The Defence Headquarters says troops of OPERATION HADIN KAI, (OPHK) have eliminated more than 44 terrorists, apprehended 47 others alongside their collaborators and rescued 10 kidnap victims in the North East, in two weeks.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami, made this known on Thursday in Abuja at the bi-weekly update on nationwide military operations.
TheFact Daily reports that, according to the Director, the troops between November 17 and 24, neutralised 9 Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in ambushes, raids and clearance operations at different locations within the theatre.
While scores of the terrorists escaped with various degrees of injury, caches of arms were recovered and 10 kidnapped civilians were rescued during the operations.
Danmadami said a notorious Boko Haram/ISWAP logistic supplier was arrested by the troops on November 20 at a checkpoint in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.
The logistic supplier, Danmadami disclosed, was conveying 49 30-litre jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit, 50 packs of energy drinks and other sundry items in a vehicle, while the sum of N70,510 was also recovered from him.
The Director said that within the weeks in focus, troops recovered 15 AK 47 rifles, 82 rounds of 7.62mm special, 35 locally fabricated 7.62mm special, 3 dane guns, 36 hand grenades, 6 knives, and 8 AK 47 magazines.
“Other items recovered include 51 jerrycans of groundnut oil, one carton of klin detergent, 50 packs of energy drinks, nine bicycles, three motorcycles, 10 mobile phones, one vehicle and the sum of N100, 510.
“Troops equally neutralised 11 terrorist elements, arrested 47, including their logistic suppliers as well as rescued 10 abducted civilians”, Danmadami said.
Furthermore, a total of 139 Boko Haram Terrorist/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists and members of their families comprising of 27 adult males, 44 adult females and 68 children surrendered to troops at different locations within the theatre and were being profiled for further action.
It was also gathered that the air component carried out series of air strikes on terrorists’ locations in the Tumbuns near the Lake Chad, which recorded some remarkable results during the period.
The air task force on November 26 conducted an air interdiction operation on the terrorists at Mallam Fatori from Tumbum Fulani, killing several terrorist on the shores of Lake Chad and destroyed three gun trucks.
“Similar strikes were conducted on November 27 at an identified terrorists training camp at Tumbun Hamma in the Lake Chad Region.
“Intelligence revealed that about 24 ISWAP terrorists were undergoing weapons handling and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) training at the location for six consecutive days.
“Consequently, the location was bombarded.
“The effect of the strike from the feedback revealed that several terrorists were neutralized with their weapons and IED destroyed,” he added.
Danmadami said the theatre command had also intensified non-kinetic operations geared towards maximising civil support for the military in the zone.
