KEY POINTS

• Nigerian troops rescued 363 kidnapped victims, killed 69 terrorists and arrested 49 suspects in one week, the DHQ said.
• The biggest rescue freed 308 victims, mostly women and children, in Kainji Lake National Park on 5 August.
• Troops dismantled three illegal refineries and recovered 251,600 litres of stolen crude; one soldier died and another was injured.

Nigerian troops rescued 363 kidnapped victims, killed 69 terrorists and arrested 49 suspects during a week of land, air and sea offensives across the country, the Defence Headquarters said.

Major General Michael Onoja, the Director of Defence Media Operations, announced the results and confirmed that the fighting cost one soldier his life, while another soldier sustained injuries.

Where Nigerian troops rescued victims

According to Onoja, the largest rescue came on 5 August, when troops of Operation Savanna Shield freed 308 abducted victims, mostly women and children, inside the Kainji Lake National Park in Borgu, Niger State. Of that number, 163 came from Woro village in Kwara State, while 145 came from Niger State.

Elsewhere, troops of Operation Hadin Kai foiled an abduction along the Buratai-Kamuya road in Borno State and rescued 31 people. Moreover, forces in Benue freed seven victims seized on the Wukari-Zaki-Biam road, and troops in Edo State rescued 11 travelers after a kidnap attempt on the Lagos-Benin road. In several cases, family members surrendered or fled terrorist enclaves, and commanders handed the freed captives back to their communities.

In the North West, troops of Operation Fansan Yamma intercepted 21 people crossing through Kaduna State and identified five as terrorists, whom they handed to the Department of State Services. Furthermore, an air strike in Mariga, Niger State, hit terrorists who had gathered with about 15 motorcycles, and a battle damage assessment confirmed the losses.

Crackdown on oil theft and arms

Beyond the rescues, troops also targeted economic saboteurs. During the week, they discovered and dismantled three reactivated illegal refinery sites, recovered 251,600 litres of stolen crude and destroyed 12 dug-out storage pits. In addition, maritime forces under Operation Delta Sentinel cleared refining sites across the Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni axis of Rivers State.

Troops also seized weapons in raids nationwide. They recovered AK-47 magazines and hundreds of rounds of ammunition in Nasarawa State, and they arrested suspected gun runners and logistics suppliers in the North East. Consequently, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, praised the troops, thanked security partners and urged the public to keep sharing useful information until forces restore stability.