Troops Intensify Operations to Neutralise Threats to National Security – DHQ

… As troops eliminate key terrorists’ commanders, kidnappers, foiled oil thefts amongst other decisive operations

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has disclosed that in the month of August, 2025, troops continued to intensify joint operations aimed at neutralizing threats to national security, restoring stability, and safeguarding the lives and property of citizens.

Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, made the disclosure in a press briefing on the ongoing Military operations by the Armed Forces of Nigeria for month of August, 2025.

He further informed that these efforts span across various theatres of operation, including counter-insurgency in the North East, anti-banditry operations in the North West, anti-oil theft and maritime security patrols in the South-South, and other internal security support roles in collaboration with sister agencies nationwide.

While providing key operations and their outcomes, General Kangye revealed that troops eliminated some key terrorists commanders during firefights as well as through air bombardment.

“They have also arrested terrorists, kidnappers and other criminals. The likes of Adamu Buba otherwise known as Mai-Pankshin in Riyom and Abdullahi Abubakar who have been terrorising Rafiki village in Bassa LGA of Plateau State while 2 suspected gunrunners were arrested along Kwoi-Keffi road in Jamaá LGA of Kaduna State. Similarly, 2 suspected Kidnappers identified as Mohammed Sanusi and Usman Alhaji Bala were arrested in Obajana, Lokoja LGA of Kogi State.

“The highlights from Operation DELTA SAFE during the period under review indicates that troops foiled oil theft worth over Five Hundred and Forty Five Million Eight Hundred and Seventy Two Thousand Eight Hundred and Nineteen Naira (N545,872,819.00) only.

“The breakdown indicates: 619,236 litres of stolen crude oil, 106,147 litres of illegally refined AGO and 5,785 litres of DPK and 2,650 litres of PMS.

“Additionally, they discovered and destroyed over 488 equipment and 97 illegal refining sites.

“Additionally, troops across the theatre recovered large quantities of various arms, such as automatic weapons, RPG tubes, anti aircraft guns, machine guns, locally fabricated guns, and improvised explosive devices.

“Also, some cache of live cartridges and assorted ammunition were recovered. Our gallant troops have demonstrated optimally in sustaining the conduct of re-newed operational strategy that afforded our farmers within the crisis areas to carry out farming activities.

“This effort will be sustained throughout the farming season and beyond,” he assured.

JOINT TASK FORCE NORTH EAST OPERATION HADIN KAI

The operational activities of Joint Task Force North East OPERATION HADIN KAI (OPHK). Between 29 August – 2 September 2025, troops of OPHK sustained the momentum by denying Boko Haram, ISWAP and JAS terrorists freedom of action in the North East region.

During the period, our ground forces in conjunction with the Air Component and Hybrid forces as well as local security stakeholders, conducted aggressive operations across the theatre.

Their effort led to the elimination of terrorists, their logistics suppliers, recovery of weapons, dismantling of terrorists’ networks and support for safe resettlement of displaced persons and their safe return to farming activities.

Our gallant troops conducted kinetic operations against terrorists in Mafa, Bama, Damboa, Gwoza, Kukawa, Jere, Askira-Uba and Mobbar LGAs of Borno State as well as Duhu, Gulak towns in Madagali LGA of Adamawa State.

During the encounters, troops eliminated scores of terrorists and arrested 2 suspected terrorists accomplices, while 8 kidnapped victims were rescued.

Also, between 29 August – 1 September 2025, troops conducted operations in Bama, Biu and Marte LGAs of Borno State as well as Madagali, Michika and Damaturu LGAs of Adamawa and Yobe States respectively.

During the encounters, 13 terrorist’s collaborators, informants and a gunrunner as well as a drug peddler were arrested. Ammunition, logistics items, illicit drugs, vehicles and motorcycles were also recovered from them, while some IEDs were safely detonated in Abadam, Gwoza and Mobbar LGAs of the State.

Recovered Items are in troops custody, while interrogation is ongoing.

JOINT TASK FORCE NORTH WEST OPERATION FANSAN YAMMA

Troops of OPFY upscaled their operations during the week in focus where some terrorists were eliminated and kidnapped victims rescued. For instance, between 31 August – 2 September 2025, troops conducted offensive operations in Shinkafi and Tsafe LGAs of Zamfara State as well as Isa, Bingi and Tureta LGAs of Sokoto State.

They also conducted operations in Shanono and Takai LGAs of Kano State as well as Kaduna South, Makarfi and Ngaski LGAs of Kaduna and Kebbi states respectively.

During these operations, some terrorists were killed, 23 arrested, while 6 kidnapped victims were also rescued. They furthered their operation to Malumfashi LGA of Katsina State where they encountered and killed some terrorists and rescued 4 kidnapped victims.

Some arms and ammunition were also recovered. Relatedly, our gallant troops responded to information about terrorist activities in Faskari and Sabuwa LGAs of Katsina State as well as Tangaza and Augie LGAs of Sokoto and Kebbi State respectively.

During the encounters, troops eliminated some terrorists, recovered arms and ammunition and 14 kidnapped victims.

Meanwhile, on 30 August 2025, a suspected terrorist was arrested while on transit in Borgu LGA of Niger State.

During a thorough search, some arms, Ammunition, motorcycle and the sum of N321,000.00 were recovered him.

JOINT TASK FORCE NORTH CENTRAL OPERATION ENDURING PEACE

During the week, troops of OP ENDURING PEACE responded to several distress calls about terrorists activities in some sectors.

For instance, within the period 30 August – 2 September 2025, troops conducted offensive operations and responded to distress calls on terrorists’ activities in Mangu, Jos North, Riyom, QuaÁn Pan, Barki Ladi, Jos East and Bassa LGAs of Plateau State as well as Kaura LGA of Kaduna State.

During the firefights, troops killed some of the terrorists, arrested 6 criminals and rescued 2 kidnapped victims. Some weapons, ammunition, motorcycles and vehicles were recovered from them.

In another development, troops arrested a suspected kidnapper while withdrawing the sum of N3,000,000.00 from a POS vendor in Bassa LGA on 30 August 2025.

JOINT TASK FORCE NORTH CENTRAL OPERATION WHIRL STROKE

Troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE recorded some successes in their Area of Responsibility during the week.

They conducted operations between 31 August – 2 September 2025, in Nasarawa, Keana and Akwanga LGAs of Nasarawa State as well as Logo, Agatu, Gwer West, Ukum, Kwande and Katsina Ala LGAs of Benue State.

They conducted operations in Karim Lamido, Wukari, Donga and Lau LGAs of Taraba State as well as Gwagwalada Area Council of the FCT.

Similar operations were also conducted in Lokoja and Kabba LGAs of Kogi State. During the operations, troops eliminated some extremists and kidnappers, arrested 9 of them and rescued 13 kidnapped hostages.

They also recovered arms and ammunition, mobile phones, motorcycles and vehicles.

JOINT TASK FORCE SOUTH-SOUTH OPERATION DELTA SAFE

In Operation DELTA SAFE theatre, troops foiled oil theft worth over Twenty Eight Million Eight Hundred Thousand Seven Hundred and Twenty Naira N28,800,720.00) only. The breakdown indicates; 24,801 litres of stolen crude oil, 3,250 litres of AGO and 850 litres of PMS.

Additionally, they discovered and destroyed 4 crude oil cooking ovens, 11 dugout pits, 7 boats, 5 storage tanks and 8 illegal refining sites.

Furthermore, 17 oil thieves and other criminals were arrested, while assorted arms and ammunition and some explosives, were also recovered.

Relatedly, between 30 August – 1 September 2025, troops on offensive operations,
arrested 5 suspected criminals in Ahoada and Emohua LGAs of Rivers State as well as Ethiope East, Bomadi and sapale LGAs of Delta State.

The troops, they recovered arms, ammunition, a vehicle and the sum of N1,702,100.00 from the criminals.

JOINT TASK FORCE SOUTH EAST OPERATION UDO KA

Troops of Operation UDO KA sustained offensive posture throughout the week under review.

They conducted operations in Ihiala and Aguata LGAs of Anambra State as well as Okigwe and Arochokwu LGAs of Imo and Abia state.

However during patrol in Arochokwu, troops discovered some banner boldly written National Research and Production, Biafra Province Government, Bende Division and Biafra Military Depot in the area.

The camps were destroyed, while some arms and ammunition, motorcycles, IEDs and some pairs of military boots were recovered from the camps.

Additional Information

On the incessant protest by some Discharged Soldiers at the Federal Ministry of Information, the DHQ clarified that “It would be recalled that the Federal Government of Nigeria implemented the new minimum wage for all Federal Government Workers in July 2024.

“Before the implementation of the minimum wage, there was a chart based on which gratuity and Security Debarment Allowance (SDA) was calculated, then, the minimum wage chart.

“The 2 charts are: a. Pre-Minimum Wage Chart – Effective 1 Jan – 28 July 2024.
Minimum Wage Chart – Effective 29 July 2024 to date

“Calculation of Gratuity and SDA. Gratuity and SDA for military personnel is calculated based on salary chart on the effective date of retirement.

“Unfortunately, the Soldiers who retired between 1 January 2024 – 28 July 2024, before the implementation of the new minimum wage wanted their gratuity and SDA to be calculated based on the new minimum wage chart.

“This cannot be done because the policy of the new minimum wage came into effect on 29
July 2024.

“Thus, Soldiers who fall within the category of Pre-Minimum Wage Chart, are those who continually protest and construct barricades at the Federal Ministry of Finance, despite being educated on the 2 charts by the Defence Headquarters.

“It is necessary to reiterate that government policies have effective date of implementation and this case cannot be an exception.

“Their action is seriously affecting the smooth conduct of activities at the Ministry of Finance.

“The Defence Headquarters acknowledges freedom of legitimate protest, but the Veterans are strongly advised to trade with caution and vacate the premises of the Federal Ministry of Finance in order to pave way for normal government functions to be seamless conducted.

In conclusion, Major General Kangye reassured that “the Armed Forces of Nigeria remains fully committed to its constitutional mandate of defending the territorial integrity of our nation, supporting civil authorities in maintaining internal security, and ensuring peace and stability across all regions.

“Let me also take this opportunity to commend our gallant troops in all theatres of operation for their unwavering courage, professionalism, and sacrifice in the service of our nation.

“Their efforts are yielding positive results, and we remain resolute in sustaining the momentum, “ he concluded.