By Olayemi Esan
The Defence Headquarters says, a total of 965 terrorists and their families and 550 children have surrendered to Nigerian troops deployed at different location including: Gamboru, Tumbumma, Kukawa, Baga, Gwoza, Mallam Fotori, Damboa, Kirta Wulgo, Bun Yadi, Gujiba, Madiya all in Borno and Yobe State.
Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Benard Onyeuko disclosed this on Thursday during a bi-weekly briefing on troops activities and operational successes being recorded in five major operational theater of the Armed Forces of Nigerian currently ongoing in parts of the nation.
General Onyeuko said, "it is noteworthy to state that out of the 965 terrorists that surrendered within the period under review 104 are from ISWAP Camp that surrendered to own troops at Marte. The surrendered terrorist have been properly documented and handed over to the appropriate authorities for necessary action.
He said that, the Air Component conducted air strikes on ISWAP enclaves at Abbaganaram, Bukar Mairam, Chukum Gudu and Jubilaram in Marte Local Government Area neutralized scores of terrorists including high profile Commanders while about 25 Terrorists got drowned in the lake in an attempt to escape the bombardment.
"An ISWAP senior commnander Mallam Ari, the Amirul Fiya in charge of Kirta Wulgo and some foreign mercenaries fabricating Improvised Explosive Device for the terrorist were killed during the airstrike.
"The troops within the period under review, neutralized 120 fighters, arrested 50 of the terrorists, 5 gun trucks, 50 assorted arms and 200 rounds of different calibers of ammunition were captured from the terrorists. Additionally, troops rescued 25 abducted civilians",he added.
General Onyeuko said, Troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI within the last 3 weeks has maintained the operational pace by conducting clearance operations on criminal enclaves across the theatre in Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara States.
These operations according to Defence Spokesperson resulted in the recovery of 40 AK-47 rifles, and assorted arms and 340 rounds of different calibres of ammunition, 45 motorcycles and decimations of scores of bandits and 90 rustled livestock were recovered by own troops.
Troops of operation SAFE HAVEN in Kaduna and Plateue within the last 3 weeks neautealised s7cores of criminal elements including; kidnappers, bandits, fraudsters, armed robbers, illegal arms dealers and their collaborators, drug peddlers as well as rescued kidnapped persons and recovered several security related items.
In Taraba and Benue, a total of 25 criminals were arrested, while large caches of assorted arms and different calibers of ammunition were recovered. Additionally, troops rescued 10 kidnapped persons, 8 trucks laden with vandalized railway track sleepers, 3 cars, 7 motorcycles with large quantities of Marijuana impounded in the course of operations, within the same period
In Delta and Rivers, Troops of Operation Safe Haven in the last 2 weeks, discovered, and destroyed a total of 45 illegal refining sites, 72 cooking ovens, 127 metal storage tanks, 30 dug out pits, 23 cotonou boats, 47 pumping machine, 9 tankers.
Consequently, a total of 2,531,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil and and 2,807,000 litres of stolen crude oil were recovered in the course of the operations in addition, 20 coolants, 9 tankers were recovered. Also, 50 galvanized pipes illegally connected to pipelines were excavated, 12 economic saboteurs associated with pipeline vandalization were arrested within the period.
The Military High Command to our troops in the frontlines of operations in the various theatre for their sacrifices in combating the various security challenges confronting the nation