Troops of the Nigerian military have arrested suspected informants, collaborators and spies accused of aiding terrorists across the country as troops intensified operations against terrorism, kidnapping and other criminal activities between September 11 and 17, 2026.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday detailing military’s operations during the period.

Onoja said in Borno State, troops of Operation Hadin Kai arrested a suspect at Kadauri in Kaga Local Government Area for allegedly providing terrorists with information on military convoy movements.

The troops also arrested a suspected terrorist along the Dikwa-Ajiri Main Supply Route on September 15, who was allegedly planning to plant an Improvised Explosive Device around a military outpost.

Two suspected collaborators were arrested in Monguno, while another suspect who had earlier fled to join terrorists was arrested in Kukawa after returning to visit his family.

Also, a suspected collaborator was arrested in Dikwa for allegedly mobilising females to plant IEDs at military locations.

In the North West, troops of Operation Fansan Yamma arrested two suspected terrorist logistics suppliers at Dogon Dawa in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The military said the two suspects had earlier been identified as terrorist collaborators and placed on a counter-terrorism wanted list since June 2026.

Troops also arrested two accomplices of a notorious terrorist kingpin in Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State between September 15 and 17.

A collaborator and an informant linked to the same kingpin network were also arrested in Matazu Local Government Area of the state.

In Niger State, troops working with the Nigeria Police Force and local security groups arrested four suspects at Pissa in Borgu Local Government Area.

The suspects included two persons impersonating military and police personnel and, according to the military, confessed to being sent by terrorist leaders in Sokoto and Katsina states to spy on troop positions and recover firearms.

Meanwhile, troops of Operation Whirl Stroke received four suspects earlier arrested in Kogi State who were confirmed to be informants and logistics suppliers to terrorists operating around the Asinwe and Isanlu areas.

The military said two of the suspects were charcoal dealers who confessed to helping terrorists purchase logistics, while another confessed to facilitating multiple kidnapping operations and receiving a share of ransom payments.

The operations also recorded arrests and seizures across other theatres.

In Benue State, troops arrested a suspect identified as the second-in-command to a wanted criminal gang leader at Abako Village in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area.

Six suspects were also arrested along the Wukari-Makurdi Road in Taraba State, with ammunition recovered from them.

In Imo State, troops of Operation Udo Ka arrested a suspected secessionist IED fabrication expert who was on a security watchlist.

The suspect was intercepted along the Umulolo Junction-Linka-Ihube axis near Okigwe while allegedly travelling to procure materials for IED production.

The military said the suspect confessed during preliminary interrogation to his affiliation with the secessionist group.
Beyond the arrests, the operations recorded several rescue missions and other successes.

In the North East, troops rescued 14 abductees around Armuda and Gava in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, including the Chief Imam of Ngoshe town, Mallam Sadiq, who had been abducted in March.

Troops also rescued a woman who escaped after five months in captivity and two minors who had reportedly spent six months in captivity at Suyaka Camp on the Mandara Mountains.

In Niger State, troops rescued 22 kidnap victims at Muchiya Village in Rafi Local Government Area after making contact with terrorists who abandoned their victims and fled.

The military also reported the defusing of 12 IEDs in Niger and Kwara states during the period.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, commended troops for their operations and urged Nigerians, traditional institutions and community leaders to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies.