…. Military rescues woman, one-year-old child, arrests 12 suspects in North-West
Yoyyibat Qasim
No fewer than 17 terrorists and their family members have surrendered to troops in Borno State, while the military recovered 300 rounds of ammunition and disrupted several terrorist logistics networks across the country within one week.
The Defence Headquarters disclosed this on Friday in its weekly operational briefing covering military operations between September 4 and 10, 2026.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Major-General Michael Onoja, said the terrorist fighters surrendered to troops of Operation Hadin Kai in Monguno and along the Gwoza-Limankara road between September 4 and 7.
According to him, the defectors attributed their decision to abandon the terrorist groups to harsh living conditions, hunger and the lack of basic necessities in their enclaves around the Mandara Mountains.
Onoja said the development came as troops intensified operations against terrorism, kidnapping and other forms of criminality across several theatres of operation.
He said the troops also rescued a woman and her one-year-old child near Gava in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State on September 8.
The woman, identified as an indigene of Chinene, reportedly told the troops that she had been abducted and forced into child marriage in 2025.
The military spokesman further disclosed that troops arrested several suspected terrorists, informants and spies during operations in the North-East, while disrupting the supply chains sustaining terrorist activities.
He said security forces recovered medical supplies, pharmaceuticals and motorcycle spare parts allegedly intended for terrorist groups.
Onoja said, “On September 5, troops arrested a suspected logistics supplier in Benisheikh, Kaga Local Government Area, Borno, with medical and veterinary supplies allegedly intended for a terrorist kingpin.
“Three suspects disguised as farmers and hunters were also arrested in Mafa, Dikwa Local Government Area, on September 6, with pharmaceuticals and motorcycle spare parts allegedly procured with terrorist funds.”
He added that two suspected logistics suppliers were arrested at Gumsa Bridge in Geidam Local Government Area of Yobe State on September 8, with a large consignment of motorcycle spare parts recovered from them.
In the North-West, the Defence Headquarters said troops of Operation Fansan Yamma sustained offensive operations against terrorists and other criminal elements across Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara states.
Onoja said troops, supported by an attack helicopter, attacked a suspected hideout of a terrorist kingpin in Yantumaki Forest, Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State, on September 4.
He said one terrorist was killed during the operation, while others fled, abandoning motorcycles and medical supplies.
In Sokoto State, troops reportedly engaged terrorists at Magarya Forest in Tangaza Local Government Area on September 5, recovering two motorcycles, a rifle and a machine gun.
The troops also engaged suspected terrorists along the Gundumi Road in Isa Local Government Area on September 6, forcing them to retreat into Gundumi Forest and abandoning a rifle.
In Zamfara State, troops reportedly foiled an attempted abduction at Yerima Quarters, Kaura Namoda Local Government Area, after responding to a distress call.
The terrorists were forced to abandon the operation and flee, according to the military.
The military also disclosed that troops intercepted a truck along the Gurbi-Zurmi road in Jibia, Katsina State, on September 6, recovering four motorcycles allegedly concealed among fuel and oil consignments.
Onoja said follow-up operations resulted in the arrest of 12 suspects.
A suspected spy was also arrested at Dange Market in Sokoto State on September 8, he added.
In Kaduna State, troops arrested a suspected terrorist collaborator in Birnin Gwari on September 9 and recovered radio equipment allegedly linked to a reprisal attack on residents.
The biggest ammunition haul during the week came on September 10 when troops intercepted a suspected ammunition courier along the Birnin Gwari axis.
According to Onoja, 300 rounds of ammunition were recovered after the items were allegedly concealed among the suspect’s belongings.
The Defence Headquarters also reported that troops of Operation Savannah Shield recovered an AK-47 rifle and ammunition during a fighting patrol near Dekara village in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
The weapon was believed to have been abandoned by terrorists following an attack on the troops’ location on August 21.
The latest military operations came amid continued efforts by security forces to disrupt terrorist supply networks, prevent kidnappings and restrict the movement of arms and other logistical materials to criminal groups.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, commended the troops for sustaining the operational tempo and disrupting terrorist, kidnapping and arms-trafficking networks.
Oluyede also praised the cooperation between the Armed Forces, other security agencies and local stakeholders, describing such collaboration as critical to confronting the country’s security challenges.
He urged members of the public, traditional rulers and community leaders to continue providing security agencies with timely and credible information capable of assisting ongoing operations.
The CDS assured Nigerians that the Armed Forces would continue to conduct their operations in accordance with their Code of Conduct, Rules of Engagement, International Humanitarian Law and other applicable international best practices.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that the latest figures point to simultaneous military pressure on terrorist fighters, their logistics networks and arms supply chains across the North-East, North-West and parts of the North-Central region.
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