Nigeria Military Reports Killing of 102 Terrorists and Rescue of Nearly 400 Kidnap Victims in July

In July, the Armed Forces of Nigeria announced major security gains across the country. Troops neutralised more than 102 terrorists and other criminals, arrested 345 suspects and rescued between 393 and 397 kidnapped victims in operations spanning the six geopolitical zones. The operations, led by Major General Michael Onoja, included Operation Hadin Kai in the North‑East, Operation Fansan Yamma in the North‑West, and Operation Delta Safe in the South‑South. A senior ISWAP commander, Abu Salim al‑Barnawi, was killed, and a senior ISWAP finance operative surrendered, handing over weapons and ammunition. Security forces recovered 59 firearms and 1,811 rounds of ammunition, with another report citing the seizure of 1,870 arms and ammunition. The military also dismantled 18 illegal oil‑refining sites in the Niger Delta, recovering over 250,500 litres of stolen petroleum products. Additionally, troops captured three suspects linked to a May 4 ambush that killed a soldier, recovering stolen AK‑47 and FN rifles and additional ammunition. These coordinated actions were presented as a significant blow to terrorist, kidnapping and oil‑theft networks in Nigeria.