The Defence Headquarters says military operations across Nigeria in July 2026 dealt significant blows to terrorists, kidnappers, oil thieves and other criminal groups.
At the monthly operational briefing in Abuja, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, said troops neutralised over 100 criminal suspects, arrested 345 terrorists and other suspects, rescued 393 kidnapped victims, recovered 59 firearms and 1,118 rounds of ammunition, while 57 insurgents surrendered during the month.
According to the operational breakdown, troops in the North-East neutralised 54 fighters, arrested 102 terrorist suspects and rescued 102 kidnapped victims. In the North-West, Operation Fansan Yamma eliminated 33 fighters, arrested 66 suspects and rescued 191 victims.
Operations in the North-Central recorded 15 terrorists neutralised, 148 suspects arrested and 53 kidnapped victims rescued. In the South-South and South-East, troops rescued 47 victims and arrested 29 criminal suspects, while no killings were recorded.
Major General Onoja also said Operation Delta Safe intensified its crackdown on oil theft, dismantling 18 illegal refining sites across Akwa Ibom, Edo and Rivers States. Troops recovered more than 250,000 litres of stolen crude oil and refined petroleum products, including large recoveries during operations in Ahoada West, Orashi Forest and Okrika in Rivers State.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, has reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening local defence production to improve military readiness and reduce dependence on imported equipment.
During a visit to the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria’s Ordnance Factory in Kakuri, Kaduna State, the Defence Chief inspected production and research facilities and received updates on ongoing projects from the Director-General of DICON, Major General B.I. Alaya.
General Oluyede commended the corporation’s management and staff for advancing Nigeria’s indigenous defence manufacturing and pledged continued support to strengthen DICON’s capacity to meet the operational needs of the Armed Forces and other security agencies.
