Troops Rescue 16 Kidnapped Victims, Arrest Terror Collaborators

The Nigerian Army has rescued 16 kidnapped victims, recovered 281 rustled livestock and arrested suspected terrorist collaborators during coordinated operations across Borno, Yobe, Sokoto, Zamfara and Plateau states. The operations also led to the interception of suspected Boko Haram family members, logistics suppliers and other terrorism suspects.

Daniel Momodu · August 5, 2026 · 6

Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued 16 kidnapped victims, recovered 281 rustled livestock and arrested suspected terrorist collaborators and logistics suppliers during coordinated operations across Borno, Yobe, Sokoto, Zamfara and Plateau states. The operations, carried out within the last 24 hours, also led to the recovery of mobile phones, suspected hard drugs and other items linked to terrorist activities.

According to an operational report, troops of the 222 Battalion intercepted 20 suspected family members of Boko Haram insurgents comprising nine women, two men and nine children along the Gezuwa axis in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State. The suspects reportedly said they fled the Gezuwa terrorist camp following an attack by rival ISWAP fighters and have been handed over for further profiling.

The Army also disclosed that troops arrested two suspected terrorist collaborators in Geidam, Yobe State, for allegedly supplying hard drugs to terrorists. In a separate operation in Monguno, Borno State, troops apprehended two suspected ISWAP logistics suppliers who allegedly confessed to transporting food items to terrorists in Kukawa. Recovered items included mobile phones, an assault knife, an ISWAP gate pass and cash.

In the North-West, troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA rescued 14 kidnapped victims, recovered 281 rustled livestock and two motorcycles after engaging terrorists in Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State. Separate operations in Sabon Birni and Zurmi, Zamfara State, also forced fleeing terrorists to abandon two kidnapped victims, one of whom sustained gunshot wounds and was taken to hospital for treatment.

The Army further revealed that troops arrested a suspect linked to attacks in Southern Kaduna during operations in Plateau State. In Mangu, soldiers rescued farmers injured during an attack by suspected herders, recovered 27 cattle abandoned by fleeing attackers and arrested 19 suspects in follow-up raids in Riyom after two soldiers were killed in an ambush. The military reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining operations against terrorism and criminal activities across the country.