Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Thursday said troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria neutralised 201 terrorists and rescued 188 kidnapped victims in coordinated operations carried out across the country in April 2026.
The military also disclosed that 284 suspects, including terrorist collaborators, logistics suppliers and key ring leaders, were arrested during the operations conducted in the North East, North West, North Central, South South and South East theatres.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, made the disclosure during a press briefing on ongoing military operations for the month of April.
According to him, troops sustained pressure on Boko Haram, ISWAP, bandit groups and other criminal elements through coordinated land and air offensives, ambushes, clearance operations and intelligence-led raids.
“In the month of April 2026, troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria executed precision kinetic strikes against insurgent and criminal formations, dismantled terrorist enclaves and logistical networks, and rescued scores of abducted civilians,” he said.
In the North East under Operation Hadin Kai, troops reportedly killed 136 terrorists, arrested 114 suspects and rescued 18 kidnapped victims.
The DHQ said one of the fiercest battles occurred on April 23 at Kukareta in Damaturu Local Government Area of Yobe State where troops repelled what it described as a “massive coordinated assault” by terrorists.
The military said 21 insurgents were killed during the encounter, while troops recovered 12 AK-47 rifles, a General Purpose Machine Gun, PKT machine gun, RPG tube, 60mm mortar and several rounds of ammunition.
Troops also carried out fresh offensives in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states in the final days of April, destroying terrorist enclaves and recovering weapons, IED-making materials and motorcycles.
In the North West under Operation Fansan Yamma, the military said troops neutralised 20 terrorists, arrested 32 suspects and rescued 70 kidnapped victims.
Among the major breakthroughs was the rescue of 31 worshippers abducted from an ECWA Church in Ariko Village, Kaduna State, on April 5.
Troops also intercepted a suspect allegedly transporting components for Improvised Explosive Devices intended for delivery in Abuja.
In the North Central theatre, troops under Operations Savannah Shield, Enduring Peace and Whirl Stroke recorded several operations against kidnappers and armed groups across Plateau, Benue, Kogi, Niger and Kwara states.
The DHQ said troops neutralised scores of terrorists, rescued dozens of abducted victims and dismantled criminal camps in forests and remote communities.
It added that troops also destroyed an illegal weapons manufacturing site in Langtang North LGA of Plateau State where AK-47 rifles and fabricated weapons were recovered.
The military further confirmed the rescue of several victims abducted in Benue and Kogi states, although it described the abduction of children from an orphanage in Lokoja as one of the most disturbing incidents recorded during the period.
According to the DHQ, suspected criminals invaded the Dahallukitab Orphanage in Lokoja on April 26 and abducted 24 children alongside two matrons.
However, 17 of the children later escaped and reunited with the orphanage management, while security forces have continued efforts to rescue the remaining victims.
In the South South, troops under Operation Delta Safe arrested 17 suspects, dismantled illegal refining sites and recovered over 101,000 litres of stolen petroleum products.
The military also reported several successful rescue operations in Delta and Edo states where kidnapped farmers and residents regained freedom after troops engaged their abductors.
In the South East, Operation Udo Ka targeted members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network.
The DHQ said troops arrested several suspected IPOB/ESN members, including a wanted commander identified as Chisom Agashi Ogadego, also known as “Baron”, in Ebonyi State.
Troops also destroyed what the military described as a major IPOB/ESN enclave in Ajali Forest, Enugu State.
The operation, supported by air assets, reportedly led to the destruction of shrines, trenches and bomb-making materials hidden inside the camp.
The military said community engagement and civil military cooperation activities also continued during the month, especially in Benue, Plateau, Taraba and Nasarawa states where troops held peace meetings and supported local communities.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, commended troops for their efforts and urged them to sustain operational momentum across all theatres.
He also paid tribute to officers and soldiers killed during operations in the North East, including Brigadier General O.O. Braimah who died during an encounter with terrorists in Borno State on April 9.
“The AFN assures their families that their loved ones did not die in vain,” the statement added.