Nigeria: Over 1,000 Terrorists Killed, 777 Kidnap Victims Rescued in Two Months - Official

What the report says

Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters said its forces killed 1,487 terrorists and insurgents, rescued 777 kidnapped people and arrested 354 suspected abductors during operations carried out nationwide between July and August. The update was given by defence spokesperson Samaila Uba at a security briefing on Tuesday at the National Counter Terrorism Centre in Abuja, according to Premium Times, which AllAfrica distributed.

Uba said the military conducted 7,062 operations over the two-month period, using land, air and maritime assets in actions aimed at terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery and attacks on communities. The operations covered several states, including Borno, Yobe, Taraba, Katsina, Kwara, Zamfara, Sokoto, Plateau, Benue, Niger, Oyo and Kaduna. He said the campaigns included clearance operations, intelligence-led raids, rescue missions and targeted arrests against armed groups and criminal networks.

The military also said 93 security personnel and 249 civilians were killed during the period. It reported recovering firearms, ammunition and improvised explosive devices, as well as dismantling some militant bases. Beyond combat operations, the briefing highlighted dialogue meetings with local leaders and efforts to counter misinformation.

The figures underscore the scale of Nigeria’s long-running insecurity, which has included Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province violence, banditry and kidnapping across the north and elsewhere. The military said its gains were supported by joint operations, inter-agency cooperation and community intelligence, while urging continued public support.