The Defence Headquarters says 112 Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa (ISWAP) terrorist combatants have surrendered to troops in Borno.
Defence Media Operations Director, Maj. Gen Edward Buba made this known in Abuja on Thursday while briefing Defence correspondents on the outcome of ongoing military operations across various theatres of operation in the country, as at 11th January 2024.
Of the terrorists who surrendered to troops of OPERATION HADIN KAI (OPHK) in Borno, one identified as Abubakar Mohammed, claimed to have surrendered due to the troops onslaught. Recovered from him were 1 AK47 rifle, 1 AK47 rifle magazine, 5 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammo (Keystone variant), and one mobile phone.
The other 111, who surrendered alongside their families at different times between 3 and 9 January 2024, comprised 4 adult males, 38 adult females, and 69 children.
Combined activities of the ground troops of OPHK, which conducted fighting patrols, offensive operations, and night patrol, as well as their Air Component, which conducted air interdiction, saw the neutralization of 20 terrorists, the arrest of 5, and the rescue of 40 kidnapped victims. Troops also discovered and detonated IEDs in Nganzai and Konduga LGAs of Borno State.
Activities of troops of OPERATION SAFE HAVEN in the North-Central zone of the country, in such operations as foiled robbery attacks and fighting patrols led to the arrest of 21 suspected violent extremists, and the rescue of 23 kidnapped hostages. One of the violent extremists arrested in Kauru LGA of Kaduna State is suspected to be involved in the kidnap of the Pari Youths leader and his wife at Kigas and the killing of a Fulani JTF member, while another, arrested in Jema’a LGA of Kaduna State, has been on the wanted list of security agencies.
Troops also recovered 1 AK47 rifle loaded with 22 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 1 locally fabricated rifle, 1 pistol, and 1 mobile phone.
In the North-west zone, troops of OPERATION HADARIN DAJI, in the conduction of raid operations, fighting patrols, search and rescue, and offensive operations, as well as air interdiction conducted by the air component, neutralized 56 terrorists, arrested 10 and rescued 40 kidnapped hostages.
Troops also recovered 34 AK47 rifles, 5 locally made guns, 1 locally made pistol, dane guns, 2 bandoliers, 449 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 26 live cartridges, 2 locally fabricated swords, 3 magazine, 8 motorcycles, 6 mobile phones and 2 GTA radios.
Troops of OPERATION WHIRL PUNCH in the North-West also recorded significant successes in Chikun and Kagarko LGAs of Kaduna State, as well as Bwari Area Council of FCT Abuja, as they neutralized 13 violent extremists, arrested 15 and rescued 23 kidnapped hostages. They also recovered 11 AK47 rifles, 172 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 11 magazines, 9 motorcycles, and one mobile phone.
In the South-South, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE, in their sustained onslaught against oil theft recovered 1,013,530 litres of stolen crude oil, 299,269 litres of illegally refined AGO, and 3,158 litres of DPK.
Additionally, they discovered and destroyed 28 dugout pits, 30 boats, 45 storage tanks, and 5 vehicles. Other items recovered include 75 cooking ovens, one speedboat, 3 pump machines, and 45 illegal refining sites.
Troops also neutralized 2 violent extremists and apprehended 30 suspected oil thefts. They recovered 15 assorted weapons, 234 assorted ammunitions, 8 motorcycles, 2 tricycles, and 5 pairs of woodland camouflage.
Troops of OPERATION UDO KA in the South East arrested 15 violent extremists/IPOB combatants and rescued 3 kidnapped hostages. They recovered 2 auto pump action guns, one pump action gun, 2 single barrel guns, 71 live cartridges, 5 motorcycles, FRSC uniforms, and NP accoutrements.
These arrests followed the conduction of raid operations of the extremists’ hideouts in Isu-Uzo and Edda LGAs of Enugu, Nnewi, and Onicha LGAs of Anambra and Ebonyi States respectively, while troops, conducting fighting patrols, foiled a kidnap incident in Uzo-Uwani LGA of Enugu State.
Raid operations and fighting patrols conducted by troops of OPERATION AWATSE in Kosofe and Yewa North LGAs of Lagos and Ogun States respectively, resulted in the arrest of 6 violent extremists and recovery of 1 berretta pistol, 1 round of 9mm ammo, 3 mobile phones, 1 dagger and 4 bags of substance suspected to be cannabis.
All recovered items, arrested suspects, and rescued hostages were handed over to the relevant authority for further action.
