RismadarVoice Reporters, August 8, 2026
The Nigerian military says its troops rescued 363 kidnapped victims, neutralised 69 terrorists and arrested 49 suspects during coordinated operations across the country between July 30 and August 6, 2026.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, said the operations were conducted across the North-East, North-West, North-Central, Niger Delta and South-East theatres.
A breakthrough was recorded in Niger State, where troops rescued 308 abducted persons, including 163 indigenes of Woro in Kwara State and 145 from Niger State, during an operation in the Kainji Lake National Park.
The military also reported the rescue of 31 civilians in Borno, 11 victims in Edo and seven in Benue, while several other abductees were freed in separate operations.
In the North-West, an air strike in Niger State reportedly neutralised scores of terrorists who had gathered with motorcycles for a planned operation. Troops also intercepted suspected terrorists, recovered weapons and disrupted planned attacks in several locations.
The Defence Headquarters said three illegal refining sites were dismantled in Rivers State, with 251,600 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and petroleum products recovered. Twelve storage pits were also destroyed.
Onoja disclosed that one soldier was killed and another wounded during the operations, while a member of a local security group was also killed in an encounter with kidnappers in Kogi State.
The military said operations would continue across the country to dismantle terrorist and criminal networks, rescue remaining victims and restore security.
