…as ₦100M in Stolen Assets Recovered, Kidnap Victims Freed, Drug, Arms Cartels Smashed in Week of Relentless Military Firepower
By Joy Odor | Abuja, Nigeria | October 16, 2025
In what military officials are calling one of the most decisive operations in recent history, the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) launched a weeklong wave of devastating strikes, neutralizing over 100 criminals, dismantling terrorist strongholds, and recovering stolen assets worth over ₦100 million across all six geopolitical zones.
This sweeping campaign, spanning from October 8 to 16, is being hailed as a turning point in Nigeria’s war against terror, insurgency, oil theft, and separatist violence.
During a high-stakes press briefing in Abuja, Major General Markus Kangye, Director of Defence Media Operations (DDMO), revealed the breadth of the operations, sparing no words as he listed the accomplishments and the enemies taken down.
Speaking on different Theater Operations across the Federation, Maj Gen Kangye informed that in the NORTH-EAST:
Under Operation HADIN KAI, troops launched coordinated strikes against Boko Haram and ISWAP elements. In major offensives across Konduga, Mobbar, Gubio, and Monguno:
Dozens of terrorists were killed
16 informants and collaborators were arrested
₦5.14 million in terrorist cash recovered
Weapons, vehicles, and explosives seized
7 kidnapped civilians rescued
“We dismantled their safe havens. We destroyed their funding. We broke their lines,” Kangye said.
NORTH-WEST:
Troops stormed hideouts in Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, and Kaduna States. Highlights include:
Dozens of terrorists neutralized
6 kidnap victims rescued
A massive arms bust yielding 1,307 live rounds
Narcotics seizures and a suspected gunrunner in custody
₦227,000 in drug proceeds recovered
“This was a coordinated takedown of an entire trafficking pipeline,” Kangye revealed.
NORTH-CENTRAL:
Joint Forces under Operations Enduring Peace and Whirl Stroke confronted violent extremists in Plateau, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Benue, and Taraba States:
Over a dozen suspects arrested
17 kidnapped victims freed
Weapons, vehicles, and motorcycles seized
Court convictions handed down to criminals in Plateau State
“Justice is catching up to the enemies of peace,” Kangye declared.
SOUTH-SOUTH:
In Operation DELTA SAFE, troops busted a large-scale oil theft syndicate operating across Delta and Rivers States:
92,500 litres of stolen crude oil seized
11 illegal refineries destroyed
14 storage tanks, 9 boats, and 7 dugout pits destroyed
₦98.7 million worth of stolen oil recovered
13 oil thieves arrested
“This is not just economic sabotage, it’s treason. And we’re treating it as such,” Kangye warned.
SOUTHEAST:
Under Operation UDO KA, troops struck hard against separatist elements:
Arrest of wanted IPOB/ESN commander codenamed Gentle
8 accomplices arrested in Imo, Ebonyi, and Abia
Discovery of 3 children belonging to another wanted terrorist in custody of a female logistics operative
Arms, ammunition, and a getaway vehicle seized
“The Southeast must not become a theatre of insurgency,” Kangye stated. “We’re watching. And we’re acting.”
But even as battlefield victories mount, cracks within the military structure are starting to show.
During the Q&A session, Kangye fielded tense, direct questions from journalists on:
Delayed soldier allowances
Low troop morale
Poor logistics support in high-conflict zones
Alleged sabotage by some field commanders
“No system is perfect,” Kangye admitted. “But no delay should ever compromise our soldiers’ effectiveness. We are investigating.”
Journalists challenged inconsistencies in official military reports, calling for greater transparency, accountability, and clarity on funding and operations.
“We need to see action, not just promises,” one reporter said, pointing to conflicting data on a recent militant capture.
Kangye acknowledged operational bottlenecks and hinted at high-level mismanagement, indicating that funds meant for soldiers were being held up by certain commanders.
“We must fix the system before it breaks us,” he warned.
As the briefing closed, Major General Kangye reaffirmed the Armed Forces’ commitment to protecting every inch of Nigeria but made it clear: the battle is far from over.
“To the enemies of the state, wherever you hide on land, in the creeks, or in political shadows we will find you. And we will end it.”
Nigeria is not a battlefield of impunity. The Armed Forces are taking back the land-inch by inch, state by state. But behind the frontline victories lies an urgent call: fix the system or risk losing the peace we are fighting to win.
