The Defence Headquarters, (DHQ) has disclosed that troops neutralized 317 terrorists, arrested 314 suspects and rescued 221 kidnapped victims in their various theatres of operations across the country in the 2nd quarter of the year.
The Director of Media Operations, (DMO) Major General Micheal Onoja disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja while briefing journalists on the activities of the armed forces saying that the troops maintained a relentless posture until the perpetrators are brought to account and the security of the region is completely restored.
He said: “In the North East, 73 insurgents were killed, 159 suspects arrested, 112 kidnapped victims rescued and 18 repentant terrorists surrendered to the troops.”
He said troops of Operation HADIN KAI conducted offensive operations against remnants of Boko Haram/ISWAP in Adamawa, Borno, Taraba and Yobe States, with a compelling succession of operational successes during the period.
During 15th – 25th May 2026, he said, the troops observed a sharp acceleration in clearance operations and an unprecedented surge in voluntary terrorist surrenders, which powerfully illustrated the irreversible erosion of insurgent morale under relentless military pressure.
Also, troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA recorded encounters with armed terrorists in Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara States during the period, severely degrading hostile networks through aggressive offensive action and precision intelligence operations.
He said a total of 24 insurgents were neutralized, 13 arrested and 22 civilians rescued.
While speaking on Operation ENDURING PEACE, he said troops demonstrated unrelenting operational drive across Plateau and parts of Bauchi, Federal Capital Territory, Kaduna and Nasarawa States throughout the period, with landmark results in the neutralisation of kidnapping networks and neutralisation of dangerous criminal infrastructure embedded within civilian communities.
He said 9 terrorists were killed, 36 arrested and 15 civilians rescued.
He said that after the arrest of two kidnappers in Qua’an Pan LGA of Plateau State on 29 April, four other gang members were neutralised in their hideout during a targeted follow-up operation.
Also, a suspect was arrested along the Abaji-Kwali expressway in Abuja with 250 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition concealed in the engine compartment of a vehicle.
He said the arrest exposed the well thought out mechanisms for trafficking illegal arms within the country.
During the period, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE, conducted multi-domain offensive operations across Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers States, dismantling kidnapping networks and criminal economic saboteurs targeting Nigeria’s petroleum infrastructure.
“In all, 14 criminals were arrested, 3 illegal refining sites were destroyed and 21, 910 litres of assorted petroleum products were recovered.
Complementing the humanitarian efforts, the Nigerian Army, through Operation FANSAN YAMMA, donated 400 bags of fertiliser to farming communities in Maru LGA of Zamfara State on 13 May 2026 in a timely and impactful intervention to boost food production and to enhance civil-military relations ahead of the 2026 farming season.
“ The Nigerian Army, during a distribution ceremony held at the palace of the Emir of Maru, reiterated the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s steadfast commitment to enhancing community livelihoods through non-kinetic initiatives that complement active security operations,” he said.
The gallantry of the troops was lauded and Nigerians were called upon to give timely intelligence information to sustain the gains.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday reserved judgment in the trial of five men accused of being involved in the June 5, 2022 terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State that killed 41 worshippers.
Justice Nwite adjourned judgment to a date to be communicated to the parties after counsel to the prosecution and defence adopted their final written addresses.
The judge told lawyers that the court would let them know when the judgment was ready and the notice could come within 24 hours.
In his final address, counsel to the Department of State Services, Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), called on the court to convict the defendants and sentence them to death, the maximum punishment for the offence allegedly committed, because of the gravity of the offence.
But counsel to the defendants, Abdullahi Mohammad, prayed the court to discharge and acquit his clients, saying the prosecution failed to establish its case against them.
The defendants are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar.
The trial began on August 1, 2025, and the DSS called 11 witnesses to prove the allegations against the suspects.
The court had earlier allowed the defendants’ confessional statements after a trial-within-a-trial to determine if the statements were made voluntarily.
Also, not less than 140 persons were injured in the attack. At the commencement of the trial, the DSS had sought and secured an expedited hearing of the case.

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The Nigeria Police Force NPF has described the threats issued by ASP Newton Isokpehi in a viral video as unprofessional, unacceptable and not consistent with the ethics, standards and code of conduct of the Nigeria Police Force.

This was in a media release signed by the Force Public Relations officer ACP Anthony Placid.

“The NPF has taken cognisance of a viral video circulating on social media in which ASP Newton Isokpehi was seen making threatening remarks against members of the public filming police activities.

The Force wishes to state categorically that the conduct and utterances displayed in the video are unacceptable, unprofessional and inconsistent with the ethics, standards and code of conduct of the Nigeria Police Force. Such actions are contrary to the ongoing reform initiatives of the Force aimed at promoting transparency, accountability, professionalism and citizen-focused policing.

Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, has repeatedly stated that citizens have the legal right to film police officers doing their work as long as such filming does not interfere with operations, safety and lawful police actions.

In consonance with this stand, the officer involved has been identified and summoned to the Anambra State Command Headquarters where immediate disciplinary processes have commenced.

“The Nigeria Police Force does not condone threats, intimidation, abuse of office or any act capable of eroding public trust and confidence in law enforcement agencies.

The Force further reiterates that recording police activities remains a legitimate tool for public accountability and transparency and should not in itself attract harassment or intimidation from police personnel while discharging their duties.

A formal communication on the outcome of the disciplinary action taken against the officer will be issued in due course.

The Nigeria Police Force appreciates the continued partnership and constructive engagement of members of the public in the promotion of accountability, professionalism and improved standards of policing in the country.

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More than 20 Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) members were killed in a new coordinated air operation in the northeast by Nigerian troops working with the US Africa Command, according to the Defense Headquarters (DHQ).

According to the military, intelligence information on the movement and consolidation of terrorist elements in the area prompted the strikes in the general Metele area.

Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba, the Director of Defense Information, made this announcement in a statement on Monday.

The statement said that the operation was a component of continuous operations to destroy terrorist networks and deny safe havens to rebels in Nigeria.

It clarified that ISIS/ISWAP members who were seen regrouping in the region prior to the attack were the focus of the coordinated airstrikes.

The DHQ described the operation as a significant victory in the counter-insurgency operations, claiming that it eliminated over 20 terrorists.

It further stated that ongoing operations to weaken terrorist capabilities throughout the Northeast will be carried out by the Armed Forces of Nigeria in collaboration with US Africa Command.

The military added that the ongoing operations are intended to stop terrorist movements, remove combatants from the battlefield, and stop them from regrouping.

Maj.-Gen. Uba emphasized the military’s dedication to protecting Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while reiterating that there would be no safe harbor for terrorists anywhere in the nation.

The development coincides with Nigeria and the United States’ ongoing counterterrorism collaboration in the wake of recent reports of a combined operation that killed a senior ISIS-affiliated individual in the area.

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Reports that some repentant terrorists and bandits are being recruited into the Nigerian military have been refuted by the Defence Headquarters (DHQ).

In a statement released on Tuesday in Abuja by Brigadier General Yusuf Alli, the Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, the DHQ called some popular claims that claimed repentant terrorists were being recruited into the military through the back door “false.”

General Alli declared, “We are not recruiting any killers into the army and we can never do that.”

Additionally, he disregarded concerns that repentant terrorists who had been de-radicalized and reintegrated into society were now allegedly becoming informants for Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists and undermining military operations in the Northeast.

He claims that the repentant terrorists are unable to go back to the criminal camp since doing so will result in their death.

“Repentant terrorists, who are low-risk terrorists, who were coerced into joining the Boko Haram insurgency against their choice, and many of whom managed to flee the terrorists’ dens when the chance arose, cannot return to the terrorist organization.

They’ll be put to death. He said, “The high-risk terrorists think they are now government spies who have benefited and will sell them out.”

He clarified that the Nigerian Army has stringent recruitment regulations that instantly disqualify anyone with a criminal past, emphasizing that Operation Safe Corridor is only focused on rehabilitation and reintegration.

He declared, “You cannot join the military or any security agency once you have any criminal record.”

The coordinator clarified that Operation Safe Corridor is a notion intended to handle surrendered rebels rather than a real camp or military recruitment campaign.

According to him, surrendered terrorists are divided into three groups via a multi-agency screening procedure that includes the Ministry of Justice as well as other national and international organizations:

Medium-risk: People with some engagement in terrorist operations; High-risk: Core fighters and leaders; Low-risk: Forced or coerced participants with no prosecutable offenses

The official stated, “Only the low-risk group is admitted into Operation Safe Corridor for rehabilitation; these are individuals the justice system has determined have no case to answer.”

In order to prepare them for civilian life, participants get de-radicalization, trauma counseling, and vocational training. Many arrive with drug addiction and psychological trauma.

“Training in skills like farming, carpentry, and tailoring helps ensure they can contribute positively to society,” he continued.

Brig Gen Ali emphasized that while hardline terrorists who are apprehended are tried in accordance with the law, Operation Safe Corridor does not take the place of criminal justice.

“Hardcore terrorists apprehended during operations face prosecution and, if found guilty, imprisonment.

The approach has a two-track system: rehabilitation and reintegration for victims and criminal punishment for offenders.

He continued, “The military’s message is clear: Operation Safe Corridor is about rehabilitation, not recruitment, and its purpose is to prevent a return to violence.”

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The Defence Headquarters, DHQ, has stated that a damage assessment of the recent United States strikes conducted in conjunction with Nigerian forces is still ongoing.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, said this while addressing newsmen on Wednesday.
Onoja further stated that the military would release its findings publicly after the assessment was completed.

The clarification is coming against the backdrop of widespread debate in the country on whether the strike was successful or not.
“On the United States strikes in conjunction with Nigerian forces, there is a process of battle damage assessment.

“We are still in that process, and I can assure you that once that is completed, we will communicate to the public all our observations. In due course, we will give you all the information that you require from the US–Nigeria strikes,” Onoja said.

The Federal Government confirmed the joint effort, describing it as part of ongoing counterterrorism cooperation.

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