Nigerian Armed Forces undertook operations against criminal groups around the nation neutralised 52 terrorists and detained 60 terrorists, kidnappers, and oil theft culprits in the recent week, while 61 abducted victims were freed.
Troops also uncovered and demolished 34 illicit refining sites, 16 wooden boats, 57 storage tanks, 85 ovens, and 34 dugout pits, as well as capturing 296,250 litres of stolen crude oil, 53,400 litres of illegally refined AGO, and ten cars.
Major General Edwarx Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, stated on Friday that a total of seven terrorists, five adult men and one adult female, surrendered to forces.
He revealed that troops found 77 weapons in total, along with 658 different types of ammunition, including 2 AK47 rifles loaded with 8 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 53 AK49 rifles, 18 locally made rifles, 3 pump action guns, 650 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 50 AK47 magazines, 15 vehicles, 12 motorcycles, 12 bicycles, 5 mobile phones, 12 cutlasses, 133 livestock, and N602,000.
Gen Buba stated:
“In the North East, troops of Operation Hadin Kai neutralized 60 terrorists, arrested 3 suspected terrorists and rescued 17 kidnapped hostages.
“Troops also recovered 4 Mobile phones, 3 bicycles, Airtel Recharge card worth N8,000.00, 32 AK 47 rifles, 22 AK 47 rifle magazines, 303 rounds of 7.62 mm Special ammunition and one vehicle.”
In Borno, in the local government areas of Dikwa, Gwoza, Kondugha, Bama, Kaga, Hawuli, Nganzai, Mongonu, Damboa, Magumeri, Same, Jere and Mobber actions such as ambushes, raids, rescue missions, combat patrols, and assaults were carried out.
“In the North Central, troops of Operation Safe Haven conducted raids and arrest of terrorists at Afana village in Zangon Kataf of LGA of Kaduna State.
“Troops arrested a suspect for attack on civilian populace with a cash amounting to N28,150.00. Troops recovered 1 AK 47, one fabricated rifle 24 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunitions, 133 Cattles.
“Troops also rescued a kidnaped civilian and arrested 3 suspected cattle rustlers while a suspect was arrested in connection to a murder.
“Troops also arrested cattle rustlers in Dogo Nahawa Bush Jos South, Bokkos and Mangu LGAs of Plateau State. Troops recovered weapons at Kulben village in Mangu LGA of Plateau State.
“Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke conducted 22 operations; 13 fighting patrols, 6 confidence building patrols and one raid operation in Mbaayande, Mbamazu and Mbaagudu villages of Konshiga LGA of Benue State. Similarly, fighting patrol was conducted in Logo LGA while some arrests were made around Okpokwu LGA of Benue State.
“Troops of Operation Hadarin Daji in the North West intercepted 3 fleeing suspected terrorist collaborators operating within the Madachi Forest in Katsina State.
“The air component of OPHD conducted 12 missions in 13 sorties.
“Troops of Joint Task Force Operations Udoka and Operation Searcb and Flush in the South East region conducted raid operations on IPOB/ESN camps in Ohafia LGAs of Abia State leading to the recovery of one improvised 16 MBRL gun mounted on a vehicle with other arms and ammunition.
“Troops responded to foil kidnappers’ activities in Okigwe LGA of Imo State, conducted fighting patrol to Isu Onichain Onicha LGA of Ebonyi State and apprehended 5 suspected IPOB/ESN terrorists in Ikwo and Ihiala LGAs of Ebonyi and Anambra States respectively.
“Sadly, a joint patrol team of Operation Search and Flush (SAR) suffered a setback when responding to a distress call in Ehime Mbano LGA of Imo State.
“They were ambushed by members of the Proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliated Eastern Security Network (ESN).
“Troops of Operation Delta Safe denied oil theft of an estimated sum of Nine hundred and forty-six million, three hundred and eighty-seven thousand five hundred and seventy naira (N946,387,570.00) being the value of seizures.
“The operations in South-South resulted in the recovery of the following; 496,250 litres of stolen crude oil, 83,400 litres of illegally refined AGO, 1,200 litres of PMS, 4 pumping machines, 5 Speed Boats, 34 dugout pits, 57 storage tanks, 16 wooden boats, 85 ovens and 3 outboard engines.”
cc: Vanguard Ng
