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The Defence Headquarters has introduced a toll-free emergency line, 193, to encourage Nigerians to provide intelligence on security threats, as it announced that troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria killed 662 terrorists and other criminal elements nationwide during the second quarter of 2026.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Micheal Onoja, disclosed this on Wednesday while presenting the military’s operational report for June and the second quarter in Abuja.
He urged Nigerians to support security operations by sharing credible intelligence through the new emergency line or the nearest military formation, assuring that all information would be treated confidentially.
“The general public is encouraged to continue providing timely and accurate information to the nearest military formation or through the toll-free line 193. You are assured that all information received will be treated with the utmost confidentiality,” he said.
According to him, troops recorded major operational gains between April and June, weakening the activities of terrorists, kidnappers, oil thieves and other criminal groups across the country.
Onoja said troops neutralised 662 terrorists and criminals, arrested 1,084 suspects, rescued 951 kidnapped civilians, and received the surrender of 39 insurgents during the quarter.
He added that troops also recovered 328 firearms and 12,590 rounds of ammunition, dismantled 12 illegal refining sites, and recovered more than 464,268 litres of stolen petroleum products, describing the achievements as a significant blow to criminal and terrorist networks.
“For the Second Quarter 2026, the Armed Forces of Nigeria neutralised 662 terrorists and criminals, arrested 1,084 terrorists and criminal elements, rescued 951 kidnapped civilians, received the surrender of 39 insurgents, recovered 328 arms and 12,590 rounds of ammunition, dismantled 12 illegal refining sites, and recovered over 464,268 litres of stolen petroleum products, representing a significant degradation of criminal and terrorist operational capacity nationwide.”
For June alone, the military said 129 terrorists and criminals were killed, 486 suspects arrested, 542 kidnapped victims rescued, while 11 insurgents surrendered. Troops also recovered 130 firearms, 5,668 rounds of ammunition, dismantled seven illegal refining sites, and seized more than 308,515 litres of stolen petroleum products.
Onoja described the results as evidence of the Armed Forces’ professionalism and determination.
He said the period witnessed the rescue of more than 360 civilians, including what he described as a landmark multi-axis rescue operation in the Mandara Mountains, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, on June 6.
According to him, troops also eliminated several hostile fighters, dismantled terrorist logistics networks, recovered large caches of weapons and ammunition, intercepted stolen petroleum products, and targeted the leadership structures of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network.
He said all operations were carried out in line with international humanitarian law, constitutional rules of engagement, and the Armed Forces’ mandate to protect lives, property and Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
“Collectively, these represent a period of exceptional operational achievement across all geopolitical zones. All operations were conducted in strict adherence to International Humanitarian Law, constitutional rules of engagement, and the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s fundamental mandate to protect the life, property and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he stated.
The military also highlighted a series of high-profile arrests.
Onoja said a suspected terrorist informant on the military’s watch list was arrested at Kara Market in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State on June 4 and remains under interrogation.
He added that three suspected terrorists and informants were arrested two days later in the Wawa-Doro area of Borgu LGA, where troops recovered a mobile phone containing terrorist propaganda materials and images of a beheaded victim.
On June 16, troops arrested Hafsatu Alh Bello, wife of notorious terrorist leader Auta Ilori, near Ndeji in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State. According to Onoja, intelligence obtained during her interrogation provided useful information on her husband’s criminal network.
The military also arrested two suspects linked to a foiled schoolchildren abduction in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, while four suspected terrorists were apprehended at a correctional farm centre in Ogbomoso South Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Onoja said preliminary investigations revealed incriminating photographs and confessions linking the suspects to terrorist activities.
He further disclosed that troops repelled several planned attacks during the month.
According to him, soldiers foiled a coordinated terrorist assault on communities in Buratai District, Biu Local Government Area of Borno State, on June 18, recovering an AK-47 rifle and more than 200 rounds of ammunition.
On June 27, troops also prevented a planned attack on Rigange in Lamurde Local Government Area of Adamawa State, killing one terrorist and recovering three AK-47 rifles, four magazines and 26 rounds of ammunition.
He added that five suspected kidnappers were killed on June 28 in Magumeri Local Government Area of Borno State after attempting to seize soldiers’ weapons during a recovery operation.
A day later, troops engaged suspected Tsobo militia members during a patrol in the Gundili area of Lamurde LGA, recovering three AK-47 rifles, two Dane guns, seven magazines and 190 rounds of ammunition.
Beyond combat operations, Onoja said troops intensified efforts to dismantle terrorist support networks while more insurgents continued to surrender.
Among those who surrendered, he said, were two teenage girls in Pulka, Gwoza Local Government Area, a woman with her infant in Kukawa Local Government Area, and eight other escapees, including the widow of a Civilian Joint Task Force member.
He also disclosed that troops arrested a suspected terrorist collaborator identified as Abubakar Usman, also known as Buba, at the Government Secondary School Internally Displaced Persons Camp on June 14 following actionable intelligence.
