The Nigerian military has acknowledged that it is fully aware of the concerns, anxieties, and expectations of Nigerians regarding the ongoing fight against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other forms of criminality. Despite recording modest achievements, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) admitted that much work remains to be done.
Major-General Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations, made these remarks during the weekly operational briefing on Friday. He emphasized that no level of operational success can fully compensate for the grief of those who have lost loved ones to terrorism and kidnapping. "We carry that grief with us, and it fuels our resolve," he stated.
Between April 30 and May 7, 2026, troops arrested over 57 terrorists, neutralized 26, and rescued 35 kidnapped victims across various theatres of operation. The most impactful achievement during this period occurred in the North Central theatre, where troops raided two illegal arms manufacturing factories in Vom, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.
According to Onoja, troops of the Quick Reaction Force conducted the raid and arrested five suspects caught in the act of producing illegal firearms. Items recovered included nine fabricated AK-47 rifles, one locally fabricated pistol, seven AK-47 skeletons, four recoiling springs, four revolver engines, and an array of industrial drilling, filing, and welding machines.
In a separate operation, troops working with operatives from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) apprehended a suspect along the Abaji-Kwali road in Abuja. The suspect had concealed 250 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition within the engine compartment of a saloon vehicle.
Additionally, troops successfully recovered the remaining school children abducted from the Daarul-Kitab Islamic Orphanage on 27 April 2026. The group, comprising five boys, two girls, and two adult women, was intercepted within Agbaja Forest in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State and evacuated to a military medical facility.
Onoja conveyed a pledge from the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede, to every Nigerian mother who prays for her children's safety, to every farmer who wishes to return to his land without fear, to every student who deserves to learn in peace, and to every trader who must be free to conduct her livelihood without harassment. "The Armed Forces of Nigeria will never abandon you," the pledge read. "We will not stand down until every Nigerian can live freely, safely, and with dignity in the land of their birth. This is our mandate. This is our mission. This is our promise to Nigeria."
