The Defence Headquarters on Thursday said no fewer than 197 insurgents surrendered to troops in March, while 813 kidnapped victims were rescued across various theatres of operation nationwide.
The military high command disclosed this in its latest operational update, highlighting what it described as sustained pressure on terrorist and criminal groups.
According to the DHQ, troops also arrested 1,359 suspects, including terrorists, informants, illegal miners and other criminal elements during coordinated operations within the review period.
It added that 103 terrorists and other criminals were neutralised, including some identified commanders such as Saddam, Saleh Garin Kago and Ba Alayi Benbeng, who were allegedly involved in orchestrating violent attacks.
The statement noted that the wave of surrenders by insurgents reflects ongoing offensives and strategic efforts by the military to weaken armed groups and encourage defections.
“Troops maintained offensive operations across all theatres, leading to the surrender of scores of insurgents and the rescue of kidnapped hostages,” the DHQ stated.
On the humanitarian front, the military said the rescue of 813 abducted victims underscores intensified rescue missions and improved intelligence gathering.
In the oil-rich Niger Delta, the DHQ said troops destroyed 104 illegal refining sites and dismantled related infrastructure as part of ongoing efforts to curb crude oil theft and environmental degradation.
It added that troops recovered 216,570 litres of illegally refined petroleum products, alongside 254 weapons, ammunition and other logistics, pointing to the scale of disrupted criminal activities.
The DHQ further noted that the consistent release of operational scorecards forms part of its transparency strategy, amid similar propaganda efforts by terror groups operating across the Sahel region.
A review of previous months showed a steady rise in military activities. In January, troops rescued 277 kidnapped victims and dismantled 53 illegal refining sites, while in February, 409 abductees were freed and 354 suspects arrested.
Security analysts, however, have continued to call for independent verification of the figures, stressing the need for sustained operations and long-term strategies to address the root causes of insecurity.
Despite the reported gains, Nigeria continues to grapple with insurgency, banditry and oil theft, with the military insisting that ongoing offensives are gradually restoring stability in affected regions.
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