.jpeg)
... As Troops Recover 7,144 Arms and Ammunitions in 1 Months
The Defence Headquarters, Thursday has urged all segments of society to take example from gallant troops in the frontlines fighting to achieve the goal of liquidating terrorists and insurgents across the country in order to restore peace and security.
Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba disclosed this while briefing Defence Correspondents on the report on Monthly Review of Joint Task Force Operational Activities for the Month Of January 2024 and the ongoing Military Operational Activities by the Armed Forces of Nigeria as of 8 February 2024, urging citizens to rise up to security challenges because they are mostly self inflicted and it is time to stop the bleeding in order for healing to commence.
According to Maj. General "these men and women, are from all the nooks and cranny of our country, and act shoulder to shoulder as a united force to achieve a common cause of destroying camps of violence in the country. Just like our footballers are doing to make the nation protein the ongoing AFCON, our musician and artist are doing on the world stage and our athletes flying our flags high with pride. It is not beyond us with our resilient spirit to quench the fires of violence across the country.
"Unity is key to our victory in over coming the security challenges confronting us as a nation. Indeed, it must be said that, militaries don't go to war, rather it is nations that go to war. our nation is at war, and wars can be complex and ugly. Already, we are witnessing some of the ugly trends of war across the country. It is time for citizens to close ranks with the military to win this war. Citizens are critical in war, and must therefore be quick to realize their role in the ongoing war and act accordingly. "
During the month of January 2024, under review, Maj. General Buba revealed that troops recorded the following: neutralized 266 terrorists, arrested 463 violent extremists/insurgents and rescued 116 kidnapped hostages. Furthermore, troops recovered 447 assorted weapons and 6,697 assorted ammunitions. In the month of Jan 24, troops operating in the SS, denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of Two Billion Eight Hundred and Twenty One Million Five Hundred and Three Thousand and Nine Hundred Sixty Two Naira (N2,821,503,962.00) only.
Breakdown for the month of January is as follows: 237 AK47 rifles, 26 locally fabricated guns, 18 pump action guns, 55 dane guns, 6,807 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 421 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 16 rounds of 9mm and 506 live cartridges. Others are 1,832,150 litres of stolen crude oil, 523,799 litres of illegally refined AGO, 16,716 litres of DPK and 5,200 litres of PMS amonsgt other item.
Meanwhile, during the week under review. Troops neutralised 105 terrorist and arrested 140 of them. Troops also arrested 26 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 86 kidnapped hostages. In the SS, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of Two Hundred and Twenty Million Eight Hundred and Thirty Nine Thousand and Five Hundred Naira (N220,839,500.00) only.
Additionally, troops recovered 208 assorted weapons and 5,332 assorted ammunition. The breakdown for the week is as follows: 95 AK47 rifles, one assault rifle, 39 locally fabricated guns, 34 dane guns, 14 pump action guns, 4 fabricated pistol, 3 fabricated pump action gun, one fabricated revolver pistol, 2 fabricated double barrel gun and locally fabricated arty pieces.
Others are: 3,830 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 640 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 265 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 98 rounds of 7.62 x 51mm ammo, 62 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammo, 64 rounds of 9mm ammo, 359 live cartridges, 8 magazines, 6 mobile phones and the sum of N383,200.00 amongst other items.
Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 9 dugout pits, 19 boats, 21 storage tanks and 8 vehicles. Other items recovered include 35 cooking ovens, 3 pump machines and 18 illegal refining sites. Troops recovered 157,300 litres of stolen crude oil, 23,750 litres of illegally refined AGO and 1,050 litres of DPK.