The Nigerian military in the month of May recorded several significant achievements at all theatres of operation, especially at North Central Operation WHIRL STROKE with major arrest of violent extremists, terrorist collaborators as well as gunrunners identified as Usman Shu’ibu, Tukur Bala, Shu’ibu Alh Uma, Akuma Tade, Daniel Ugbakuma and Mallam Umar Usman and the surrendering of 1,099 Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists combatants and their families.
Director, of Defence Media Operation, Major General Edward Buba disclosed this today at the bi-weekly media briefing on Thursday at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja
General Buba noted that troops also arrested violent extremists/logistics suppliers of Ambazonian rebels of Cameroon including a notorious violent extremist identified as Jafaru Adamu, Auwal Haruna, Umar Dahiru, Mubarak Abdullahi, Saidu Musa, Bashiru Ibrahim, Danlami Yahuaza, Abubakar Abdullahi and Mr Ibro Shuaibu.
He added that, troops arrested the second a terrorist second in Command to a notorious terrorist commander known as Full-Fire identified as Mr Terkaa Mvenda Atoba.
Troops onslaught has largely degraded the potency of bandit groups. However, isolated cases of kidnapping still occur, such as the recent attack on a bus traveling from Abuja to Port Harcourt, resulting in the kidnapping of all passengers, including a military officer. Furthermore, as the rainy season sets in, communal clashes and farmers/herders conflicts are expected to increase due to encroachment on farmlands. However, with the support of sister services and other security agencies, troops continue to optimize their operations against terrorist and their cohorts.
General Buba revealed that Troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE neutralized 41 terrorist, arrested 184 suspects and rescued 48 kidnapped hostages. Troops also recovered 18 AK47 rifles, 27 assorted arms, 2,237 rounds of 7.62mm special, 297 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 201 assorted ammunitions.
Troops of North East Joint Taskforce Theatre of Operation HADIN KAI neutralised 306 terrorist, arrested 199 suspects and rescued 219 kidnapped hostages, recovered 200 AK47 rifles, 34 fabricated, 53 fabricated rifles, 95 dane guns, 50 assorted arms, 4,852 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 1,497 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 2,710 assorted ammunitions.
Troops rescued 386 hostages, most of whom had been in captivity for over 10years. The rescued hostages were handed over to the Borno State Government. The operations denied the terrorist the ability to carry out major offensive. It also significantly diminished the terrorist offensive capability, limiting the terrorist to low level skirmishes and attacks that are more prevalent on soft targets.
The air component of Operation HADIN KAI conducted air interdiction to terrorists locations in Maradun, Southern Tumbun Fulani and Dogon in Zamfara and Lake Chad Basin destroying acquired terrorist, the logistics and infrastructure.
Troops operations have, in the month of May denied the terrorist the ability to carry out major offensive and has significantly diminished their offensive capability.