Military Neutralize 221 Terrorists, Arrest 674 Suspects in February - DHQ

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja 

The Defence Headquarters says it's troops has recorded significant achievements in her operations against proscribed terrorist groups across Nigeria in February 2025. During the month, security forces neutralized 221 terrorists, arrested 674 suspects, and rescued 320 kidnapped hostages. Several insurgents, along with their families, surrendered, and troops recovered a substantial cache of weapons and equipment.

Director of Defence Media Operations DMO, Maj-Gen  Markus Kangye disclosed this in a statement on Thursday said that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remained steadfast in its counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency efforts. Ground, maritime, and air forces conducted coordinated offensives, targeting terrorist hideouts and preventing oil theft in the South-South region.

According to him in the North east, Troops of Operations HADIN KAI neutralized 75 terrorists, arrested 71 suspects and rescued 75 kidnapped hostages. Additionally, troops recorded 152 surrendered BH/ISWAP terrorists’ combatants and their families.

The summary of recovered items includes 49 AK47 rifles,15 fabricated rifles, 9 dane guns, 4 assorted arms, 1,896 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 227 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 23 assorted ammunitions.

He also said Troops of Operation FASAN YAMMA In the North West, during the month of February 2025, neutralized 88 terrorists, arrested 31 suspects and rescued 136 kidnapped hostages. 51 AK47 rifles, 13 fabricated guns, 4 dane guns, 3 assorted arms, 1,410 rounds of 7.62mm special, 194 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 30 assorted ammunitions.

In the North West, Troops of Operation WHIRL PUNCH recorded the following in the month of February 2025, neutralized 34 terrorists, arrested 124 suspects and rescued 57 kidnap hostages. They recovered 26 AK47 rifles, 11 dane guns, 13 fabricated rifles 3 assorted arms, 616 rounds of 7.62mm special, 85 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 25 assorted ammunitions.

Major General Kangye also revealed that North Central troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN neutralized 12 violent extremists, arrested 130 and rescued 26 kidnap hostages. They also recovered 11 AK47 rifles, 4 fabricated guns, 2 dane guns, 2 assorted arms, 309 rounds of 7.62mm special and 199 assorted ammunitions.

Feathermore, he said in North Central during the Month of February 2025, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE neutralized 5 terrorists, arrested 172 suspects and rescued 16 kidnap hostages. Additionally, troops recovered 6 AK47 rifles, 5 fabricated guns, 2 assorted arms and 605 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.

While in the South South region, Maj Gen Kangye said troops of Operation DELTA SAFE maintained the momentum against the activities of crude oil thieves and continued to find and destroy illegal refining sites as well as arrest the perpetrators of oil theft.

He added that during the month of February 2025, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE neutralized 3 criminals and arrested 122 persons involved in crude oil theft.

Troops also denied the oil theft of 1,790,934 litres of crude oil, 402,936 litres of AGO, 600 litres of DPK and 9,175 litres of PMS. Furthermore, troops recovered 28 assorted arms, 548 assorted ammunition and destroyed 114 wooden boats as well as 156 illegal refining sites.

Gen Kangye said, in the South East region, Troops of Operation UDO KA conducted offensive operations against IPOB/ESN as well as other criminality activities in the region during the month under review and achieved tremendously. Overall, 4 terrorists were neutralized, 24 have been arrested, while 10 kidnapped hostages were rescued. They also recovered 3 AK47 rifles, 9 pump action guns, 18 assorted arms, 235 live cartridges and 525 assorted ammunition.