The Defence Headquarters has unveiled a toll-free emergency line, 193, to encourage Nigerians to provide intelligence on security threats.
The military high command also announced that troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria neutralised 662 terrorists and other criminal elements across the country during the second quarter of 2026.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Micheal Onoja, disclosed this while presenting the military’s operational scorecard for June and the second quarter of 2026 in Abuja on Wednesday.
He urged members of the public to support ongoing military operations by providing credible information through the newly introduced emergency line.
“The general public is encouraged to continue providing timely and accurate information to the nearest military formation or through the toll-free line 193. You are assured that all information received will be treated with the utmost confidentiality,” he said.
According to him, the Armed Forces recorded significant operational successes between April and June 2026, degrading the operational capabilities of terrorist groups, kidnappers, oil thieves and other criminal elements across the country.
He said, “For the Second Quarter 2026, the Armed Forces of Nigeria neutralised 662 terrorists and criminals, arrested 1,084 terrorists and criminal elements, rescued 951 kidnapped civilians, received the surrender of 39 insurgents, recovered 328 arms and 12,590 rounds of ammunition, dismantled 12 illegal refining sites, and recovered over 464,268 litres of stolen petroleum products, representing a significant degradation of criminal and terrorist operational capacity nationwide.”
Giving the breakdown for June alone, Kangye said troops neutralised 129 terrorists and criminals, arrested 486 suspects, rescued 542 kidnapped civilians, facilitated the surrender of 11 insurgents, recovered 130 firearms and 5,538 rounds of ammunition, dismantled seven illegal refining sites, and recovered more than 308,515 litres of stolen petroleum products.
He described the achievements as evidence of the Armed Forces’ professionalism and determination.
“The operational record for the month of June as well as the Second Quarter 2026 stands as compelling testimony to the sustained professionalism, operational excellence and unwavering resolve of troops across all operational theatres,” he said.
According to him, notable achievements during the period included the rescue of over 360 civilians from unlawful captivity, including the “landmark multi-axis rescue at the Mandara Mountains, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State on 6 June 2026.”
He added that the military also recorded “the neutralisation of numerous hostile elements, the
systematic dismantling of insurgent and criminal logistics networks, the recovery of substantial caches of arms and ammunition, the interception of significant volumes of illicitly refined petroleum products, and the targeted decapitation of IPOB/ESN command structures.”
“Collectively, these represent a period of exceptional operational achievement across all geopolitical zones. All operations were conducted in strict adherence to International Humanitarian Law, constitutional rules of engagement, and the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s fundamental mandate to protect the life, property and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he stated.
He also highlighted several high-profile arrests recorded during the period.
He said a suspected terrorist informant who had been on the military’s watch list was arrested at Kara Market in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State on June 4 and is currently undergoing interrogation.
He further disclosed that three suspected terrorists and informants were arrested on June 6 in the Wawa-Doro axis of Borgu LGA, where troops recovered a mobile phone containing terrorist propaganda materials and photographs of a beheaded victim.
On June 16, troops arrested Mrs. Hafsatu Alh Bello, wife of notorious terrorist kingpin Auta Ilori, near Ndeji town in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State.
“Her preliminary interrogation provided significant intelligence regarding her husband’s criminal network,”he added.
He said troops also arrested two suspects linked to the foiled kidnapping of schoolchildren in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, while four suspected terrorists were apprehended at a Correctional Farm Centre in Ogbomoso South Local Government Area of Oyo State.
“Preliminary profiling revealed incriminating photographs and confessions of direct involvement in terrorist activities,” he added.
The DHQ spokesman also disclosed that troops thwarted several terrorist attacks during the month.
He said troops repelled a coordinated terrorist attack on multiple locations in Buratai District of Biu Local Government Area, Borno State, on June 18, recovering an AK-47 rifle and more than 200 rounds of assorted ammunition.
Similarly, on June 27, troops foiled a planned terrorist attack on Rigange community in Lamurde Local Government Area of Adamawa State, killing one terrorist and recovering three AK-47 rifles, four magazines and 26 rounds of ammunition.
He added that on June 28, troops neutralised five suspected kidnappers in Magumeri Local Government Area of Borno State after the suspects attempted to seize soldiers’ weapons during a recovery operation.
Onoja also revealed that on June 29, troops engaged suspected Tsobo militia members during a fighting patrol in Gundili area of Lamurde LGA, Adamawa State, recovering three AK-47 rifles, two Dane guns, seven magazines and 190 rounds of ammunition.
He noted that beyond combat operations, troops intensified efforts to dismantle terrorist support networks and logistics infrastructure, while several insurgents continued to surrender.
Among those who surrendered, he said, were two teenage girls in Pulka, Gwoza Local Government Area, a woman with her infant in Kukawa Local Government Area, and eight other escapees, including the widow of a Civilian Joint Task Force member.
