By Joy Yesufu
The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) has recorded major operational successes across all theatres of operation in 2025, neutralising top terrorist commanders, arresting thousands of suspects and rescuing more than 2,300 kidnapped victims nationwide.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during a year-end operational briefing, assuring Nigerians that Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) assets remain fully deployed to track terrorist movements and prevent displaced fighters from regrouping in new locations.
Speaking to journalists, the Director of Defence Media Information, Major General Michael Onojah, said troops operating in collaboration with other security agencies eliminated several high-profile terrorist and bandit leaders between January and December 2025.
According to him, the year-end operational review showed that security forces arrested 4,375 criminal suspects and secured the surrender of 1,616 terrorists and their family members during the period.
The operations, executed under various Joint Task Forces nationwide, targeted terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, oil theft and other threats to national security.
In the North-East, troops under Operation HADIN KAI sustained pressure on Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) elements, neutralising senior commanders and fighters, arresting 1,323 suspects, securing the surrender of 1,616 terrorists and rescuing 498 abducted victims.
Several terrorist camps and logistics hubs were destroyed, while arms, ammunition, vehicles and ₦32 million in cash were recovered.
In the North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA recorded notable gains against banditry and kidnapping, with troops neutralising numerous fighters, arresting 669 suspects and rescuing 966 kidnapped persons.
A major highlight was a joint precision strike, supported by intelligence collaboration with the United States, against Islamic State (ISIS) enclaves in the Bauni Forest area of Sokoto State.
According to the military, 16 GPS-guided munitions deployed via unmanned aerial platforms dismantled key terrorist assembly points without civilian casualties.
In the North-Central region, operations under ENDURING PEACE and WHIRL STROKE targeted armed banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and farmers-herders clashes. Troops arrested over 1,200 suspects, rescued 755 abducted persons and dismantled arms trafficking networks operating across Benue, Kogi, Plateau, Nasarawa and Taraba states.
In the South-South, Operation DELTA SAFE intensified efforts against oil theft and illegal refining, thwarting crude oil theft valued at ₦8.9 billion. Troops recovered more than 20 million litres of stolen petroleum products, destroyed 503 illegal refining sites, arrested 778 suspects and rescued 53 kidnapped victims.
In the South-East, intensified operations under Operation UDO KA weakened the activities of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN). Troops neutralised several fighters, arrested 324 suspects and rescued at least 64 abducted persons.
Major General Onojah attributed the decline in violent incidents in the region to sustained intelligence-led operations and recent court rulings against key figures linked to the group.
