According to a statement released by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, Nigerian troops arrested approximately 450 suspects and rescued 180 civilians in September 2025.1 The operations were conducted nationwide as part of the military’s ongoing efforts to combat terrorism, banditry, and other forms of criminality.2
Key statistics from the report:
- Arrests and Rescues: Troops arrested around 450 criminals, including terrorists, bandits, and extremists, while also rescuing 180 civilians from captivity.3
- Surrendered Insurgents: A total of 39 terrorists surrendered to the troops.4
- Weapons and Ammunition Recoveries: The military recovered 63 arms and 4,475 rounds of ammunition during the operations.5
- Other Recoveries: In addition to weapons, troops recovered 294 other items used by criminals, such as grenades, improvised explosive device materials, handheld radios, motorcycles, and vehicles.6
- Combating Oil Theft: Troops of Operation DELTA SAFE successfully thwarted oil theft attempts valued at over N112 million, recovering thousands of liters of crude oil and other refined products.7 They also destroyed 41 illegal refining sites.
The Defence Headquarters’ report detailed operations in several regions, including the northeast under Operation HADIN KAI, the north-central under Operation WHIRL STROKE, and the Niger Delta under Operation DELTA SAFE.8 These military activities are part of the government’s strategy to address the root causes of insecurity and create a secure environment for economic activities and the resettlement of displaced persons.9
