Troops Arrest 107 Suspects, Rescue 20

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says troops on internal operations have arrested 107 suspected terrorists, kidnappers, oil thieves and other criminals across the country.

The troops also rescued 20 kidnapped hostages across the country during the week from 7th-14th August, 2025.

The director of Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen. Markus Kangye, revealed these yesterday while giving updates on military operations across the theatres.

In the North East, he said troops during clearance operations eliminated several terrorists, destroyed their logistics bases, recovered weapons, dismantled terrorists’ networks and provided safe space for the resettlement of displaced persons.

According to Kangye, troops during the raids in the North East theatre arrested 37 suspected terrorists, rescued five hostages and recovered weapons, ammunition, logistics items, vehicles and motorcycles, while some IEDs were safely detonated.

In the North West, he said troops arrested 11 suspected terrorists and rescued 17 hostages in different operations.

Relatedly, in the North Central, troops arrested 15 suspects, rescued nine hostages and recovered sundry items.

In the South East, troops arrested six suspected IPOB/ESN members and recovered weapons.

Meanwhile, in the South South, troops arrested 34 suspected oil thieves, cultists and other criminals.

According to Kangye, troops destroyed three illegal refining sites and recovered stolen products worth N37,518,630.00.

Items recovered include: 24,575 litres of stolen crude oil, 9,140 litres of illegally refined AGO, 2,650 litres of PMS, and destroyed two crude oil cooking ovens, nine dugout pits, four boats, and three storage tanks.