The Nigerian military says, troops across the theatre neutralized 140 terrorist and arrested 135 of them, thereby destroying the fight capabilities of these terrorist within one week.
Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba disclosed this while addressing media at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on troops Operational activities across the six geopolitical zone in the country.
General Buba noted that troops rescued 76 kidnapped hostages which is indicative of military commitment to guarantee the safety and security of citizens, noting that the military will continue to do more as well as, our effort to boost the nations daily crude oil production.
He added that Troops arrested 18 perpetrators of oil theft. Troops equally denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of One Billion Seven Hundred and Fifty One Million Eight Hundred and Eighty Six Thousand Five Hundred and Fifty Naira (N1,751,886,550.00) only.
Furthermore, troops diminished the terrorist military capabilities by recovering 241 assorted weapons and 3,254 assorted ammunition. The breakdown as follows: 141 AK47 rifles, one PKT gun, 2 FN rifles, 17 fabricated rifles, 26 dane guns, 13 pump action guns, 4 locally made pistols, one barreta pistol, 2 bayonets and 42 AK47 magazines.
Others are: 2,016 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 970 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 33 rounds 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 76 rounds of 9mm ammo, 113 live cartridges, 2 baofeng radios, 3 vehicles, 31 motorcycles, 18 mobile phones and the sum of N79,052,150.00 and 19$ only amongst other items.
Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 33 crude oil cooking ovens, 19 dugout pits, 41 boats, 70 drums, 22 storage tanks and 47 illegal refining sites .Other items recovered include 13 speedboats, one tricycle, 4 motorcycles, 3 vehicles among others. Troops recovered 1,122,710 litres of stolen crude oil and 557,210 litres of illegally refined AGO.
Giving updates on successes recoridng across all theatres, General Buba stressed that in the Niger Delta, troops disrupted the activities of perpetrators of crude oil theft by the discovery and destruction of 33 crude oil cooking ovens, 41 boats, and 47 illegal refining sites, among others.
Furthermore, troops recovered 1,122,710 litres of stolen crude oil and 557,210 litres of illegally refined AGO.
In North East, troops of Operation HADIN ΚΑΙ neutralized 43 terrorists, arrested 27 suspects and rescued 25 kidnappers hostages.
Troops also recovered 23 AK47 rifles and 155 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammo amongst other items.
Troops arrested ISWAP/JAS terrorists collaborators and informants in Monguno, Konduga and Biu LGAs of Borno State
In North Central, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN neutralized 14 violent extremists, arrested 45 persons and rescued 12 kidnapped hostages
Troops also recovered 7 AK47 rifles and 581 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo amongst other items.
Also in North Central, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE neutralized 7 terrorists, arrested 16 violent extremists and rescued 12 kidnapped hostages.
In North West, troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI neutralized 62 terrorists, arrested 29 persons and rescued 9 kidnapped hostages.
Troops also recovered 85 AK47 rifles, and 629 rounds of 7.62mm NATO amongst others.
In North Central, troops of Operation WHIRL PUNCH neutralized 3 terrorists, arrested 36 suspects and rescued 12 kidnapped hostages.
Troops recovered 3 AK47 rifles, 2 fabricated rifles and 43 rounds of 7.62mm NATO amongst others items.
In the South South, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE recovered 1,122,710 litres of stolen crude oil and 557,210 litres of illegally refined AGO.
Additionally, troops discovered and destroyed 33 crude oil cooking ovens, 19 dugout pits, 41 boats and 47 illegal refining sites.
In South East troops of Operation UDO KA neutralized 24 terrorists, arrested 12 violent extremists and rescued one kidnapped hostage.
Troops recovered 10 AK47 rifles, 15 pump action guns, 153 rounds of 7.62mm amongst other items.
Other items recovered include 13 speedboats, 3 vehicles among others. Troops rescued 4 kidnapped hostages and apprehended 28 suspected oil thefts and other violent extremists. Troops also recovered 22 assorted arms, one magazine and 55 assorted ammunitions.
He affirmed that, all recovered items, arrested suspects and rescued hostages were handed over to the relevant authority for further action.
He said, troops are staying true to the course of victory at the end of which we shall prevail over the terrorist and perpetrators of insecurity in our country.
"I want to be unequivocally clear that we will defeat and destroy these terrorists and create a safer environment for our citizens. On the whole, we must never give terrorism any oxygen to thrive in our nation.
Nevertheless, troops are not relenting but continue to find innovative solutions to the challenges faced in the conduct of operations and I like I have always stated, we retain operational flexibility." he said