A total of 12 suspected terrorists, comprising one male adult, three females, seven minors, and one young adult male, have surrendered to troops in the North East over the past week, following intense military pressure on insurgents in the region. Additionally, 37 different calibers of arms, including 30 AK-47 rifles, one G3 rifle, one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), one PKT machine gun, three locally made pistols, and one Dane gun, were recovered across all theatres of operations.
Military Campaign Yields Results
Major General Michael Onoja, the Director of Defence Media Operations (DMO), announced this during a news briefing, stating that the surrenders and recoveries were achieved through synchronized land and air campaigns. He noted that between May 15 and May 21, 2026, troops neutralized dozens of hostile combatants, dismantled deeply entrenched insurgent enclaves, and forced the unconditional surrender of the terrorists.
Disruption of Criminal Networks
Onoja also highlighted sweeping disruptions of illegal oil bunkering rings in the Niger Delta, massive interdiction of illicit narcotics, and terrorist logistics lines across the South South, North Central, and North West regions, as well as the rescue of numerous citizens held in captivity.
In Benue State, on May 16, 2026, troops in Aliade, Gwer East Local Government Area, swiftly countered an armed militia group attempting to violently disrupt the ongoing All Progressives Congress (APC) primary elections. They arrested one suspect and recovered a getaway Sienna vehicle, an AK-47 rifle, magazines, and live ammunition.
Operations in Plateau and Katsina
According to Onoja, during the period, troops patrolling near Assak village in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State chased down two armed criminals who abandoned a sack containing N2.2 million suspected to be ransom money.
In Katsina State, on May 15, 2026, troops arrested a major gunrunner at the General Hospital Batsari in Batsari Local Government Area while he was seeking treatment for an undisclosed ailment. The suspect was unmasked as a primary supplier of military-grade weapons to notorious kingpins, including Bello Turji and the late Kachalla Black.
Interception in Ebonyi
On May 19, troops operating in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State intercepted four illegal miners extracting mineral resources without authorization, recovering a mini-truck, heavy-duty sapper cables, and an automotive battery. Onoja explained that while transporting the arrested suspects and seized equipment to the military base, the troops were aggressively obstructed by an organized mob of local youths from the Ihietu community, who attacked the convoy with stones to free the suspects. However, the troops demonstrated extreme professional restraint, firing two warning shots into the air to safely disperse the rioters, restore public order, and ensure the secured delivery of the suspects for prosecution without recording any casualties.
Call for Public Support
The DMO urged Nigerians to remain highly vigilant, reject criminal propaganda, and continue to support the military with timely, actionable intelligence to guarantee a safe, secure, and peaceful nation.
