By Olayemi Esan, Abuja
Troops of
Operation Hadin Kai have neutralised notorious Boko Haram terrorists'
bomb expert, named Musa Adamu aka Mala Musa Abuja and his deputy, Usman
Adamu aka Abu Darda.
Military Spoksperson, Brig.-Gen. Benard Onyeuko
made this revelation on Thursday while briefing Defence Correspondents
on the activities of the military in the last two weeks in Abuja.
Onyeuko
said intensified operations by the troops in the North East theatre led
to the neutralization of other 27 fighters, arrest of 51 Boko
Haram-ISWAP terrorists and 3 of their collaborators.
Onyeuko
similarly disclosed that 35 assorted arms and 1,051 round of ammunition
including AK-47 and FN rifles, Dushka anti-aircraft guns, GPMG, PKT
guns, 60mm mortar tubes, Makarov pistol and other machine guns, amongst
other items were recovered from the criminals.
He added that as a
result of the exercise, 29 abducted civilians were rescued and no fewer
than 1,000 terrorists and their families, comprising of adult females
and children surrendered to troops at different locations in the North
East.
"In Sokoto, Zamfara and Katsina States, troops of Operation
Hadarin Daji repelled the criminals, rescued farmers and kidnapped
victims as well as recovered arms, ammunition and some livestock, while
some criminal elements were arrested.
"Cumulatively, a total of 89
livestock, 5 AK-47 rifles, 3 rounds of 9mm ball and 48 rounds of 7.62mm
NATO ammunition were recovered and 4 kidnap victims rescued.
He
added that two notorious cattle rustlers named, Mallam Buda Umar from
Niger Republic and Mai Hatsi Ibrahim from Gada LGA of Sokoto State as
well as 4 armed bandits and drug peddlers were arrested.
"The Air
Component of Operation Hadarin Daji also carried out intensive air
strikes on bandits’ hideouts at the South of Dansadau Town; North of
Kwiambana Forest Reserves as well as North of Sububu Forest and Dudufi
village under Faru District in Maradun LGA, all in Zamfara State.
"The
air strikes resulted in the destruction of bandits’ structures
including the residence of one of their leaders, Halilu Tubali, in which
the armed bandits converged for a meeting.
"Air strikes in
conjunction with ground troops’ assaults resulted in the neutralization
of no fewer than 123 armed bandits and destruction of their logistics
facilities in the process" he noted.
Brig.-Gen. Benard Onyeuko
disclosed that in Kaduna and Niger States, troops of operation Thunder
Strike/Whirl Punch arrested one Zubairu Shehu at Toll Gate Area in Kakau
village as well as one Shehu Yahaya, who runs errands for and provides
logistics supplies to bandits.
He noted that troops carried out
'Cordon and Search' operations on a notorious bandits’ hideout at
Mangoro village in Munya LGA of Niger State and Gwagwada village in
Chikun LGA of Kaduna State.
Items recovered during the operations include 2 AK-47 rifles, one Dane gun and 14 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor salutes troops courage, service and commitment to the nation.
He
praised their sacrifices in the various theatres of operations across
the country, reassuring Nigerians of military efforts to frustrate
criminal elements' freedom of action in all theatres of operations.
