…Confirms 136 killed, 160 Arrested, 200 Rescued
A sweeping, multi-front military offensive across Nigeria has delivered one of the most forceful crackdowns on insurgents, bandits, and separatist fighters in recent months, with the Nigerian Air Force and ground troops combining to dismantle camps, kill scores of fighters, and rescue kidnapped civilians nationwide.
According to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Olufemi Oluyede through the Director , Defense Media Operations (DDMO), Major General Michael Onoja during a detailed monthly briefing on the ongoing military activities nationwide, laid out a step-by-step account of April’s operations, describing a coordinated campaign that cut across all regions and struck at the heart of multiple armed networks simultaneously.
ReportCircle reports that the scale, intensity, and outcomes mark a major escalation in Nigeria’s counter terrorism war.
NORTHEAST
In the insurgency-ravaged Northeast, Operation Hadin Kai unleashed sustained attacks on Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province positions across Borno State, Yobe State, and Adamawa State.
136 terrorists killed
114 suspects arrested
18 kidnapped victims rescued
9 insurgents surrendered
The fiercest clash came in Yobe, where troops repelled a large-scale assault, killing 21 fighters and capturing heavy weapons, including machine guns and rocket launchers.
Airstrikes in Borno wiped out entire insurgent enclaves, killing about 20 militants in a single strike, while ground troops rescued women and children escaping captivity fighting off counterattacks from retreating fighters.
NORTHWEST
Across Zamfara, Kebbi , and Sokoto States, security forces targeted entrenched bandit networks.
24 terrorists killed
32 suspects arrested
70 kidnapped victims rescued
In a dramatic operation in Kaduna, troops stormed kidnappers’ hideouts and freed abducted worshippers sending a clear signal that even places of worship are no longer soft targets.
Multiple camps were destroyed, and supply routes disrupted as pressure intensified across the region.
NORTH CENTRAL
Operations under Safe Haven, Whirl Stroke, and Enduring Peace pushed deep into forest corridors across Niger, Plateau, and Benue States.
Dozens of fighters neutralized
Scores of suspects arrested
Over 90 kidnapped victims rescued
In Plateau, troops dismantled a weapons fabrication hub, cutting off supply lines to criminal gangs.
In Benue, a shocking orphanage raid saw 24 children abducted—but 17 escaped, prompting an ongoing large-scale rescue mission for the remaining victims.
DELTA SWAMP OPERATIONS
In the oil-rich Niger Delta, Operation Delta Safe targeted economic sabotage and kidnapping rings.
17 suspects arrested
Illegal refineries destroyed
Over 100,000 litres of stolen petroleum recovered
Troops also rescued kidnapped farmers and elderly residents, tightening security across riverine communities long plagued by criminal syndicates.
SOUTHEAST SHOWDOWN
In the Southeast, operations intensified against the Indigenous People of Biafra and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network.
On April 27, troops backed by air power stormed a fortified militant base deep inside Ajali Forest.
Camp overrun after fierce resistance
Trenches and structures destroyed
Shrine used for logistics dismantled
7 IEDs and a grenade recovered and neutralized
the DDMO described the strike as a “landmark hit”, crippling a key coordination hub linking Southeast and South-South operations.
FOLLOW-UP STRIKES
Momentum continued within 24 hours:
Troops foiled a kidnapping attempt, rescuing four victims
Recovered vehicles used in the operation
In a major intelligence breakthrough, forces arrested a high-profile suspect:
Chison Agashi Ogadegu (“Baron”) captured
Linked to multiple kidnappings and arms trafficking
Confessed to moving rifles after a deadly police attack
A raid on his residence uncovered:
AK-47 rifle
3 magazines
17 rounds of ammunition
His arrest follows the earlier capture of another suspect, Chinidu Egaotu (“Calamity”), tightening the net around the network.
Major General Onoja stressed that beyond firepower, local intelligence and civilian cooperation played a decisive role.
Vigilantes, community informants, and coordinated surveillance helped troops track movements, intercept kidnappers, and rescue victims faster.
From the Sambisa Forest to the creeks of the Niger Delta, April’s operations reflect a synchronized national offensive aimed at breaking the operational backbone of terror and criminal groups.
“The mission remains clear every network, every cell, every threat will be dismantled,” a defence official stated.
Despite the gains, security experts warn that insurgent groups remain adaptive.
But one message from April’s offensive is unmistakable: Nigeria’s military has shifted gear and the battlefield is no longer predictable for those it hunts.
