By Emmanuel Obisue
The Armed Forces of Nigeria, AFN, recorded the surrender of no fewer than 122,843 terrorists in the Northeast as military operations intensified across multiple theatres in the first quarter of 2026, Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, said on Tuesday.
Onoja stated that the mass surrender followed sustained kinetic and non-kinetic operations by troops of Operation Hadin Kai, who maintained relentless offensives against Boko Haram, ISWAP, and other terrorist groups. He noted that the figure represents cumulative surrenders recorded over time, with additional fighters laying down arms during the review period due to increasing military pressure.
“Across seven operational theatres, the AFN delivered measurable strategic outcomes: scores of terrorists and criminal leaders eliminated; 1,359 suspects arrested; 813 kidnapped civilians rescued; 197 insurgents surrendered; 458 arms and 15,899 rounds of ammunition recovered; 101 illegal refining sites dismantled; and over 547,920 litres of stolen petroleum products recovered representing a significant degradation of criminal and terrorist operational capacity nationwide,” Onoja disclosed while briefing journalists at the DHQ.
Onoja added that precision airstrikes and coordinated ground assaults significantly degraded insurgent capabilities and disrupted their logistics networks.
He explained that the operations also led to the elimination of key terrorist commanders, including top ring leaders neutralized in Sambisa Forest, as well as the foiling of multiple attacks in locations such as Damboa, Baga, and Mallam Fatori.
According to him, troops also recovered arms, ammunition, and other logistics, while intercepting supplies meant for terrorist groups.
Gen. Onoja noted that beyond the Northeast, troops in the Northwest, Northcentral, Southsouth, and Southeast theatres recorded significant successes, including the arrest of over 1,300 suspects and the rescue of hundreds of kidnapped victims. He stated that illegal oil refining sites were dismantled in the Niger Delta, while anti-criminality operations disrupted activities of armed groups in other regions.
He also stated that the AFN remained committed to professionalism, adherence to international humanitarian law, and sustained collaboration with other security agencies and the public to enhance national security.
I’m Onoja added that the military would continue to intensify operations to dismantle all terrorist and criminal elements, while urging citizens to support security agencies with timely and credible information.
