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| Major General Edward Buba Briefing Media Today |
The Defence Headquarters on Thursday has disclosed that in the month February 2024, troops recorded massive operational successes, neutralized 974 terrorists, arrested 621 of them and rescued 466 kidnapped hostages.
This achievement in the month of February was revealed in Abuja by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba during a press conference on the ongoing military operations at the Six geopolitical zones in the country.
Major General Buba further added that, troops recovered 1,573 assorted weapons, and 23,345 assorted ammunitions and denied the oil theft of an estimated sum over N8billion (N8,006,996,894.00) only
He also noted that troops interpreted arms and ammunition and the breakdown for the month of February includes and is not limited to the following: 640 AK47 rifles, 248 locally fabricated guns, 93 pump action guns, 168 dane guns, 15,120 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 6,102 rounds of 7.62mm ΝΑΤΟ, 512 rounds of 9mm and 2,132 live cartridges.
"Others are 8,993,245 litres of stolen crude oil, 1,062,635 litres of illegally refined AGO, 18,950 litres of DPK and 45,950 litres of PMS amongst other item." he said
Major General Buba stressed that during troops ground, and air interdiction this month, the military airstrikes trailed terrorists around a remote village at Arinna Woje. A day after the strikes, the bodies of the 3 Commanders including Abacha, Bakura, an indigene of Jibularam, Babangida as well as 22 other jihadists were recovered.
He also added that a total of 1,157 BH/ISWAP combatants and their families surrendered to troops.
He warned that if these terrorist groups don't come to the table in peace. The armed forces will continue to punish them with overwhelming military force. He recalled that the military recently took delivery of additional air platform to further enhance lethal capabilities.
He noted that, troops are making significant strides and recording notable successes in operations across the country. "Though it might not seem so to some, the fact remains remarkable progress is being made."
He urged citizens to endure today's pain for tomorrow's gain. "We should take solace in knowing that, It is all in a bit to make Nigeria great again."he said
JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION HADIN KAI (NORTH EAST)
Details as follows:
Serial Op Activity Wk1 Wk2 Wk3 Wk4 Wk5 Total Rmks
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i)
Neutralized Terrorists 45 7 63 70 57 242
Surrendered BHT/Families 262 224 81 289 301 1,157
Arrested Terrorists 8 4 19 31 13 57
Rescued Hostages 18 - - 24 - 42
Recovered Weapons 51 34 77 84 86 332
Recovered Ammunition 374 596 1,030 2,009 1,995 6,004
Equipment Recovered 14 62 19 53 83 231
SUMMARY
Some of the features recorded by troops in the North East, Operation HADIN KAI in the month of February 2024 are 242 terrorist neutralized, 57 arrested suspects, 42 rescued hostages and 1,157 surrendered BH/ISWAP terrorists fighters and their families. The following were recovered 198 AK47 rifles, 61 fabricated, 30 dane guns, 45 assorted arms, 3,692 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 1,854 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 339 assorted ammunitions.
JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION SAFE HAVEN (NORTH CENTRAL)
Details are as follows:
Serial Op Activity Wk1 Wk2 Wk3 Wk4 Wk5 Total Rmks
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i)
Neutralized Terrorists 17 6 - 5 3 31
Arrested Suspects 64 44 16 36 27 187
Rescued Hostages 3 6 4 5 1 19
Weapons Recovered 66 31 32 10 18 157
Ammunitions Recovered 404 639 156 234 691 2,124
Equipment 25 2 19 24 10 80
SUMMARY
Some of the features recorded by troops in the North Central Operation SAFE HAVEN in the month of February 2024 are 31 terrorist neutralized, 187 arrested suspects and 19 rescued hostages. The following were recovered 52 AK47 rifles, 103 fabricated guns, 39 assorted arms, 1,138 rounds of 7.62mm special, 590 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 203 assorted ammunitions.
OPERATION WHIRL STROKE (NORTH CENTRAL)
Details are as follows:
Serial Op Activity Wk1 Wk2 Wk3 Wk4 Wk5 Total Rmks
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i)
Terrorists 7 29 35 14 15 100
Arrested terrorists 3 21 21 5 10 67
Rescued Hostages 1 9 1 5 27 53
Weapons Recovered 10 30 38 25 23 126
Ammunition recovered 148 1,343 842 575 802 3,710
Equipment Recovered 6 13 4 12 7 42
SUMMARY
Some of the features recorded by troops in the North Central Operation WHIRL STROKE in the month of February 2024 are 100 terrorist neutralized, 67 arrested suspects and 53 rescued hostages. The following were recovered 61 AK47 rifles, 63 assorted arms, 2,663 rounds of 7.62mm special, 309 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 716 assorted ammunitions.
JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION HADARIN DAJI (NORTH WEST)
Details are as follows;
Serial Op Activity Wk1 Wk2 Wk3 Wk4 Wk5 Total Rmks
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i)
Neutralized Terrorists 65 57 68 58 97 345
Arrested Terrorists 18 5 27 5 25 80
Rescued Hostages 39 66 65 76 43 289
Weapon Recovered 58 75 74 50 91 348
Ammunition Recovered 769 1,170 1,572 923 2,178 6,612
Equipment Recovered 19 30 44 15 49 175
SUMMARY
Some of the features recorded by troops in the North West Operation HADARIN DAJI in the month of February 2024 are 345 terrorist neutralized, 80 arrested suspects and 289 rescued hostages. The following were recovered 214 AK47 rifles, 84 fabricated guns, 47 assorted arms, 3,887 rounds of 7.62mm special, 2,048 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 199 rounds of 9mm, 26 assorted arms and 355 assorted ammunitions.
Notable terrorist warlords killed during the month of Feb in OPHD :
ASHIRU and KACHAMBI - both loyalists of Jimmo SMALLY were neutralized early Feb 24 by troops in conjunction with vigilantes around Faru, Maradun LGA.
Yellow DOGON RAƘUMI - top loyalist of ƊANSA'ADI was neutralized by troops on 3rd Feb, 2024 during offensive in Ƙungurki area of Ƙaura Namoda LGA.
Sulen NAGALA, LAUSHI and BANGIS - all top a terrorist group under the leadership of a kingpin named NAGALA. They were neutralized by troops in conjunction with Zamfara State Community Protection Guard on 11 Feb 24 during encounter at Gandaya area of Bingi District of Maru LGA.
MALAM - one of the top loyalists of Sani MAINASARA aka BLACK, was eliminated on 18 Feb 24 by Zamfara State Community Protection Guard along Koluwai Road in Zurmi LGA.
Alhaji BALDU, Baban YARA and Alhaji KABIRU - all associates/loyalists of Sale BAKAYA were killed on 24 Feb 24 during rival gang clash in Hayin Alhaji area of Tsafe LGA.
JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION WHIRL PUNCH (NORTH WEST)
Details are as follows;
Serial Op Activity Wk1 Wk2 Wk3 Wk4 Wk5 Total Rmks
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i)
Neutralized Terrorists - - 14 93 43 150
Arrested Terrorists 30 11 54 32 34 161
Rescued Hostages 2 2 - 14 26 44
Weapon Recovered 2 6 15 85 36 144
Ammunition Recovered 167 178 236 1,949 715 3,245
Equipment Recovered 6 8 15 52 17 98
SUMMARY
Some of the features recorded by troops in the North West Operation WHIRL PUNCH in the month of February 2024 are 150 terrorist neutralized, 161 arrested suspects and 44 rescued hostages. The following were recovered 96 AK47 rifles, 52 assorted arms, 2,023 rounds of 7.62mm special, 355 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 638 assorted ammunitions.
JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION DELTA SAFE (SOUTH SOUTH)
Details as follows:
Serial Op Activity Wk1 Wk2 Wk3 Wk4 Wk5 Total Rmks
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i)
Neutralized Terrorists 5 - - 5 - 10
Arrested Terrorists 44 50 104 98 63 359
3. Rescued Hostages - 3 - - - 3
4. Weapons recovered 20 20 29 9 1 79
5. Boats destroyed 61 19 76 79 81 316
6. Ammunitions Recovered 243 243 202 171 235 1,094
8. Illegal refining sites 51 18 18 74 85 246
9. Vehicles 13 9 12 11 13 58
SUMMARY
16. Some of the features recorded by troops in the South South Operation DELTA SAFE in the month of February 2024 are 10 terrorist neutralized and 359 oil thefts and other suspected violent extremists. Also, oil theft were denied 8,993,245 litres of crude oil, 1,062,635 litres of AGO, 18,950 litres of DPK and 45,940 litres of PMS. Additionally, troops recovered 79 assorted weapons and destroyed 316 wooden boats, 3859 assorted ammunitions and 246 illegal refining sites.
JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION UDO KA (SOUTH EAST)
18. Details are as follows:
Serial Op Activity Wk1 Wk2 Wk3 Wk4 Wk5 Total Rmks
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i)
1. Neutralized Terrorists 18 6 22 39 21 106
2. Arrested Terrorists 36 5 11 10 7 69
3. Rescued Hostages 8 - 1 - 10 19
4. Weapons Recovered 16 8 26 36 21 10
5. Ammunitions Recovered 268 1,320 203 993 638 3,422
6. Equipment Recovered 18 1 41 33 11 104
SUMMARY
19. Some of the features recorded by troops in the South East Operation UDO KA in the month of February 2024 are 106 terrorist neutralized, 69 arrested suspects and 19 rescued hostages. The following were recovered 19 AK47 rifles, 46 pump action guns, 1,717 rounds of 7.62mm special, 586 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 864 live cartridges, 263 assorted ammunitions and 60 other equipment.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT AIR INTERDICTIONS BY AIR COMPONENT ACROSS VARIOUS THEATRES OF OPERATIONS IN FEBUARY 2024
AIR INTERDICTION IN OPERATION HADIN KAI ( NE)
20. On 9 February 2024, terrorists hijacked 2 trailers vehicles along Road Gurbin Baure-Jibia and diverted the vehicles and drivers to a forest feeder road at Dogon karfe location in Katsina State.
Air strikes were subsequently conducted against the terrorists. As a result of the strike, the drivers of the trucks and other victims escaped from the scene while some of the food stuff were salvaged.
21. On 19 February 2024, airstrikes by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai resulted in the elimination of scores of ISWAP fighters including 3 Commanders in Marte Local Government Area, in Borno State.
The terrorists were trailed around a remote village at Arinna Woje.
A day after the strikes, the bodies of the 3 Commanders including Abacha, Bakura, an indigene of Jibularam, Babangida as well as 22 other jihadists were later recovered.
AIR INTERDICTION IN OPERATION HADARIN DAJI
22. On 21 February 2024, air interdiction missions were conducted against terrorists at Rugar Gamji and an abandoned primary school near Gidan Gwanki in Katsina State. The strikes successfully destroyed and neutralized about thirty (30) terrorists and their motorcycles that were hidden in the abandoned structures. On same day, 7 motorcycle-riding terrorists were also neutralized at Gidan Guga in Katsina State
23. On 24 February 2024, air interdiction was conducted at TSORA HILL in Safana LGA of Katsina State. Feedback received confirmed that over 20 terrorists were neutralized.
AIR INTERDICTION IN OPERATION DELTA SAFE ( SS)
24. On 23 February 2024, a kidnap kingpin, David Okpala Okpolowu, widely recognized as "2 Baba," notorious for terrorizing Rivers State and neighboring areas, succumbed to injuries sustained in an airstrike conducted by the NAir component of of OPDS in Ahoada Forest, Rivers State.
25. The airstrike, which was part of a joint operations with the Nigerian Police in Port Harcourt, was initiated based on credible intelligence indicating the presence of "2 Baba" and his criminal gang hiding in the swampy forest. The precise targeting of the strike on resulted in the complete obliteration of the gathering. Reliable human intelligence confirmed that "2 Baba" was among the survivors who sustained severe injuries from the airstrike but succumbed to his injuries at another location.
Recall that David Okpala Okpolowu AKA “2 baba” has been evading authorities for several months following his alleged involvement in the ruthless murder of Bako Angbasim, a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ahoada-East Local Government Area. The incident resulted in the killing and dismemberment of DPO’s body.