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.The Defence Headquarters on Thursday has said that the recent increase kidnapping can not be wholly attributed to the relative increase in cash circulation compared with the weeks of the General elections.
Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Musa Danmadami disclosed this while fielding questions from Journalists during the biweekly briefing on the troops activities and operational successes being recorded in the various operational theaters within the 6 geo-political zones of the Country.
General Danmadami noted that, the fight against criminals must not be left to the security agencies alone but a collective collaboration between all Security forces and the citizens.
He assured that the military has not and will not relent in its efforts against the criminals and are working hard round the clock 24/7 to ensure that criminality is reduced .
On the call for interim government by a section of the Nigerian populace, the Director, Defence Media Operations said this is mischievous and unconstitutional, "those making the call are trying to be mischievous on a step they knew is unconstitutional.”
He cautioned those behind the call for interim government to repent from trying hard to draw the Nation backward, noting that the 2023 General elections has been successfully conducted and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had declared the results of the election.
On the military performance within the past two weeks, Major General Danmadami said that troops apprehended no fewer than 59 terrorists and kidnappers, as well as their collaborators, while 118 abducted victims across the theatres of the operation were rescued within the period.
He noted that, locations were bombarded and feedback revealed that several terrorists suffered severed casualties while their structures and logistics were equally destroyed in the air strikes which lead to surrendering of 974 terrorists comprising 77 adult males, 364 adult females and 533 children.
In North East, Troops neutralized 21 terrorists, captured 9 suspected Terrorists, arrested 11 suspected terrorists logistic suppliers/collaborators, apprehended 2 terrorists and rescued 54 terrorist escapees.
In the North West the troops neutralized 24 terrorists, apprehended 19 suspected criminals and rescued 43 abducted civilians.
In North Central, within the weeks in review, troops in the North Central Zone recovered 2 AK47 rifles, 2 pistols, 2 pistol rounds, machetes, 4 ATM cards, 5 SIM cards, mobile phones and other sundry items.
Troops also arrested 9 suspected kidnappers and arrested 9 criminals for various crimes while 21 kidnapped civilians were also rescued. All recovered items, arrested suspected criminals and rescued abducted civilians have been handed over to the relevant authority for further action.
In South South, Troops also recovered 797,000 litres of crude oil, 276,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, 500 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosine, 4 pumping machines, 19 vehicles, 6 motorcycles, 1 tricycle, 8 weapons, 18 variety of ammunitions, 1 outboard engine, 2 generators and 1 speed boat, while 26 suspected criminals were also apprehended.
In South East, Troops of Operation UDO KA has sustained the fight against criminality with the aim of restoring peace and in the zone. Troops equally rescued 21 kidnapped civilians, neutralized 3 terrorists’ and apprehended 12 suspected terrorists’.
The military high command commendations on the unrelenting efforts of troops and other security agencies in the various theatres of operations across the country, acknowledged media partnership and continued cooperation with the military and other security agencies.
The military urged the entire populace to continue to provide prompt and creditable information on the activities of terrorists and other criminal elements, in their respective areas.