Military Rescues 318 Hostages, Arrests 74 in Major Nationwide Crackdown — DHQ
The Defence Headquarters has announced that Military troops deployed across the Country rescued 318 kidnapped victims and arrested 74 suspects linked to terrorism, oil theft and other criminal activities in November.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed this on Thursday during a media briefing in Abuja, noting that intensified operations across various theatres yielded significant results. He added that sustained pressure in the North-East forced 69 terrorists and their family members to surrender to security forces.
“For the month of November, several terrorists, bandits, extremists and other criminal elements were arrested, scores neutralised, and over 69 of them alongside their family members surrendered, while 318 kidnapped victims were also rescued,” Onoja stated.
Onoja further revealed that troops recorded major achievements in tackling oil theft, a crime that continues to drain National revenue. According to him, operatives arrested 25 suspects, deactivated 16 illegal refining sites, and recovered petroleum products valued at N217,664,618.
Recovered items included 201,700 litres of crude oil and 88,177 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel).
He commended the troops for their resilience and urged them to sustain the momentum as operations expand to address emerging security threats.
The Military also appealed to Nigerians to continue providing credible information to aid ongoing operations.
“We continue to solicit the support of all Nigerians. We also call for support for our veterans by embracing the Armed Forces Remembrance Day emblem launched by Mr President on December 2, 2025,” Onoja added.
Addressing recent cases of student abductions, Onoja assured the public that the Armed Forces were deploying all available measures to secure the safe return of the remaining abducted schoolchildren.
“We are emplacing all necessary measures, systems and activities humanly possible to ensure that the remaining students recently abducted are rescued and returned to their families unhurt,” he said.
The announcement comes amid renewed concerns over rising mass abductions across the Country, which continue to threaten National Security.
The Defence Headquarters reaffirmed its commitment to restoring peace and stability Nationwide, stressing that intensified operations will continue in the coming weeks.
