By Simpson Global Media News Desk
The Nigerian military says its troops rescued more than 60 kidnapped victims and arrested dozens of suspected terrorists, collaborators and other criminal suspects during coordinated operations across the country between September 18 and 24, 2026.
The Defence Headquarters said the operations covered terrorism, kidnapping, arms trafficking, oil theft and other security threats across several operational theatres.
The latest operational report was presented by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, during a briefing with defence correspondents.
Among the most significant incidents was an operation in Kebbi State in which a Nigerian Air Force aircraft disrupted the movement of suspected terrorists transporting a large group of kidnapped victims around Bazama in Sakaba Local Government Area.
The military said the aerial intervention forced the suspected terrorists to abandon the captives, allowing more than 60 kidnapped people to escape.
Ground troops also carried out separate rescue operations in Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara states, while security operations in Borno, Yobe, Kaduna, Benue, Bauchi, Plateau, Rivers and Imo produced arrests, weapons recoveries, disruption of terrorist logistics and the discovery of suspected stolen crude oil.
The figures were contained in the latest account of military operations covering September 18 to 24.
Air Operation Disrupts Kidnap Movement In Kebbi
The rescue of more than 60 kidnapped victims around Bazama is the largest single rescue operation highlighted in the latest military briefing.
According to Onoja, the Nigerian Air Force detected and disrupted the movement of suspected terrorists who were transporting a large number of kidnapped people in the Sakaba area of Kebbi State.
The intervention caused the suspected terrorists to abandon the captives.
The victims were subsequently able to escape.
The military did not publicly provide a detailed breakdown of the victims' identities, their places of origin, how long they had been held or whether all of them were abducted during one incident.
The Defence Headquarters also did not disclose whether any of the suspected terrorists involved in transporting the captives were arrested during the operation.
The operation nevertheless demonstrates the role of air surveillance and air interdiction in disrupting kidnapping movements in areas where large groups of captives are transported through difficult terrain.
Kebbi has remained one of the states in north-western Nigeria where armed groups operate across rural communities and forest corridors.
The state also shares a border with Niger Republic, adding a cross-border dimension to security operations in some parts of the region.
The military has previously reported rescue operations in Kebbi under Operation Fansan Yamma, the joint task force responsible for countering terrorism and banditry in the north-west.
The latest operation adds another significant rescue to that continuing campaign.
Rescues Across Katsina, Sokoto And Zamfara
The Kebbi operation was followed by ground-based rescue operations in other north-western states.
Onoja said troops rescued 17 victims along the Isa-Kwanar Isa axis in Sokoto State.
The Isa area has featured in previous military operations against armed groups operating in the north-west.
Troops also rescued seven university students along the Daye-Malumfashi road in Katsina State.
The rescue of students is particularly significant because educational institutions and roads used by students and other travellers have previously been targeted by criminal groups in several parts of northern Nigeria.
The military did not provide further details about when or where the students were abducted, how long they were in captivity or whether arrests were made during their rescue.
In Zamfara State, troops rescued five people from terrorist captivity at Sekpore village in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area.
Among those rescued was the executive chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area.
The rescue of a serving local government chairman illustrates the continuing threat posed by kidnapping to public officials and communities in parts of the north-west.
Zamfara has for years been affected by armed banditry, kidnapping and attacks on rural settlements, while security forces have conducted repeated operations against groups operating from forests and other difficult-to-access areas.
The latest operation therefore forms part of a wider military campaign involving ground patrols, intelligence gathering and air support.
44 Women And Children Intercepted In Borno
In the north-east, the military reported a different kind of development.
Troops intercepted 44 people described by the Defence Headquarters as family members of terrorists around Konduga in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.
The group consisted of 13 women and 31 children.
Onoja said the women and children had escaped from terrorist camps amid clashes between rival terrorist factions.
The military's description is important because the 44 people should not automatically be treated as combatants.
The Defence Headquarters described them as terrorist family members who had been intercepted after leaving the camps.
Their circumstances are therefore different from those of suspected fighters, informants or logistics suppliers arrested during other operations.
The military did not provide details about the identities of the women and children or whether they were transferred to a rehabilitation, screening or reintegration process.
Borno remains the centre of Nigeria's long-running counter-insurgency campaign against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province.
Military operations in the region increasingly involve not only direct combat with armed fighters but also the interception of people escaping terrorist enclaves, the disruption of logistics networks and efforts to separate civilians from insurgent structures.
The interception of 13 women and 31 children is therefore part of a broader security and humanitarian challenge surrounding communities affected by insurgency.
More Than 20 Terrorist Fighters And Family Members Surrender
The Defence Headquarters also reported that more than 20 terrorist fighters and family members surrendered to troops in Gwoza, Dikwa and Ngala Local Government Areas of Borno State.
According to Onoja, those who surrendered cited hardship and a lack of basic necessities inside terrorist enclaves in the Mandara Mountains.
The statement provides an indication of the conditions within some insurgent-controlled areas, although the claim about the reasons for surrender came from the military and has not been independently verified.
The Mandara Mountains, along Nigeria's border with Cameroon, have historically provided difficult terrain for military operations and have been associated with insurgent activity.
Security forces have repeatedly conducted operations in the area as part of efforts to disrupt terrorist bases and movement corridors.
Surrenders can reduce the number of active fighters and provide security agencies with information about the organisation, movement and logistics of armed groups.
However, surrendered fighters and their families still require screening and appropriate handling under Nigerian law and established government procedures.
The military did not disclose the identities of those who surrendered or provide details about what would happen to them after the initial surrender.
The development nevertheless adds to previous reports this year of insurgents and family members leaving terrorist enclaves in Borno because of internal pressure, shortages and conflict between rival factions.
Security Agencies Target Informants And Logistics Networks
The latest military report also placed considerable emphasis on arrests of people suspected of supporting terrorist and criminal networks.
In Yobe State, troops arrested a suspected terrorist collaborator and a suspected spy at Geidam market.
In Borno, a suspected kidnapper arrested at Gubio allegedly led troops to Ardimini village, where an AK-47 rifle and a magazine containing 12 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition were recovered.
The military's identification of individuals as collaborators, spies or informants represents an allegation at the operational stage.
Those arrested remain suspects unless and until their cases are established through the appropriate judicial process.
Security forces frequently focus on such networks because armed groups depend on more than fighters.
They require food, weapons, transportation, communications, information and money.
Disrupting those support structures is therefore a major part of counter-terrorism and counter-kidnapping operations.
The latest briefing suggests that Nigerian security agencies are continuing to pursue that approach alongside conventional combat operations.
Arrests In Sokoto And Katsina
In Sokoto State, troops arrested four suspected members of a terrorist group who were allegedly transporting rustled cattle near Illela.
Illela is located close to Nigeria's border with Niger Republic and is an important area for movement across the north-west.
The military said the suspects were arrested while conveying the animals.
The alleged connection between cattle rustling and terrorist networks reflects the overlapping nature of criminal economies in parts of the north-west.
Livestock can be stolen and sold to generate funds, while criminal groups can also use rural communities and transportation routes to move people and supplies.
In Katsina State, troops arrested three suspects in Faskari who were allegedly transporting N2.7 million intended for a notorious terrorist kingpin.
The military's allegation suggests an attempt to disrupt financial support for an armed group.
Again, the suspects' alleged roles remain subject to investigation and due process.
The operations demonstrate the broad range of activities that security forces now monitor, extending beyond direct attacks to suspected financial, logistical and supply networks.
Abuja-Kaduna Rail Corridor Comes Under Focus
Troops also engaged suspected terrorists around the Abuja-Kaduna railway corridor in Kaduna State.
The military reported recovering a rifle and ammunition during the operation.
Another suspect was arrested at Awon community with a locally fabricated pistol and seven rounds of 9mm ammunition.
The Abuja-Kaduna rail line has previously been a major security concern because of the history of attacks and kidnappings along the corridor.
The railway links Nigeria's federal capital with Kaduna and is an important transport route for passengers and economic activity.
Security along the corridor has therefore remained a priority for federal security agencies.
The latest reported engagement indicates that troops continue to monitor areas around the rail infrastructure for possible armed-group activity.
The military did not state whether the suspects were directly connected to any specific attack on the railway.
That distinction is important because possession of weapons and suspected association with an armed group must still be established through investigation.
Operation Whirl Stroke In The North-Central
In the North-Central region, troops operating under Operation Whirl Stroke continued operations against kidnapping and arms trafficking.
The operation covers parts of Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Taraba states.
According to the Defence Headquarters, troops arrested two suspected kidnappers along the Otukpo-Makurdi road in Benue State.
A rifle and ammunition were recovered.
The road is an important transport route linking major communities in Benue State.
Kidnapping along highways has remained a major concern because armed groups can exploit stretches of road surrounded by forests and rural terrain.
The military also reported the arrest of a suspected gunrunner at Kwande in Benue State.
According to the Defence Headquarters, the suspect had previously been convicted for the same offence.
A person previously convicted of a crime remains entitled to due process in relation to any new allegation, but the military's statement indicates that investigators considered the arrest significant enough to highlight in the operational briefing.
The focus on arms trafficking is part of the wider effort to limit the supply of weapons to kidnapping and armed criminal networks.
Three Suspected Kidnappers Killed In Bauchi
In Bauchi State, troops and Forest Guards ambushed suspected kidnappers at Kudu Yamma in Ningi Local Government Area.
The Defence Headquarters said three suspects were killed while others escaped with suspected gunshot wounds.
The troops recovered a rifle and ammunition and rescued six kidnapped victims.
The operation illustrates the increasing involvement of local security personnel and forest guards in joint operations with the military.
Forest terrain can make conventional patrols difficult, particularly where kidnappers establish temporary camps or use remote routes to move captives.
Local personnel may provide knowledge of terrain and community movements that complements military intelligence.
The six rescued victims were among those included in the military's nationwide account of rescued abductees.
The Defence Headquarters did not provide details about their identities or the circumstances of their abduction.
Plateau Kidnapping Network Raids
Troops of Operation Enduring Peace also arrested 11 suspects during raids on suspected kidnapping syndicate hideouts in Plateau State.
The raids took place around Shere, Gwafan and Maza Hills.
The military said four of the arrested suspects were identified by victims as members of a syndicate allegedly responsible for their abduction.
Such identification can form an important part of an investigation, although it must be followed by appropriate evidentiary and judicial procedures.
The Plateau operations highlight the geographical spread of kidnapping beyond the north-west.
The state lies within Nigeria's North-Central region and has experienced a mixture of communal violence, armed attacks and kidnapping in different areas.
The military's latest operation focused specifically on suspected kidnapping networks.
The arrests could provide investigators with information about how the alleged syndicate operated, although the Defence Headquarters did not release further details.
Crude Oil Theft Operations In Rivers
The latest military briefing also covered security operations in the Niger Delta.
Troops under Operation Delta Safe discovered approximately 182,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil in the Bethel Creeks area of Rivers State.
The troops also found eight dugout pits, five of which contained suspected stolen crude oil.
Hoses allegedly used to move crude oil illegally were also recovered.
The operation followed an earlier discovery of about 87,000 litres of suspected stolen crude at illegal refining sites around Aworkiri in Rivers State on September 8.
The military treats oil theft and illegal refining as security issues because they involve organised networks, environmental damage, loss of public revenue and risks to communities.
Operations in the Niger Delta therefore extend the definition of national security beyond terrorism and kidnapping.
They also focus on protection of strategic economic infrastructure and natural resources.
The military did not provide an estimate of the monetary value of the crude recovered during the latest operation.
Nor did it state how many suspects were arrested in connection with the Rivers discoveries.
Those details may emerge as investigations continue.
South-East Operation Leads To Weapons Recovery
In Imo State, troops operating under Operation Udo Ka encountered suspected secessionist fighters at Obibi Forest in Orsu Local Government Area.
The military said the suspected fighters fled during the encounter and abandoned a general-purpose machine gun, a rifle, ammunition, a motorcycle and other items.
Troops also arrested a suspected informant.
In a separate operation in Orsu, soldiers rescued a woman who had allegedly been kidnapped about two months earlier from her hairdressing salon.
The case highlights the overlap between counter-insurgency operations and conventional criminal investigations.
A person suspected of providing information to an armed group may be investigated as part of a security operation, while a kidnapping victim can be rescued during the same broader campaign.
The military did not provide the identity of the rescued woman or information about whether suspects directly responsible for her abduction had been arrested.
A Nationwide Security Picture
The September 18–24 operational report covers several distinct security problems.
In the north-west, the principal issues include kidnapping, terrorism, cattle rustling and arms trafficking.
In the north-east, the military continues to confront Boko Haram and other terrorist organisations.
In the North-Central, kidnapping and arms trafficking remain major concerns.
In the Niger Delta, troops are targeting oil theft and illegal crude-oil operations.
In the South-East, the security agencies continue operations against suspected secessionist armed groups alongside efforts to combat kidnapping and other crimes.
The geographical spread demonstrates why Nigeria's security structure requires multiple operations operating simultaneously.
No single military formation is responsible for all of the country's security challenges.
Instead, different joint task forces and formations operate under distinct mandates.
The Role Of Air Power
The Kebbi rescue operation highlights the growing importance of air assets in counter-kidnapping operations.
Ground troops can be limited by difficult terrain, distance and the speed at which kidnappers move through forests.
Aircraft can provide surveillance and rapid intervention over wider areas.
In the latest case, the Defence Headquarters said the Air Force operation disrupted a group transporting kidnapped victims.
The suspected terrorists abandoned their captives after the aerial intervention.
This does not mean air operations can replace ground forces.
The safe recovery and subsequent care of victims still require personnel on the ground.
Air power is therefore one part of a broader intelligence, surveillance and response system.
The effectiveness of such operations also depends on the quality and timeliness of intelligence.
Intelligence Remains Central
The latest military report repeatedly referred to intelligence.
Troops acted on information in several operations, including the arrest of suspected terrorist collaborators, the interception of alleged logistics suppliers and the identification of suspected kidnapping locations.
Security forces have increasingly emphasised intelligence-led operations because armed groups can move quickly and often operate from remote terrain.
Credible information from communities can help security agencies identify suspicious movements, locate kidnapped people and track criminal networks.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, again called on members of the public to provide credible and timely information to security agencies.
He also recognised the contribution of other security agencies, local security groups, traditional rulers and community leaders.
That appeal reflects the military's continued emphasis on cooperation between state security institutions and communities.
The Human Dimension Of The Rescues
Behind the operational figures are people who had been held against their will.
The more than 60 people who escaped in Kebbi were part of a larger pattern of kidnapping affecting northern Nigeria.
Other victims rescued during the week included 17 people in Sokoto, seven university students in Katsina, five people in Zamfara and six in Bauchi.
The Defence Headquarters did not release the full combined identity list of those rescued.
It also did not say how many had suffered injuries or required medical treatment.
In previous military rescue operations, victims have often been taken for medical assessment before being reunited with relatives.
Such procedures are important because people emerging from captivity may have suffered physical injury, malnutrition, psychological trauma or other health problems.
The immediate security objective may be rescue.
The longer-term humanitarian objective is safe recovery and reintegration.
The Continuing Challenge Of Mass Kidnapping
The latest military announcement comes against a wider backdrop of mass kidnapping in Nigeria.
A Reuters report published on September 22 said residents of Dekara and surrounding communities in Niger State had protested over the continued captivity of hundreds of people abducted during coordinated attacks on August 21.
Residents estimated that nearly 700 people remained missing, although the exact number was not independently established.
The report said the kidnappings had affected daily access to markets and healthcare and prompted local pressure for stronger rescue efforts.
That situation provides important context for the latest military rescue figures.
While more than 60 people were rescued during the September 18–24 operations, other kidnapped Nigerians remain in captivity in different locations.
The scale of the problem means that individual rescue operations, however significant, do not by themselves resolve the wider kidnapping threat.
Rescue Successes And Remaining Risks
The Defence Headquarters' latest figures demonstrate that security forces continue to conduct active operations against kidnapping and terrorism.
More than 60 people were rescued in the Kebbi operation alone.
Additional victims were rescued elsewhere.
Suspected kidnappers, terrorist collaborators and arms traffickers were arrested.
Weapons and ammunition were recovered.
Suspected terrorist logistics networks were disrupted.
Oil-theft operations also produced substantial recoveries.
At the same time, the continuing reports of kidnapping in several regions show that armed groups remain capable of abducting civilians.
The operational picture is therefore mixed in factual terms: security agencies are reporting significant rescue and interdiction operations while kidnapping and terrorism continue to occur.
The two developments can exist simultaneously.
The Importance Of Follow-Up Investigations
Rescue operations are only one stage of the security process.
Once victims are recovered, investigators may need to establish where they were abducted, identify their captors, determine how the kidnappers operated and gather evidence that could lead to arrests and prosecution.
Weapons recovered during operations may also undergo forensic examination.
Suspects arrested during military operations may be transferred to appropriate investigative authorities depending on the nature of the allegations and applicable procedures.
This is especially important when arrests involve allegations of terrorism, kidnapping or arms trafficking.
Military statements describe operational findings, but criminal responsibility ultimately depends on evidence and the judicial process.
The latest Defence Headquarters briefing therefore provides an account of military activity rather than final judicial findings against the suspects mentioned.
Coordination Across Agencies
The latest operations also demonstrate the degree to which Nigeria's security response relies on cooperation between institutions.
The military works alongside the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, local security groups, forest guards and community structures in different operational areas.
The Defence Headquarters specifically credited cooperation with other agencies and local stakeholders.
In Bauchi, for example, Forest Guards participated in the operation against suspected kidnappers.
In other parts of the country, community intelligence can help security forces locate suspects or abducted persons.
The combination of military capabilities, police investigative functions and local knowledge is particularly relevant in rural areas where criminal groups can exploit difficult terrain.
What The Military Report Does Not Establish
The latest briefing provides figures and operational claims from the Defence Headquarters.
It does not independently establish the identities or guilt of every suspect mentioned.
It also does not provide a complete picture of all security incidents that occurred nationwide during the seven-day period.
The military report covers operations in which the Armed Forces were involved.
Other incidents may have been handled by the police, state security agencies or local authorities without appearing in the Defence Headquarters' weekly briefing.
Similarly, figures such as the number of people rescued represent military-reported operational outcomes and should be distinguished from independently compiled nationwide crime statistics.
This distinction is important when assessing security trends.
The Pattern Of Repeated Weekly Operations
The latest briefing follows several earlier weekly reports from the Defence Headquarters.
On September 20, the military reported that troops had rescued at least 58 abducted victims, defused 12 improvised explosive devices and conducted operations across several geopolitical zones during September 11–17.
That earlier report also included arrests of suspected informants, collaborators, kidnappers and an alleged IED fabrication expert.
On September 21, the Defence Headquarters reported further rescue operations, including the recovery of 14 abductees in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
The latest report therefore continues a pattern of weekly operational briefings in which the military publishes information on rescues, arrests, weapons recoveries and encounters with armed groups.
These reports provide snapshots of ongoing operations rather than a final assessment of the national security situation.
Why The Kebbi Rescue Matters
The Kebbi operation is notable because the suspected terrorists were reportedly moving a large group of captives when the Air Force intervened.
Kidnappers frequently attempt to move victims away from the location of an initial abduction.
Moving captives can make rescue operations more difficult because security forces must first establish where the victims have been taken.
The ability to disrupt such movement from the air can provide an opportunity for captives to escape before they are transferred deeper into remote territory.
The operation also demonstrates why intelligence and surveillance are critical.
Without information about the movement of a group and the presence of captives, an air intervention would be difficult to conduct safely.
The military has not released details of the intelligence process behind the operation.
Security Along The North-West Corridor
The north-west remains one of Nigeria's most complex security environments.
Kebbi, Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina and Kaduna are connected by roads, rural communities, forests and border areas.
Armed groups can exploit these geographical connections to move between locations.
The presence of livestock routes, remote settlements and large forest areas can complicate efforts to distinguish ordinary movement from criminal activity.
Security operations therefore increasingly involve patrols, aerial surveillance, intelligence gathering, community engagement and coordinated actions across state boundaries.
The latest operations in Kebbi, Sokoto, Katsina, Zamfara and Kaduna show the regional nature of the security response.
The Economic Impact Of Insecurity
Kidnapping and armed violence have consequences beyond the immediate victims.
Fear can discourage people from travelling.
Farmers may avoid fields in areas considered unsafe.
Markets can lose customers.
Transport operators may change routes or operating schedules.
Schools and health facilities can also become harder to access when communities fear attacks.
The Reuters report on the Niger State mass kidnapping illustrated this broader effect, with residents saying insecurity had affected access to markets and healthcare.
For government and security agencies, protecting communities therefore involves more than responding to individual attacks.
It also involves creating conditions in which people can work, trade, travel and access public services without persistent fear of abduction.
The Military's Broader Security Mandate
The latest briefing shows that Nigeria's military is operating against several categories of security threat simultaneously.
Counter-terrorism remains central in Borno, Yobe and parts of the north-west.
Kidnapping operations are active across the North-West and North-Central.
Arms trafficking investigations continue.
Oil theft remains a major focus in Rivers State.
Suspected secessionist armed groups remain a focus of operations in parts of the South-East.
The breadth of these missions places significant demands on military personnel and supporting security agencies.
The Defence Headquarters said the Chief of Defence Staff commended troops for their sacrifices and the cooperation of other security actors.
The military also reiterated its call for citizens to provide credible intelligence.
What Comes Next
The Defence Headquarters is expected to continue issuing operational updates as troops conduct further operations.
For the rescued victims, the immediate priority is recovery, documentation and reunification with families where appropriate.
For arrested suspects, investigations will determine the next legal steps.
For the security agencies, the continuing priorities include tracking armed groups, disrupting kidnapping networks, protecting major roads and infrastructure, securing rural communities and reducing the flow of weapons and money to criminal organisations.
In Kebbi and other north-western states, the military is likely to maintain pressure on forest-based armed groups through a combination of ground and air operations.
In Borno, operations will continue against terrorist groups while security agencies deal with people leaving terrorist enclaves.
In the Niger Delta, operations against crude-oil theft and illegal refining are expected to continue.
In the South-East, troops will continue operations against armed groups and kidnapping networks.
Community Cooperation
The military's repeated appeal for community cooperation is significant because many of the areas affected by insecurity are difficult for security forces to monitor continuously.
Residents can provide information about unfamiliar movements, suspicious vehicles, weapons trafficking or the presence of armed groups.
But effective community intelligence also requires trust.
People must have confidence that information can be provided safely and that security agencies will respond appropriately.
Traditional rulers, religious leaders, local government officials and community organisations can play a role in building that communication channel.
The Defence Headquarters specifically acknowledged such stakeholders in its latest statement.
A Week Of Rescues, Arrests And Interdictions
The September 18–24 operations show the breadth of Nigeria's current security campaign.
More than 60 kidnapped victims escaped after an Air Force intervention in Kebbi.
Seventeen others were rescued in Sokoto.
Seven university students were rescued in Katsina.
Five victims, including a local government chairman, were rescued in Zamfara.
Six kidnapped people were rescued in Bauchi.
Suspected terrorist collaborators, spies, kidnappers, gunrunners and logistics suppliers were arrested in several states.
More than 20 terrorist fighters and family members surrendered in Borno, while 44 women and children who had escaped terrorist camps were intercepted in Konduga.
Security forces also recovered weapons and ammunition and discovered about 182,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil in Rivers State.
These are the operational facts reported by the Defence Headquarters.
They provide evidence of sustained security activity across multiple regions, but they do not by themselves establish that the country's wider security challenges have been resolved.
The Bigger Security Picture
Nigeria's security challenges remain geographically diverse.
The country is dealing simultaneously with terrorism in the North-East, banditry and kidnapping in the North-West, kidnapping and armed criminality in the North-Central, oil theft in the Niger Delta and armed separatist violence in parts of the South-East.
The latest military briefing illustrates that security agencies are responding across all of these areas.
The most immediate humanitarian result is the rescue of kidnapped civilians.
The longer-term objective is to prevent the recurrence of the attacks that put those civilians into captivity.
Achieving that requires more than rescue operations.
It requires intelligence, policing, border management, judicial follow-through, disruption of criminal financing, protection of communities and sustained cooperation between government and citizens.
Conclusion
The Nigerian military has reported the rescue of more than 60 kidnapped victims in a single operation around Bazama in Kebbi State, alongside additional rescues in Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara and Bauchi during operations conducted between September 18 and 24.
The Defence Headquarters said the Kebbi rescue followed an Air Force intervention that disrupted suspected terrorists transporting the captives.
The week-long operational report also recorded arrests of suspected terrorist collaborators, spies, kidnappers and arms traffickers; the surrender of more than 20 terrorist fighters and family members in Borno; the interception of 44 women and children who had escaped terrorist camps; weapons recoveries; and the discovery of approximately 182,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil in Rivers State.
The figures show the scale and geographical spread of the military's current operations.
They also underline the continuing complexity of Nigeria's security environment.
While dozens of kidnapped Nigerians have been freed, other victims remain in captivity in different parts of the country, and armed groups continue to pose threats to communities, transport routes and economic activity.
The coming weeks will therefore test whether the operational gains reported by the military can be translated into sustained protection for vulnerable communities.
For the security agencies, the immediate task is to maintain pressure on kidnapping and terrorist networks while improving intelligence and protecting civilians.
For communities, the authorities continue to stress the importance of credible and timely information.
And for the rescued victims and their families, the priority is recovery and safe reunification after periods of captivity.
The September 18–24 operations represent another chapter in Nigeria's continuing security campaign — one involving air intervention, ground operations, intelligence gathering, arrests, surrenders and the recovery of civilians from captivity.
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