Armed Forces Actively Mitigating, Thwarting Terrorist Threats Across Nigeria – DHQ
By Anne Osemekeh, Abuja
The Defence Headquarters has averred that its operatives are successfully and actively mitigating and thwarting terrorist threats and activities across the country.
Defense Media Operations Chief, Maj Gen Edward Buba, who made this known in a statement on Friday said the successes are as a result of ongoing counter terrorism and counter insurgency operations, significantly, in the Northeast and Northwest theatres of operations, where troops neutralised several terrorist leaders and commanders, a well as in the North-central where troops arrested notorious kidnappers and gun runners.
Buba disclosed that during the week under review, troops neutralised 171 and arrested 302 persons. They also arrested 25 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 134 kidnapped hostages, while in the Southsouth, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of Eight Hundred and Forty Six Million Four Hundred and Eighty Thousand Eight Hundred Naira (N846,480,800.00) only.
Notably, between 14 and 20 Aug 24, a total of 503 terrorists comprising 72 adult males 148 adult females and 283 children surrendered to troops within the theatre of operations.
Furthermore, he said, troops recovered 84 assorted weapons and 1,499 assorted ammunition, the breakdown of which is as follows: one PKT gun, one G3 rifle, 3 AK49 rifles, 44 AK47 rifles, 10 fabricated rifles, 18 dane guns, 10 pump action guns, 4 locally made pistols, 18 AK47 magazines, 2 FN magazines, one smoke grenade and one bandolier.
Others are: 843 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 506 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 60 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ball rimmed, 90 live cartridges, 5 baofeng radios, 11 vehicles, 46 motorcycles, 4 bicycles, 52 mobile phones, cutlasses and the sum of N126,285.00 only amongst other items.
In the Niger Delta area, troops discovered and destroyed 26 dugout pits, 13 boats, 90 drums and 45 storage tanks. Other items recovered include 155 cooking ovens, 4 speedboats, one pumping machine, 7 vehicles and 98 illegal refining sites. They recovered 799,400 litres of stolen crude oil and 151,150 litres of illegally refined AGO.
“The military will maintain its operational activities across the country to ensure enduring defeat of terror groups in the country. Additionally, troops continue to demonstrate stamina, resolve and strong desire to protect citizens and ensure their safety across the country”, Buba said.
