By Simpson Global Media News Desk
The Defence Headquarters has reported that troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria recorded 367 attacks and other security incidents across the country during September 2026, while rescuing 655 kidnapped civilians and arresting 350 suspected terrorists and criminals.
The figures were disclosed on Wednesday, September 30, by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, during the Defence Headquarters’ combined monthly and third-quarter operational briefing in Abuja.
Onoja said military operations during September also resulted in the neutralisation of 52 terrorists and criminals, the surrender of 75 insurgents, the recovery of 52 firearms and 2,335 rounds of ammunition, the dismantling of eight illegal refining sites and the recovery of more than 304,822 litres of stolen petroleum products.
The September figures came as the military also released its operational summary for the third quarter of 2026, covering July, August and September.
For the quarter, the Armed Forces reported that 554 terrorists and criminals were neutralised, 1,333 suspects were arrested and 1,736 kidnapped civilians were rescued.
A further 333 insurgents surrendered during the three-month period, while troops recovered 244 arms and 8,160 rounds of ammunition.
The military also reported the destruction of 104 illegal refining sites and the recovery of 1,610,402 litres of stolen petroleum products during the quarter.
September security picture
The latest figures provide a snapshot of the security environment across Nigeria at the close of the third quarter.
According to the Defence Headquarters, the 367 attacks recorded during September occurred across several operational theatres, reflecting the different forms of armed violence and criminal activity confronting security forces in various parts of the country.
Operation Enduring Peace recorded the highest number of reported attacks during the month, with 147 incidents.
It was followed by Operation FANSAN YAMMA in the North-West, which recorded 115 attacks, while Operation Whirl Stroke recorded 55.
Operation Hadin Kai, the major counter-insurgency operation in the North-East, recorded 33 attacks.
Operation Savannah Shield recorded 13, while Operation UDO KA recorded four. Operation Delta Safe recorded no attacks during the period under review, according to the military's briefing.
The Defence Headquarters said troops responded to the incidents through a combination of offensive operations, arrests, rescue missions, weapons recovery and other security activities.
The figures also demonstrate that Nigeria's security challenges remain geographically dispersed rather than confined to a single conflict theatre.
The military is simultaneously conducting counter-insurgency operations in the North-East, counter-banditry and anti-kidnapping operations in the North-West and North-Central zones, as well as operations against other criminal activities in the South-East and South-South.
655 kidnapped civilians rescued
One of the most significant figures released by the Defence Headquarters was the number of kidnapped civilians rescued during September.
Onoja said troops rescued 655 kidnapped civilians during the month.
The military also reported the rescue of 1,736 kidnapped civilians during the entire third quarter.
The figures cover operations conducted across multiple theatres rather than a single large rescue operation.
Kidnapping has become a major component of Nigeria's wider security challenge, with armed groups operating across forests, rural communities, highways and other difficult-to-access areas.
Military rescue operations frequently depend on intelligence supplied by residents, local authorities and other security agencies.
In several theatres, troops have also been required to conduct prolonged searches through forests and rural corridors where criminal groups attempt to move abducted persons away from areas where they were initially seized.
The Defence Headquarters said its operations would continue to combine kinetic action with intelligence gathering and cooperation with other security agencies and local security structures.
The military has repeatedly encouraged communities to provide timely information about suspicious movements and criminal activities, arguing that early intelligence can help security forces respond before attacks escalate.
North-East remains a major counter-terrorism theatre
In the North-East, Operation Hadin Kai continued operations against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province elements in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.
Onoja said troops operating under the command neutralised 27 terrorist fighters, arrested 49 suspects and rescued 103 kidnapped civilians during September.
The operation also recorded the surrender of 73 insurgents and their family members during the month.
Among the developments highlighted by the Defence Headquarters was the rescue of 44 terrorist family members at Konduga in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State on September 24.
The group comprised 13 women and 31 children.
The military's figures for the entire third quarter show that Operation Hadin Kai neutralised 273 terrorists, arrested 348 suspects and rescued 297 kidnapped victims.
The operation also facilitated the surrender of 331 insurgents and their family members during the quarter.
The surrender of insurgents represents another dimension of the counter-insurgency campaign.
According to the Defence Headquarters, some of those who surrendered cited hunger, dwindling supplies and difficult living conditions in terrorist hideouts as factors influencing their decisions.
Onoja said the military had continued to conduct operations aimed at disrupting terrorist activities while creating opportunities for individuals willing to surrender.
He said several surrender incidents were recorded in September, including cases involving individuals who handed over weapons and other equipment.
The military said the development formed part of the broader effort to weaken terrorist networks through both military pressure and opportunities for surrender.
North-West operations
The North-West remained another major area of military activity during the quarter.
Operation FANSAN YAMMA, which covers parts of the North-West, recorded 115 attacks during September, according to the Defence Headquarters.
The operation also recorded significant rescue and counter-terrorism activity.
During the third quarter, troops operating under Operation FANSAN YAMMA neutralised 230 terrorists, arrested 147 suspects and rescued 508 kidnapped civilians, according to the military.
In September alone, the operation neutralised seven terrorists, arrested 26 suspects and rescued 171 kidnapped victims.
One of the rescue operations involved more than 60 kidnapped civilians after a Nigerian Air Force aircraft disrupted the movement of terrorists around the Bazama area of Sakaba Local Government Area of Kebbi State, according to the Defence Headquarters' briefing.
The North-West has remained a major focus of military operations because of the activities of armed groups involved in banditry, kidnapping and attacks on communities.
Security operations in the region frequently involve ground troops, aerial surveillance and air support.
The terrain presents significant operational challenges because armed groups can exploit large forest areas and rural routes to move personnel and abducted civilians.
The military has consequently continued to emphasise intelligence-led operations and rapid response.
North-Central operations
The North-Central region also featured prominently in the September operational report.
Operation Enduring Peace recorded the highest number of attacks among the military's operational theatres, with 147 incidents.
Operation Whirl Stroke, which covers Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Taraba states, recorded 55 attacks.
During September, Operation Enduring Peace neutralised nine terrorists and criminals, arrested 155 suspects and rescued 28 kidnapped civilians.
Operation Whirl Stroke neutralised one terrorist, arrested 57 suspects and rescued 320 kidnapped civilians during the month.
Operation Savannah Shield, which also operates in the North-Central security environment, neutralised five terrorists, arrested two suspects and rescued 27 kidnapped civilians.
The military's figures show the different character of security operations across the region.
While counter-terrorism remains part of the military's mandate, troops are also engaged in operations against kidnapping, communal violence and other criminal networks.
The large number of rescued civilians reported under Operation Whirl Stroke also illustrates the continuing importance of military intervention along kidnapping-prone rural corridors.
South-East operations
The Defence Headquarters also reported continued operations in the South-East under Operation UDO KA.
The operation recorded four attacks during September.
Troops neutralised three criminals, arrested 28 suspects and rescued six kidnapped civilians during the month, according to the military.
The troops also dismantled an illegal bunkering site in Imo State and arrested a suspected specialist in the fabrication of improvised explosive devices linked by the military to secessionist activity.
For the third quarter, Operation UDO KA recorded 10 terrorists and criminals neutralised, 75 arrests and 20 kidnapped civilians rescued.
The operation also facilitated the surrender of two secessionists during the period.
Security operations in the South-East have involved efforts to disrupt armed groups, protect communities and infrastructure and prevent attacks against security personnel and other public facilities.
The region's security environment differs from the North-East and North-West, where terrorism, banditry and mass kidnapping are dominant features.
The military's nationwide figures therefore bring together several distinct security challenges rather than representing a single conflict.
South-South and oil theft
In the South-South, security operations have continued to focus heavily on illegal oil refining, crude oil theft and related criminal activities.
Operation Delta Safe recorded no attacks in the September breakdown released by the Defence Headquarters.
However, troops continued operations against illegal refining and petroleum theft.
The military said eight illegal refining sites were dismantled during September and more than 304,822 litres of stolen petroleum products were recovered.
The figures were substantially higher over the full third quarter.
During July to September, the military reported the destruction of 104 illegal refining sites and the recovery of 1,610,402 litres of stolen petroleum products.
Troops also discovered suspected stolen crude oil at locations in Rivers State.
The Defence Headquarters reported the discovery of about 87,000 litres of suspected stolen crude at Aworkiri in September and another 182,000 litres at Bethel Creek.
The Nigerian Navy, operating under Operation Delta Sentinel, also discovered and deactivated two illegal refining sites at Ogbogolo in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.
About 33,800 litres of petroleum products were recovered from the sites, according to the military's briefing.
The military treats oil theft and illegal refining as security concerns because the activities involve organised networks, movement of petroleum products, illegal infrastructure and risks to communities and the environment.
Operations in the Niger Delta therefore combine security enforcement with efforts to protect critical energy infrastructure.
Weapons and ammunition recovered
The Defence Headquarters also reported significant weapons recoveries.
During September, troops recovered 52 arms and 2,335 rounds of ammunition.
For the third quarter, the figures rose to 244 arms and 8,160 rounds of ammunition.
Weapons recovered during military operations can provide important evidence for ongoing investigations and can also prevent firearms and ammunition from returning to criminal or terrorist networks.
The recovery of weapons has therefore remained an important component of operations across the country's different theatres.
Military units routinely announce the recovery of assault rifles, ammunition, improvised explosive devices, explosives and other equipment following encounters with armed groups.
In some cases, weapons are recovered after arrests or raids, while others are abandoned by armed groups during encounters with troops.
Arrests and investigations
The September figures also included 350 arrests.
The third-quarter total stood at 1,333 terrorist and criminal suspects arrested during military operations.
An arrest does not itself establish guilt, and suspects remain subject to investigation and, where appropriate, prosecution under Nigerian law.
The military's operational figures cover people arrested across different theatres and for different alleged activities.
Some suspects are linked to terrorism or kidnapping investigations, while others may be arrested in connection with arms trafficking, oil theft, illegal refining or other criminal activities.
The next stage after military arrest can involve transfer to appropriate investigative or law-enforcement agencies, depending on the nature of the allegation and the legal requirements governing the case.
The surrender of insurgents
Another notable element of the third-quarter report was the number of insurgents who surrendered.
The Defence Headquarters said 333 insurgents surrendered during the quarter.
Of that number, 331 insurgents and their family members were associated with Operation Hadin Kai in the North-East.
During September alone, the military recorded 75 insurgents surrendering.
The Defence Headquarters said some of the individuals who surrendered cited deteriorating conditions inside terrorist enclaves.
Onoja specifically referred to hunger, dwindling supplies and harsh living conditions.
The military's account places such surrender decisions within the broader impact of sustained operations designed to disrupt terrorist supply lines and movement.
Surrenders can also provide security agencies with intelligence concerning the structure, movements and logistics of armed groups.
However, the individuals involved still have to be processed according to applicable procedures.
A nationwide security campaign
The latest operational briefing underlines the broad range of responsibilities currently being carried out by the Armed Forces.
In the North-East, troops are engaged primarily in counter-insurgency operations.
In the North-West, the emphasis includes counter-banditry and kidnapping.
In the North-Central zone, military formations are dealing with kidnapping, armed groups and other violent security incidents.
In the South-East, operations include efforts against armed criminal and secessionist networks.
In the South-South, troops are heavily involved in protecting the oil-producing environment and disrupting illegal refining and crude oil theft.
This geographical spread means that the military's operational resources have to be distributed across very different environments.
The challenges also require cooperation among the Army, Nigerian Air Force and Nigerian Navy, as well as other security and law-enforcement agencies.
The Defence Headquarters said collaboration with other agencies and local security groups remained important to ongoing operations.
What the September figures show
The September statistics offer several distinct measurements of the country's security situation.
The first is the number of reported attacks: 367 across the operational theatres.
The second is the military response, including 52 terrorists and criminals neutralised, 350 arrests and 655 kidnapped civilians rescued.
The third concerns the surrender of insurgents, with 75 recorded during September.
The fourth involves the recovery of weapons and the disruption of other criminal infrastructure, including 52 arms, 2,335 rounds of ammunition and eight illegal refining sites.
Taken together, the figures demonstrate the scale and variety of military activity during the month.
They also show that the security challenge extends beyond terrorism alone.
Kidnapping, banditry, arms trafficking, illegal oil refining, crude oil theft and secessionist violence all feature in the military's nationwide operational responsibilities.
Third-quarter figures provide broader context
The quarterly statistics provide a broader picture than the monthly figures.
Between July and September, the Armed Forces reported 554 terrorists and criminals neutralised, 1,333 arrests and 1,736 kidnapped civilians rescued.
The military also recorded 333 insurgents surrendering.
Weapons recovered during the quarter included 244 arms and 8,160 rounds of ammunition.
The Armed Forces also reported 104 illegal refining sites dismantled and 1,610,402 litres of stolen petroleum products recovered.
The Defence Headquarters said the figures reflected sustained military operations across the country.
At the same time, the number of attacks recorded during September demonstrates that armed groups and criminal networks continued to mount attacks despite ongoing military pressure.
The operational data therefore reflects both security-force activity and the persistence of threats requiring continued deployment.
The role of intelligence
The military's briefing repeatedly emphasised intelligence and cooperation with communities.
Security forces depend on information about the movement of armed groups, kidnapped victims, weapons and criminal logistics.
In rural areas, local knowledge can be particularly important because residents often understand the terrain and movement patterns better than outside forces.
The Defence Headquarters has therefore appealed to traditional rulers, community leaders and members of the public to report credible information.
The military said Nigerians could provide information through the nearest military formation or the toll-free security line 193.
The call is part of the military's broader position that national security is not solely the responsibility of soldiers and other security personnel.
Effective intelligence can help security agencies identify threats earlier and potentially prevent attacks, while also assisting rescue operations and investigations.
Continuing pressure on criminal networks
The Defence Headquarters said the Armed Forces would maintain both kinetic and non-kinetic operations.
Kinetic operations involve direct military action against armed groups, while non-kinetic efforts can include engagement with communities, intelligence cooperation, stabilisation activities and measures aimed at encouraging surrender.
The military's September report included examples of both approaches.
Troops conducted combat operations, arrested suspects and recovered weapons, while the surrender of insurgents and their families represented a different pathway out of armed groups.
The continued combination of these methods reflects the complexity of Nigeria's security environment.
Military force alone cannot address every element of kidnapping, terrorism, oil theft and other forms of organised criminality.
Investigations, prosecution, intelligence gathering, community cooperation and the protection of vulnerable communities remain important components of the wider security response.
Protecting civilians remains central
The rescue of 655 kidnapped civilians reported for September places civilian protection at the centre of the latest operational statistics.
Every kidnapping case can affect not only the people abducted but also their families, communities and local economies.
Kidnapping can restrict movement, disrupt farming and trade, discourage travel and create fear in rural communities.
The rescue figures therefore represent individual security operations as well as a wider effort to restore freedom of movement.
At the same time, the continued recording of hundreds of security incidents shows why rescue operations must be accompanied by measures aimed at preventing new abductions.
The Defence Headquarters has said that its operations will continue to focus on disrupting criminal and terrorist networks, protecting communities and safeguarding critical infrastructure.
Looking ahead
As the fourth quarter begins, the Armed Forces are expected to continue operations across the major security theatres.
The immediate operational priorities include counter-terrorism operations in the North-East, counter-banditry and anti-kidnapping activities in the North-West and North-Central regions, security operations in the South-East and protection of oil infrastructure in the South-South.
The Defence Headquarters has also indicated that cooperation with other security agencies and local communities will remain part of the strategy.
For civilians living in areas affected by terrorism, banditry or kidnapping, the effectiveness of those operations will ultimately be measured not only by military statistics but also by the ability of communities to live, farm, travel and conduct business without persistent threats.
The September briefing provides official figures on military activities during the month, but the figures do not by themselves establish that Nigeria's security challenges have been permanently resolved.
Instead, they document the scale of military engagements, arrests, rescues, weapons recoveries, surrenders and other interventions recorded by the Armed Forces.
The Defence Headquarters said the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, commended troops for their professionalism, dedication and sacrifices and also recognised the contribution of other security agencies, local security groups and communities.
Oluyede urged Nigerians, traditional rulers and community leaders to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies.
The military's September operational report therefore closes the third quarter with a mixed picture: hundreds of civilians were rescued, weapons and criminal infrastructure were recovered or destroyed, and hundreds of suspects and armed personnel were taken out of active operations or surrendered.
At the same time, the reported 367 attacks show that armed groups and criminal networks remained active across several parts of the country during the month.
The fourth quarter will now test the capacity of security agencies to sustain operations, convert intelligence into timely interventions, protect communities and prevent criminal networks from rebuilding their operational capabilities.
For the Armed Forces, the stated objective remains the protection of lives and property, the disruption of terrorist and criminal networks, the safeguarding of critical infrastructure and the restoration of security across affected communities.
The September figures released by the Defence Headquarters provide the latest official snapshot of that continuing effort as Nigeria enters the final quarter of 2026.
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