By Olayemi Esan
The Military on Thursday says, less than 24 hours that terrorists Ambushed its elite security officers and troops who were on routine patrol along Bwari-Kubwa Road, the troops of 7 Guards Battalion and 167 Special Force Battalion in conjunction with the air component of Operation WHIRL PUNCH have neutralised 30 terrorists and their enclaves, hideouts destroyed.
Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Benard Onyeuko disclosed this during the bi-weekly briefing on troops activities and operational successes being recorded in the various operational theaters of the 6 geo-political zones of the Country said troops conducted a clearance patrol around Bwari general area between 24 - 26 July 2022 of FCT.
General Onyeuko noted that troops successfully clear Kawu and Ido villages and ground troops also recovered 6 x motorcycles, 2 x AK47 rifles, 1 x fully loaded LMG magazine amongst others during mob up.
"With the recent operations carried out between from 23 July we wish to assure residents of FCT Abuja in particular that we are undaunted and unrelenting in our efforts to ensure the safety of lives and properties.
"People should go about their normal business as their safety is guaranteed. The support and cooperation of all Nigerians is hereby solicited as security is everybody’s business. Citizens are encouraged to report any unusual persons in your community to security agencies," Maj Gen Onyeuko reaffirmed.
Giving updates of operational activities between the period 14 - 28 July 2022, Director DMO said, in the North East zone, troops of Operation Hadin Kai rescued 2 civilians that were kidnapped by Boko Haram /ISWAP terrorists in Borno, rescued 4 women with children at Aulari in Borno State, while 2 were the list confirmed to be Chibok girls named Hanatu Musa and Kauna Sarah Luka who are on serial 7 and 38 of the missing Chibok girls.
He pointed out that, within the weeks in focus, a total of 2,016 suspected Boko Haram Terrorists/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists and their families comprising of 360 adult males, 580 adult females and 1076 children surrendered to own troops at various locations in the North East theatre of Operation.
Furthermore, Maj Gen Benard Onyeuko revealed that troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE arrested 2 notorious arms dealers, Mr Samuel Kwanu and Mr Ede Umar Yisa whom were said to have delivered weapons to one Mallam Saidu and some bandits in Gidan Bawa village while troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN arrested Mr Awal Jumba a suspected kidnap kingpin in of Plateau State.
He said troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE arrested 2 kidnappers; Mr Musa Usman (27yrs) and Mr Adam Mohammed (25yrs) at Barkin Ladi, Plateau State. Suspects confessed to have carried out several kidnapping activities including the kidnap of one Master Jeremiah Elijah, a 6yrs on 21 July 2022, while troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN arrested a notorious kidnapper/armed robber and cattle rustler; Mr Zwanlan Fatim - 42yrs at Shendam town, Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State.
In the meantime, troops of Operations HADARIN DAJI at the early hours of 27 July 2022 responded to a distress call from Bayi village in Tsefe Local Government Area of Zamfara on banditry activities. Troops trailed bandits to one Alhaji Bello Dan Iya’s residence and neutralized 1 x bandit. Troops recovered arms and 2 pairs of woodland camouflage. All recovered items are in own custody.
He said, the military high command commends troops in all Theatre of Operations for their professionalism and timely intervention, encourages the general public to avail troops with credible and timely information on criminal activities.