A total of 112 Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province (BH/ISWAP) terrorists have surrendered to troops in Borno.
Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba made this known on Thursday, at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, while briefing journalists on ongoing military operations of the Armed Forces as at 5th January 2024.
The terrorists, who surrendered alongside their families to troops of OPERATION HADIN KAI comprised 12 adult males 39 adult females, and 61 children.
Giving a summary of the operations of OPHD, Buba said troops neutralized 8 terrorists, arrested 10, and rescued 2 kidnapped hostages. They also recovered 6 AK47 rifles, one FN rifle, one fabricated SMG, 12 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 257 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 2 magazines, one boafeng HH radio, one vehicle, one motorcycle, one tricycle, 2 mobile phones, 15 bicycles and the sum of N77,410.00.
Similarly, raid operations, fighting patrols, and cordon and search operations by troops of OPERATION SAFE HAVEN in the North-Central zone of the country, led to the arrest of 3 suspected extremists in Zango Kataf and Bokkos LGAs of Kaduna and Plateau States respectively, who have been on security agencies watch list. Troops also arrested 11 suspected criminals and recovered 2 AK47 rifle magazines, 3 motorcycles, and 5 mobile phones.
A fire fight between troops and
violent terrorists in Kachia LGA of Kaduna State saw the neutralization of one of the terrorists and the recovery of one AK47 rifle, one magazine, 110 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, and 2 motorcycles amongst other items.
Overall, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN neutralized 3 terrorists, arrested 20, and rescued 5 kidnapped hostages. In addition to arms and ammunition recovered was the sum of N1,482,720.00.
Also, the North-Central troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE neutralized one terrorist, arrested 10, and rescued 4 kidnapped hostages, with several arms recovered.
Buba, further highlighting the activities of troops of OPERATION HADARIN DAJI in the North-West, disclosed that troops arrested suspected violent extremists/insurgents and collaborators in Shiroro and Danmusa LGAs of Niger and Katsina States respectively as well as Tsafe LGA of Zamfara State.
In the South-South, where troops of Joint Task Force OPERATION DELTA SAFE maintained momentum against the activities of crude oil theft, several illegal refining sites were destroyed while stolen products were recovered. Overall, troops recovered 315,700 litres of stolen crude oil, 1,200 litres of illegally refined AGO, and 3,158 litres of DPK.
Additionally, troops discovered and destroyed 20 dugout pits, 29 boats, 31 storage tanks, one tricycle, and 3 vehicles. Other items recovered include 24 cooking ovens, 3 pump machines, and 25 illegal refining sites.
Troops also apprehended 17 suspected oil thieves and other criminal elements as well as recovered 3 weapons and 12 assorted ammunitions.
Furthermore, in the South East, Troops of Operation UDO KA responded to kidnap incidents in Nkpologu and Afikpo LGAs of Enugu and Ebonyi States respectively. They raided suspected violent extremist hideouts in Afikpo South, Ikwo, and Enugu LGAs of Ebonyi and Enugu States respectively, and arrested wanted IPOB/ESN insurgents in Okigwe LGA of Imo State.
Overall, troops of Operation UDO KA neutralized 3 criminals, arrested 13 suspected IPOB/ESN extremists, and rescued 21 kidnapped hostages. They also recovered 3 AK47 rifles, 2 pump action guns, 2 locally made pistols, 4 IEDs, 174 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 16 live cartridges, 6 empty cases of 7.62mm special, 6 magazines, one vehicle, one motorcycle, 12 mobile phones, and one radio. All recovered items, arrested suspects, and rescued hostages were handed over to the relevant authority for further action.
Buba reiterated that the Armed Forces remains focused and is continuing its counter-insurgency campaign against terrorists and their cohorts operating across the country, as troops are hunting terrorists in their hiding places and conducting targeted offensives against them to destroy them.
“Combat teams have neutralised several of the terrorist leadership and their foot soldiers as well as degraded their military capabilities”, Buba said.
