By Our Correspondent
The Nigerian military has intensified its operations against terrorists and other criminal elements across the country, reporting the rescue of 363 victims and the neutralisation of 69 terrorists in just one week.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) disclosed the development while giving an update on the activities of troops across the various theatres of operation.
According to the military, the latest gains were recorded through sustained land, air and sea offensives targeted at terrorist groups and other criminal elements operating in different parts of the country.
The DHQ said the operations also led to the arrest of 49 suspects, as troops continued efforts to dismantle criminal networks, disrupt their activities and restore security to affected communities.
The reported rescue of 363 victims represents one of the major highlights of the week’s operations, particularly as kidnapping and terrorism continue to pose serious security challenges in several parts of Nigeria.
The rescued victims were reportedly freed during military operations targeting criminal elements in the various theatres. Their rescue is expected to provide relief to families and communities that have been affected by abductions and insecurity.
The military also reported that 69 terrorist elements were neutralised during gun battles and air interdiction operations conducted within the period under review.
The reported success came amid sustained efforts by the Armed Forces to take the fight directly to terrorist formations and other criminal groups, using a combination of ground operations, intelligence-driven missions and air support.
The DHQ said troops maintained pressure on criminal elements through coordinated operations across the country, with the objective of degrading their fighting capabilities and preventing them from establishing strongholds.
Beyond the reported casualties among terrorist elements, the arrest of 49 suspects is also significant as security agencies continue to investigate networks believed to support or facilitate criminal activities.
Military operations in recent months have increasingly focused on disrupting the operational and logistical structures of terrorist and criminal groups rather than merely responding to attacks after they occur.
The latest figures therefore point to an aggressive security posture by the Armed Forces, with troops simultaneously pursuing terrorists, rescuing victims and apprehending suspected collaborators and other criminal elements.
For families whose loved ones were among those rescued, the development represents more than a military statistic. It means the return of parents, children and other relatives who had been separated from their homes and communities.
However, despite the reported gains, security challenges remain across several parts of the country. The continued presence of terrorist and criminal groups means that sustained operations, intelligence gathering and cooperation between security agencies and local communities remain crucial.
Security analysts have repeatedly stressed that military victories must be accompanied by measures that prevent criminal groups from regrouping and returning to communities previously cleared by security forces.
The DHQ’s latest briefing is therefore likely to renew attention on the military’s ongoing campaign against terrorism and violent crime, particularly the need to translate battlefield successes into lasting peace and stability.
As troops continue operations across the different theatres, the authorities are expected to maintain pressure on terrorist groups while strengthening efforts to protect civilians and prevent further abductions.
For now, the military says its latest operations have delivered significant results: 363 victims rescued, 69 terrorists neutralised and 49 suspects arrested in one week.
The figures, if sustained, could mark another important step in the country’s continuing battle to restore security and protect communities threatened by terrorism and criminal violence.
