The Defence Headquarters has disclosed that troops of the Armed Forces have neutralised 165 terrorists and also rescued 188 victims of kidnap.
Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, made the disclosure on Thursday while giving details of ongoing military operations across various theatres in the country within the last one week.
In the Northeast, activities of of troops of OPERATION HADIN KAI, such as ambush operations and fighting patrols among others, led to the surrender of 77 BH/ISWAP/JAS combatants and terrorists, including a minor.
Interestingly, on 30 September 2024, OPHK troops, while on fighting patrol intercepted and arrested one suspected violent extremist and recovered 35 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo concealed in a sock inside a bag in MMC LGA of Borno State.
During the preliminary investigation, the suspect was identified as an Inspector of the Nigeria Police.
In the North-central zone, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN neutralized 8 violent extremists, arrested 39 violent extremists and rescued 33 kidnapped hostages. Troops recovered 4 AK-47 rifles, 2 fabricated pistols, 1 locally fabricated rifle, 6 magazines, 190 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 45 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 1 motorcycle and 3 mobile phones amongst others.
The air component of Operation HADARIN DAJI in the Northwest conducted several air interdiction operations to destroy terrorist hideouts and enclaves. For instance, on 2 October 2024, the enclave of terrorist commander Ado Ailero in Tsafe LGA of Zamfara State, was acquired and engaged.
Battle Damage Assessment revealed that several terrorists hibernating at the location were neutralized and their logistics destroyed.
Similarly, air interdictions were conducted, on 4 October 2024, on terrorist hideout around Bayan Ruwa in Maradun LGA of Zamfara State. The location was acquired and attacked with rockets and cannons. Battle Damage Assessment revealed that several terrorists were neutralized and their structures as well as logistics destroyed.
Also in the Northwest, troops of OPERATION WHIRL PUNCH
equally conducted offensive operations such as counter/anti kidnapping operations and raids. These operations led to arrests in Kabba Bunu, Lokoja and Okene LGAs of Kogi State, as well as Gwagwalada and Abaji Area Councils of FCT, Abuja.
Additionally, troops conducted operations in Giwa and Mariga LGAs of Kaduna and Niger States respectively.
Overall, troops of Operation WHIRL PUNCH neutralized 7 terrorists, arrested 46 suspects and rescued 24 kidnapped hostages. Troops recovered 4 AK-47 rifles, 2 pump action guns, 1 locally made pistol, 90 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 18 live cartridges, 10 motorcycles and 11 mobile phones amongst others.
In the Niger-Delta region, troops arrested 35 perpetrators of oil theft while denying them the oil theft of the estimated sum of Six Hundred and Eighty Eight Million One Hundred and Twenty Five Thousand One Hundred and Fifty Naira (N688,125,150.00) only.
Additionally, troops discovered and destroyed 2 dugout pits, 58 boats and 39 storage tanks. Other items recovered include 13 cooking ovens, 35 drums, one motorcycle, one tricycle, 4 speed boat, 13 vehicles and 65 illegal refining sites. Troops recovered 789,200 litres of stolen crude oil and 64,950 litres of illegally refined AGO.
Air Component of Operation DELTA SAFE conducted air interdiction aimed at curbing security challenges, crude oil theft, damage of oil and gas infrastructure, illegal refining as well as sea robbery with a view to restoring oil and gas production to full capacity. During the operations, several illegal refining sites, storage tanks, reservoirs, barges and boats were destroyed.
“Our role in the ongoing war is clear and we are winning the war. The military is not oblivious of some security challenges faced by citizens in certain quarters and are reassessing operations in those areas to better secure and protect citizens”, Buba said.
