By Olayemi Esan
Troops' activities have continued to dislodge terrorists from their camps into surrendering their arms and families in the North East.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Benard Onyeuko disclosed this at the bi-weekly press briefing on the activities of troops and other security agencies involved in conducting in the country in the period between 6 and 20 January 2022, at Defence Headquarters, Abuja.
These operations, according to Onyeuko, resulted in the elimination and arrest of several terrorists, recovery of assorted arms, ammunition, livestock and other items of security concern as well as rescue of abducted civilians.
In Operation Hadin Kai, the military Spokesman said a total of 37 terrorist elements were neutralised, 17 of them arrested as well as recovered 21 assorted arms and 117 rounds of different calibres of ammunition, while a total of 4 gun trucks were captured from the terrorists.
Additionally, he said troops rescued a total of 16 abducted civilians within the period.
Onyeuko added that "a total of 863 terrorists and their families comprising 136 adult males, 251 adult females and 476 children surrounded to own troops deployed at different locations.
These include Banki, Bama, Dikwa, Gwoza and Gamboru towns in Borno State.
"The surrendered terrorists have been properly profiled and handed over to appropriate authorities for necessary actions.
"The troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI in Sokoto, Katsina and Kebbi neutralized 12 armed bandits and arrest of 15 including their collaborators.
"Also, a total of 16 assorted arms and 136 rounds of "different calibres of ammunition and 114 rustled livestock were recovered by own troops within the period. In addition, troops recovered 3 extra magazines of AK-47 rifle and 4 motorcycles from bandits, while a total of 3 kidnapped civilians were rescued in the course of the operations.
"Several operational activities by Troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN in Plateau and Kaduna States arrested some criminal elements including armed robbers and bandits, their collaborators, drug peddlers and fraudsters as well as rescued kidnapped civilians and recovered several items of security concern," Onyeuko disclosed.
He pointed out that in the period, own troops arrested 27 criminal elements and rescued 6 kidnapped civilians. Also, troops recovered 5 arms and 69 different calibers of ammunition among other items of security concern in the course of their operations.
He said the operational efforts of troops in Operation WHIRL STROKE within the last 2 weeks resulted in the neutralization and arrest of armed bandits and other criminal elements, recovery of arms and ammunition as well as rescue of kidnapped civilians in Taraba, Nasarawa and Benue States", he noted.
5 criminals were arrested, while 9 different arms including AK-47 rifles and some locally-made guns as well as 742 rounds of different calibers of ammunition were recovered. Additionally, troops rescued 2 kidnapped civilians and recovered 2 motorcycles, while large quantities of cannabis sativa were impounded in the course of the operations within the same period.
Operation DELTA SAFE in Delta, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Rivers States has continued to sustain its operational tempo in the fight against illegal oil production and other sundry crimes through kinetic and non-kinetic means in the South-South Zone. Troops’ land, maritime and air operations within the past 2 weeks yielded appreciable results and forestalled activities of vandals as well as other economic saboteurs in the oil-rich Niger Delta Region.
"The Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies across the Country have and will continue maintain their stand in the efforts to deny criminal elements freedom of actions", he said.
