The Defence Headquarters has said that about 134 Terrorists were arrested, 798 kidnapped victims rescued including 18 Children, 86 B'Haram/ISWAP and IPOB/ESN Terrorists were neutralized as 1,158 terrorists and their families comprising 164 men, 367 women and 627 children surrendered within three weeks as the troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Nigeria Police and other security agencies carried out series of operations on land, maritime and air operations across the various theatres of operation in the Country.
Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Benard Onyeuko made this disclosure in Abuja on Thursday at the bi-weekly briefing on the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s operational activities between 7th and 28th April, 2022.
General Onyeuko said, the land component of OPERATION HADIN KAI with support of the air components conducted offensive operation in Arina Woje in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State neutralized a prominent Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) Commander Abubakar Dan-Buduma, a notorious informant and logistic supplier to the Islamic State of West Africa Mallam Abba Sidi Lawan was arrested in Borno State.
He added that the operation in North East led to the destruction of terrorists enclaves and their central workshop where vehicles are fabricated for vehicle borne Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
He also revealed that ISWAP fighters on 5Gun Trucks attempted to attack Nigerian Petroleum Product Company Depot in Diffa near Nigeria/Niger border the attack was repelled and unspecified number of terrorists were killed.
"Subsequently, the Joint Security Forces of Nigeria and Niger Republic successful destroyed the 5GTs. Similarly, troops arrested Abdurrazaq Hudu a logistics supplier of Islamic State of West Africa Province at Mutum Biyu village in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State," he said.
He noted that, the Chief of Defence Staff Gen LEO Irabor also conducted an operational visit to OPERATION SAFE HAVEN theatre of operations, met with critical stakeholders drawn from 5 local government areas of the troubled parts of Southern Kaduna. He also interacted with retired military senior officers of Southern Kaduna extraction to chart ways towards bringing an end to the incessant attacks in the area. The visit has impacted positively to the peace efforts in the area.
"The Commander of OPERATION SAFE HAVEN at its Headquarters in Jos handed over a total of 517 small arms and light weapons recovered from bandits and other criminal elements to the Coordinator North Central Zone of the National Centre for the control of Small Arms and Light Weapons. Troops of 82 Division arrested 4, criminals elements of the Independent People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network and recovered.
"Troops of OPERATION DELTA SAFE discovered several illegal refining site, with Seven Million Seven Hundred and Thirty-Two Thousand (7,732,000) litres of crude oil and Ten Million and Eight Hundred and Twenty-One Thousand Six Hundred and five (10,821,605) litres of AGO was recovered. All recovered items have been handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action.
"During the Operation DAKATAR DA BARAWO conducted in Anambra and Bayelsa States within the week under review troops discovered and destroyed several illegal refinery sites, a total of One Million Seven Hundred and Eighteen Thousand (1,718,000) litres of AGO, Three Million Eight Hundred (3,800,000) litres of crude oil, Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand (350,000) litres of sludge, Twenty Thousand (20,000) litres of PMS and One Hundred Thousand (100,000) litres of DPK.
"Troops in OPERATION HADARIN DAJI within the 3 weeks period under review rescued 32 women and 18 children. , troops recovered 592 rustled cattle, 45 different assorted weapons, 80 rounds of different caliber ammunitions, 50 motorcycles. Troops also rescued 179 civilians, neutralized 62 terrorists and apprehended 100 terrorists. All recovered items, rescued and apprehended terrorists were handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action in Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna States.
General Onyeuko also said, operational activities of troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE to get rid of unscrupulous elements and restore peace and normalcy to the general area led to the arrest of Leggi Jobrin a notorious gun runner and kidnapper who has been terrorizing the people of Gidan Bawa village of Nasarawa Local Government Area and he is also on the wanted list of operation WHIRL STROKE. 6 bandits were also arrested were also conducted in Taraba, Nasarawa, and Benue States.