Key Points

• Army kills terrorists, rescues 39 hostages in daring nationwide raids.

• Freed hostages include abducted women, children rescued from captivity.

• Military intensifies counterterrorism operations, striking terrorist camps across Nigeria.

Nigeria’s military says it has killed dozens of terrorists and freed 39 hostages in a series of coordinated raids across the country. This shows that the fight against armed groups that have made communities in the north less stable is back on track.

According to a report by Vanguard news, the operations, which took place over the past week, focused on militant strongholds in the northeast and northwest, where jihadist groups and armed bandits have attacked civilians, disrupted farming, and extorted communities.

On Friday, the Defense Headquarters in Abuja said that the raids destroyed terrorist camps, took weapons, and stopped supplies from getting to their destinations.

Army steps up its fight against terrorism

According to Defense spokesman Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, the Nigerian Army killed “scores of terrorists” during air strikes and ground attacks. Troops also freed 39 civilians who were being held in makeshift camps, including women and children who had been kidnapped in the past few weeks. Buba said, “The military is still committed to protecting citizens and bringing back peace.”

As pressure grows on President Bola Tinubu’s government to stop the violence that has hurt farming, scared off investors, and forced millions to leave their homes, the statement comes. Armed violence has been a constant problem. In the northeast, jihadist groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) are well-established.

In the northwest, bandit gangs are active in states like Zamfara, Sokoto, and Katsina.

Hostages released in large raids

Military leaders said the troops acted on reliable information, which led to precise air strikes followed by ground attacks. They found weapons like AK-47 rifles, homemade bombs, and bullets. People in Borno and Niger states have confirmed that several villagers who were kidnapped have been freed.

Security experts say that the size of the operation shows that the group is moving toward more aggressive strategies. Kabiru Adamu, a security consultant in Abuja, said, “The army is trying to show that it can control the battlefield and stop terrorists from regrouping.” “But keeping up this pace will need regular resources and coordination of intelligence.”

For now, the rescues have helped families who have been through a lot, even though they are still worried about more attacks. Local leaders told the government that along with military victories, they needed to do more to protect civilians, improve policing, and provide socio-economic support to areas that had been affected.

Since 2009, Nigeria has been fighting an Islamist insurgency that has killed more than 40,000 people and forced more than 2 million people to leave their homes, according to the United Nations. The government’s most recent actions seem to be an attempt to restore trust before the 2026 election campaign season, when security will likely be the main topic of political debate.