By Fatima Saka
The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) recorded significant battlefield successes in April 2026, neutralising hundreds of terrorists, rescuing kidnapped victims, and dismantling criminal networks across multiple regions in what it described as one of its most decisive operational periods in recent months.
Director, Defence Media Operations (DMO), Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the monthly operational update at the Defence Headquarters on Thursday, highlighting the scale and impact of ongoing military offensives nationwide.
According to the AFN, troops carried out coordinated land and air offensives across all seven active theatres, targeting insurgents, bandits, and other criminal elements threatening national security. The operations, conducted in collaboration with other security agencies and local stakeholders, led to the destruction of terrorist enclaves, disruption of logistics networks, and the safe rescue of numerous abducted civilians.
In the North East under Operation HADIN KAI, troops sustained intense pressure on Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters, neutralising at least 136 terrorists, arresting 114 suspects, and rescuing 18 victims. Several high-impact operations, including ambushes and coordinated airstrikes in Borno and Yobe states, significantly degraded insurgent capacity, with weapons and ammunition recovered from fleeing fighters.
Similarly, in the North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA recorded the rescue of 70 kidnapped victims and the neutralisation of 20 terrorists across Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Katsina states. Notably, troops foiled attempts to expand terror operations, including intercepting a suspect transporting improvised explosive device materials allegedly destined for Abuja.
In the North Central region, Operations SAVANNAH SHIELD, ENDURING PEACE, and WHIRL STROKE combined to deliver substantial gains, including the neutralisation of dozens of terrorists, rescue of over 90 kidnapped victims, and destruction of criminal hideouts across Niger, Kwara, Plateau, Benue, Kogi, and Nasarawa states. Troops also dismantled an illegal weapons manufacturing site and recovered ransom payments, which were returned to victims’ families.
However, the military acknowledged ongoing security concerns, particularly following the abduction of children from an orphanage in Kogi State, where rescue efforts remain ongoing.
In the South-South, Operation DELTA SAFE led to the arrest of suspects involved in oil theft and kidnapping, alongside the recovery of over 100,000 litres of stolen petroleum products. Troops also destroyed illegal refining sites and rescued abducted civilians in Delta and Edo states.
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Meanwhile, in the South East, Operation UDO KA intensified its crackdown on the proscribed IPOB and its armed wing, ESN. Key arrests of high-profile operatives and destruction of strategic camps in Enugu and Imo states dealt a major blow to the group’s operational and logistics structures.
The AFN emphasised that the cumulative impact of these operations has significantly weakened terrorist and criminal groups nationwide, while reaffirming its commitment to sustaining pressure on all fronts to restore lasting peace and security across Nigeria.
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