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The Nigerian military troops have remains focussed on fighting the terrorist and their cohorts across the country and have been striking the terrorist enclaves with air attacks with neutralization of 202 terrorists and arrested of 437 persons. Troops also recovered 45 illegal refining sites, arrested 30 perpetrators of oil thieves and rescued 209 kidnapped hostages.
Major General Edward Buba, Director Defence Media Operations disclosed this on Friday in a press statement made available to SpyeTV News Abuja.
General Buba noted that in the South-South, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of Seven Hundred and Eighteen Million One Hundred and Seventy One Thousand Naira (N718,171,000.00) only. Troops apprehended 80 suspected oil thefts and other violent extremists. Troops recovered 10 weapons and 189 assorted ammunitions.
He said, troops also recovered 201 assorted weapons and 5,346 assorted ammunition. The breakdown as follows: 3 G3 rifles, 105 AK47 rifles, 4 AK49 rifles, 17 locally fabricated gun, 37 dane guns, 9 pump action guns, one fabricated SMG, 2 double barrel guns, 2 single barrel guns, one pistol, 6 locally fabricated pistol, one revolver rifle, one damaged PKT, 4 grenades, one RPG bomb, one charger and 4 bandoliers.
Others are: 3,232 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 833 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 59 rounds of 9mm ammo, 28 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm, 1,017 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm, 177 live cartridges, 118 magazines, 9 baofeng radios, 8 vehicles, 118 motorcycles, 10 vehicles, 3 bicycles, 44 mobile phones and the sum of N74,702,320.00 only amongst other items.
He added that troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 28 dugout pits, 15 boats and 55 storage tanks. Other items recovered include 7 cooking ovens, 7 vehicles, 8 mobile phones, 2 pumping machines, 2 baofeng radios, one outboard engine and 45 illegal refining sites. Troops recovered 707,200 litres of stolen crude oil, 149,700 litres of illegally refined AGO and 400 litres of DPK.
On troops operations from each zones, General Buba noted that troops of Operation HADIN KAI neutralized 80 terrorists, arrested 56 suspects and rescued 60 kidnappers hostages. Troops recovered 2 G3 rifles, 61 AK47 rifles, 6 fabricated rifles, 21 dane guns, 2 double barrel guns, one RPG bomb, tube, 4 grenades, one damaged PKT, 77 magazines, 2,064 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 375 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 888 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammo, 32 live cartridges, 4 bandoliers, 4 baofeng radios, 3 vehicles, 3 motorcycles, one bicycle, 5 mobile phones and the sum of N271,700.00 only amongst others.
On the North East Air Interdiction, he said between 28 and 31 May 2024, air component of Operation HADIN KAI in multiple passes conducted air interdictions at different BH/ISWAP/JAS terrorists locations in Kaforam, Doron Kirta and Garin Maloma around Lake Chad Basin and Sambisa Forest in Borno State.
Following confirmatory ISR on terrorists, the locations were acquired and attacked with rockets and bombs. Battle Damage Assessment revealed that several terrorists were neutralized with their structures and logistics destroyed.
He also revealed that troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN neutralized 16 insurgents, arrested 72 violent extremists and rescued 29 kidnapped hostages. Troops recovered 3 AK47 rifles, 5 fabricated rifles, one dane gun, 3 pump action guns, one fabricated SMG, one locally fabricated pistol, one pistol, 15 magazines, 539 rounds of 7.62mm special, 67 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 26 rounds of 9mm ammo, 62 live cartridges, 2 motorcycles and 4 mobile phones amongst others.
Sequel to earlier kidnap of a military officer, a Warrant Officer and 9 others. Troops conducted search and rescue operations in Gwer West and Ogbadibo LGAs of Benue State. During the operations, troops rescued the personnel together with 4 other kidnapped hostages.
Troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI neutralized 54 terrorists, arrested 131 terrorists and rescued 44 kidnapped hostages, Troops recovered 40 AK47 rifles, one AK49 rifle, 2 fabricated rifles, 4 dane guns, 2 single barrel guns, 346 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 134 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 12 magazines, 30 motorcycles and 8 mobile phones amongst others.
As for the Air Interdiction of OPHD, on 27 May and 1 June 2024, the air component of Operation HADARIN DAJI acquired and attacked newly uncovered enclaves of terrorists kingpins Babaru’s and Bello Turji’s in Kankara and Isa LGAs of Katsina and Sokoto States respectively. Battle Damage Assessment revealed that several terrorists were neutralized with their structures and logistics destroyed.
Similarly, on 2 June 2024, air interdiction was conducted at newly uncovered hideout of notorious terrorist kingpin Alhaji Iliya and his cohorts in Kankara LGA of Katsina State. The location was observed to be active with terrorists activities. Consequently, the target was acquired and attacked with rockets and cannons. Battle Damage Assessment revealed that several terrorists were eliminated and their structures destroyed.
Troops of Operation WHIRL PUNCH neutralized 17 terrorists, arrested 35 suspects and rescued 25 kidnapped hostages. Troops recovered one AK47 rifle, 4 fabricated rifles, 2 dane guns, 3 fabricated pistols, 22 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 142 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 20 rounds of 9mm ammo, one magazine, 5 motorcycles and 11 mobile phones amonsgt others.
At Operation WHIRL PUNCH, on 28 May 2024, following troops sustained offensive operations, one terrorists kingpin identified as Lawal Kwalba surrendered to troops in Chikun LGA of Kaduna State. During the operations, troops recovered one AK47 rifle, one magazine, one locally fabricated pistol, 22 rounds of 7.62mm special, 10 rounds of 9mm ammo and one motorcycle.
On 30 May 2024, troops on patrol responded to distress call on activities of suspected violent extremists/kidnappers in Lokoja LGA of Kogi State. During the operations, troops rescued 2 kidnapped hostages and recovered a corpse suspected to be a driver to Dangote vehicle.
For the air Interdiction. On 30 and 31 May 2024 respectively, air component of Operation WHIRL PUNCH conducted air interdictions on identified terrorists enclaves within Bula Forest in Giwa LGA of Kaduna State. The targets were acquired and engaged with rockets and bombs. Battle Damage Assessment and human feedback revealed that scores of terrorists were eliminated with their structures and logistics destroyed.
Troops of Operation UDO KA neutralized 30 terrorists, arrested 50 violent extremists and rescued 30 kidnapped hostages. Troops recovered 6 AK47 rifles, 7 dane guns, 4 pump action guns, 12 magazines, 115 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 28 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm, 129 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm, 45 live cartridges, 21 cartridges (expended), 11 motorcycles and 8 mobile phones amongst other. All recovered items, arrested suspects and rescued hostages were handed over to the relevant authority for further action.
General Buba a friend that the armed forces remains steadfast in executing its role to restore the safety and security of the citizens of this country. Troops are in a good place in winning the war.