAP fighters were also neutralised during air and ground operations in the Timbuktu Triangle, including a senior commander known as Qaid and his lieutenant, Munzir.
In the North-West and parts of the North-Central, Onoja said troops under Operation Fansan Yamma sustained aggressive operations across Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kaduna, Kano, Niger, Kogi and Kwara states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory.
He said several terrorists were killed during the operations, while 52 suspects were arrested and 100 kidnapped victims rescued.
Troops also recovered arms, ammunition, vehicles and rustled livestock from fleeing criminals.
According to him, the Air Component provided close air support during clearance operations in Chukuba village, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, leading to the killing of several terrorists.
Onoja further said troops of the Joint Task Force in the North-Central, operating under Operation Enduring Peace and Operation Whirl Stroke, recorded additional successes across Plateau, Kaduna, Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, Kogi, Kwara and Niger states.
In Plateau State and parts of Kaduna, he said soldiers killed dozens of extremists, arrested 86 criminal suspects and rescued 24 kidnapped victims.
He added that a notorious kidnap kingpin, Amadu Adamu, was arrested in Jamada Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The DHQ further said that between January 1 and January 29, troops of Operation Whirl Stroke arrested 58 criminals and rescued 32 kidnapped victims across Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba and adjoining areas, recovering arms and ammunition in the process.
Onoja reaffirmed the commitment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to sustain pressure on terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements, stressing that the military would continue to work closely with other security agencies and local communities to achieve lasting peace and stability in affected regions.
