The Defence Headquarters says, its military troops during the week leading to 31 August 2023 neutralized 39 terrorists, rescued 109 kidnapped hostages, arrested 157 terrorists, 16 perpetrators of oil theft and denied oil theft of the sum of Seven Hundred and Sixty-Five Million Eight Hundred and Sixty-Three Thousand Naira (N765,863,000.00) only.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba disclosed this today, at the biweekly media briefing on military operations conducted in all theatres of Operations in support of national security interests as the military continues to pursue aggressive military operations against violent extremist groups seeking to undermine the security of the country and conduct violence against the people.
General Buba noted that during the week in focus troops recovered 55 assorted weapons and 96 assorted ammunition. The breakdown as follows: 12 AK47 rifles, one GPMG, one HK21 gun, one FN rifle loaded with 5 rounds of NATO ammo, 2 Dane guns, 3 fabricated rifles, one fabricated pistol, 3 locally made pistols, 11 AK47 magazines, 71 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 22 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 2 rounds of 9mm ammo, one cartridge, one bandolier, 7 rounds 7.62mm special empty cases, 24 motorcycles, 13 mobile phones, 10 bicycles and the sum of Eight Hundred and Eighty One Thousand Seven Hundred Naira (N881,700.00).
He said, Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 71 dugout pits, 36 boats, 83 storage tanks, 5 vehicles, 4 motorcycles, 58 cooking ovens, 5 pumping machines, 3 generators, 3 speedboats and 34 illegal refining sites. Also, troops recovered 569,400 liters of stolen crude oil, 486,000 liters of illegally refined AGO and 59,500 liters of PMS.
"Troops of Operation HADIN KAI ambushed and arrested BH/ISWAP terrorists in Gwoza and Tarmuwa LGAs of Borno and Yobe States, neutralized 11 terrorists, arrested 45 and rescued 34 kidnapped hostages.
.jpg)
"Following active terrorists’ activities at Wulade, the air component of Operation HADIN KAI acquired and engaged the targets at the location. The outcome is being continuous monitored.
"Troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN recovered 3 AK47 rifles, one fabricated AK47 rifles, one fabricated pistol, one dane gun and 41 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo. Troops neutralized 2 gunmen, rescued 3 hostages and arrested 15 criminals suspects.", he said.
General Buba added that in the conduct of operations, troops of Operation UDO KA recovered 2 locally made pistols, 2 rounds of 9mm ammo, one live cartridge and a pair of canvas. Troops also neutralized 3 terrorists, arrested 23 suspected criminals and rescued 12 kidnapped hostages. All recovered items, arrested suspects and rescued hostages were handed over to the relevant authority for further action.
"Troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI neutralized 12 terrorists, arrested 33 terrorists, rescued 40 kidnapped hostages and recovered 3 AK47 rifles. Troops also recovered 18 motorcycles and 3 mobile phones.
.jpg)
"Troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE recovered one FN rifle, 5 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 2 mobile phones, 4 motorcycles and sum of N3,450.00. Troops also, neutralized 2 terrorists, arrested 11 suspects and rescued 6 kidnapped hostages.
"Troops of Operation WHIRL PUNCH eliminated 9 terrorists, arrested 6 suspected terrorists and rescued 13 kidnapped hostages.
"Troops of Operation DELTA SAFE destroyed 71 dugout pits, 36 boats, 83 storage tanks, 5 vehicles, 4 motorcycles, 58 cooking ovens, 5 pumping machines, 3 generators, 3 speedboats and 34 illegal refining sites. Also, troops recovered 569,400 liters of stolen crude oil, 486,000 liters of illegally refined AGO and 59,500 liters of PMS. Troops also arrested 16 suspected oil thefts."he said.
General Buba affirmed that the military will continue to pursue aggressive military operations against violent extremist groups seeking to undermine the security of the country and conduct violence against the people.
The armed forces remains focused on its core mission and would continually make adjustments along the way to better protect citizens, while isolating and annihilating those groups constituting a security nuisance to the country.