Troops Arrest 67 Terrorists, Rescue 25 Hostages

Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says troops on internal operations have arrested 67 terrorists and rescued 25 kidnap hostages including eight Cameroonian nationals, kidnapped by sea pirates in Cross River State.

The troops also arrested 31 suspected old thieves and destroyed 21 illegal refining sites within the week.

The director Defence Media Operations Major General Michael Onoja who disclosed this in a statement yesterday said the troops also neutralised scores of terrorists between 19th-23rd January, 2026.

He said the troops recovered the sum of $4,500 from a criminal which was a proceed from the sale of rustled cows.

In the North East and North West, he said troops arrested 17 terrorists and rescued 11 kidnap victims while scores of terrorists eliminated during air Interdictions.

Relatedly in the North Central, troops arrested 50 terrorists, rescued 10 hostages and recovered the sum of $4,500 from a suspect

In the South-South, he said troops destroyed 20 illegal reading sites and arrested 31 suspected oil thieves.

Furthermore, in the South East, troops rescued eight Cameroonian nationals kidnapped by sea pirates at Ikang Waterways in Bakassi local government area of Cross River State and arrested three criminals in Ogburu council of Anambra State.

Similarly, about 80 militants surrendered to troops with their arms and ammunition for amnesty at Akpabuyo LGA of Cross River State.

He said the militants were reported to belong to two camps headed by Thankgod Ebikontei (aka Ayibanuagha) and John Isaac (aka Akpokolo) militant fighters.