Armed Forces of Nigeria Rescues 1,736 Kidnap Victims

In the third quarter of 2026, the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) successfully rescued 1,736 kidnapped civilians and arrested 1,333 suspects linked to terrorism and criminal activities. Major General Michael Onoja, the Director of Defence Media Operations, provided these details during a media briefing at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.

The military operations led to the neutralization of 554 terrorists and criminals, alongside the surrender of 333 insurgents. Notably, Operation Hadin Kai in the North-East accounted for the rescue of 297 victims and the arrest of 348 suspects, while Operation Fansan Yamma in the North-West rescued 508 victims and arrested 147 suspects.

The AFN also dismantled 104 illegal refining sites and recovered over 1.61 million litres of stolen petroleum products. Throughout the quarter, the AFN recorded 367 attacks across various operations, with September alone seeing 581 civilians rescued and 345 arrests made.

The AFN plans to continue its operations to enhance national security.