DHQ Reveals How Troops, Hybrid Forces, Security Agencies Made Significant Gains Against Terrorism, Others

By Century News

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has disclosed that that gallant troops, in collaboration with other security agencies and Hybrid Forces have made significant gains in the fight against terrorism, insurgency, banditry, and other criminal activities.

This was revealed by the Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye at the weekly press briefing on the ongoing Military operations by the Armed Forces of Nigeria for the week ending 22 August, 2025.

General Kangye who remarked that through coordinated air and ground operations, noted that this has successfully led to the neutralisation of key threats, rescue of kidnapped victims, recovery of arms and ammunition, and destruction of criminal hideouts among others during the week in focus.

According to him, “these achievements reflect the unwavering resolve of the Nigerian Armed Forces to defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and unity of our nation against all threats.
“These operations are yielding tangible results, restoring peace and security to affected communities, and reaffirming our commitment to securing every inch of Nigerian territory.
“The successes we are sharing today are not only a testament to the professionalism and bravery of our personnel, but also to the growing cooperation of local communities and the Nigerian people.

“The intensity of our operations have also afforded our farmers to carry out farming activities unhindered,”

He reiterated that this effort will be sustained throughout the farming season and beyond.

The briefing provided a detailed breakdown of the successes recorded by the troops and other security agencies as well as critical stakeholders in various theatres of operations within the week under review.

JOINT TASK FORCE NORTH EAST OPERATION HADIN KAI

Joint Task Force North East OPERATION HADIN KAI (OPHK). Spanning between 14 – 21 August 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, 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.

The troops conducted kinetic operations against terrorists in the general areas of Danbore, Arnari, Limankara Kekeno, Gajiram and Gonori villages in Monguno, Kukawa, Mobbar, Gwoza, Konduga, Chibok, Ngazai and Bama LGAs of Borno State.
They also conducted operations in Damaturu LGA of Yobe State. During the encounters, they eliminated scores of terrorists, arrested 9 of others and rescued 3 kidnapped victims.

Also, between 13 – 20 August 2025, troops conducted operations in Kurtum, Gamboru Ngala, Auno, Ngulde and Kwatan Alkama Villages of Biu, Ngala, Konduga, Gubio, askira Uba, Damboa and Kukawa LGAs of Borno State as well as Geidam, Damaturu and Nguru LGAs of Yobe State.

During the encounters, a suspected terrorist was eliminated, 9 of their collaborators/informants were arrested, while 3 kidnapped victims were rescued. Weapons, ammunitions, logistics item, vehicles, motorcycles and the sum of N191,700.00 were also recovered from them, while some IEDs were safely detonated.

Following arrest of a suspected terrorist in Gubio LGA of Borno State on 7 August 2025, the suspect confessed to hidding some arms and ammunition in a location, about which his wife and uncle knew. On arrival at the location on 17 Augusts 2025, troops recovered 3 AK47 rifles, magazines and ammunitions through the guidance of his accomplice.

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 13 – 20 August 2025, troops conducted offensive operations in Shinkafi, Anka, Bukkuyum, Kaura Namoda and Tsafe LGAs of Zamfara State. They also conducted operations in Faskari, Danmusa and Sabon Birni LGAs of Katsina and Sokoto States respectively.

During these operations, some terrorists were killed, 3 of them were arrested, while 14 kidnapped victims were rescued. Relatedly, our gallant troops responded to information about terrorist activities in Kafur and Sabon Birni LGAs of Katsina and Sokoto States as well as Tsafe and Igabi LGAs of Zamfara and Kaduna State. Similar operation was also conducted in Mariga LGA of Niger State.

During the encounters, troops eliminated terrorists, arrested 11 of them and rescued 46 kidnapped victims.

Meanwhile, 11 suspected terrorists and their accomplice were arrested in Shangah, Tangaza LGAs of Kebbi and Sokoto States as well as Maradun LGA of Zamfara State
between 14 – 18 August 2025.

JOINT TASK FORCE NORTH CENTRAL OPERATION SAFE HAVEN

During the week, troops of OPSH responded to several distress calls about terrorists activities in some sectors.
For instance, within the period 13 – 20 August 2025, troops conducted offensive operations and responded to distress calls on terrorists’ activities in Jos North, Riyom, Wase, Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, Mangu and Kanam LGAs of Plateau State as well as Kaura and Sanga LGAs of Kaduna State.

During the firefights, troops killed some of the terrorists, arrested 2 criminals and rescued 5 kidnapped victims. Some weapons, ammunition, motorcycles and vehicles were recovered from them. Relatedly,

The General Officer Commanding, Major Gen EF Oyinlola handed 220 arms and 1,874 ammunition recovered to the DG National Centre for Control of Small arms and Light Weapon, Mr Abdul Adamu on 17 August 2025 in Jos Plateau State.

Additionally, troops arrested a wanted notorious criminal identified as Adamu Buba (aka Mai Pankshin) and 13 others in Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Jos South,Bassa and Jos North LGAs of Plateau State as well as Jaba and Zangon Kataf LGAs of Kaduna State.

They recovered arms, ammunition and motorcycles from them. Recovered Items are in troops custody, while interrogation is ongoing.

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 14 – 20 August 2025 in the general areas of Gwer West, Ukum, Katsina-Ala, and Guma LGAs of Benue State as well as Akwanga, Kokona and Keana LGAs of Nasarawa State. Similar operation was conducted in Gassol, Wukari and Karim Lamido LGAs of Taraba State.

They also operated in Lokoja and Kabba LGAs of Kogi State as well as Bwari Area Council of the FCT. During the operations, troops eliminated some terrorists, arrested 7 of them and rescued 5 kidnapped victims. They also recovered arms and ammunition, mobile phones, motorcycles and vehicles.

Between 13 – 16 August 2025, gallant troops arrested a suspected gunrunner and 3 other criminals in Gwer West and Keana of Benue and Nasarawa States, while 2 suspected kidnappers’ collaborators were also arrested in Wukari LGA of Taraba State.

JOINT TASK FORCE SOUTH-SOUTH OPERATION DELTA SAFE

In Operation DELTA SAFE theatre, troops foiled oil theft worth over Twenty Five Million Forty Five Thousand Four Hundred Naira N25,045,400.00) only.

The breakdown indicates; 25,820 litres of stolen crude oil. Additionally, they discovered and destroyed 2 crude oil cooking ovens, 4 dugout pits, 3 boats, 7 storage tanks and 8 illegal refining sites. Other items recovered include, pumping machines, mobile phones and 3 tricycles, 4 vehicles. Furthermore, 33 oil thieves and other criminals were arrested, while assorted arms and ammunition and some explosives, were also recovered.

Troops while conducting offensive operations, arrested a gunrunner, drug peddlers and 6 other criminals in Okpe, Ukwani, Uvwie, Ethiope West, Oshimili West and Oshimili North LGAs of Delta State as well as Etim Ekpo and Itu LGAs of Akwa Ibom State. Relatedly, 4 pipeline vandals were arrested in Bonny and Okrika LGAs of Rivers State.

Additionally, on 17 August 2025, troops responded to information about kidnappers’ activities attempting to collect ramson from victims’ relations in Aniocha LGA of Delta State.

Troops laid in wait for the kidnappers and killed 3 of them and rescued the victim. Arms and ammunition as well as the sum of N2,336,000.00 meant for payment of ramson was recovered from the scene.

JOINT TASK FORCE SOUTH EAST OPERATION UDO KA

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

They engaged and killed some terrorists, arrested 4 suspected IPOB/ESN members in Okigwe and Owerri West LGAs of Imo State as well as Obingwa LGA of Abia State, they also conducted operations at the communities bordering Anambra, Abia and Imo State.

Weapons, ammunition and vehicle were recovered from the operations and are in troops custody, while interrogation is ongoing.

Relatedly, troops in conjunction with NAPTIP official conducted operation at an orphanage Home identified as Dennis Divine Favour in Owerri West LGA of Imo State on 18 August 2025.

During the operation, 9 pregnant women, 7 infants and 4 children were rescued at the orphanage and were handed over to NAPTIP official for further investigation.

Between 13 – 17 August 2025, troops arrested 4 IPOB/ESN criminals and sympathiser in Umunneochi and Ihiala LGAs of Anambra State as well as Okigwe LGA of Imo State.

In closing remark, Major General Kangye reassured that “our gallant troops in conjunction with other security agencies as well as Hybrid Forces will continue to work together in line with global best practices in ensuring that peace and security is returned to all troubled part of the country,” he concluded.