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A total of 82 terrorists were neutralized while 198 suspected others were arrested. Troops also apprehended 22 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 93 kidnapped hostages between 14 - 21 February 2025.
Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye disclosed this in a press statement on Thursday made available to SpyeTV News in Abuja that during the week under review, troops of the Armed Forces conducted joint operation with the ONSA team, security agencies and hybrid forces like fighting and confidence building patrols, raids, ambushes and clearance as well as search and rescue operations.
He noted that in the cause of the operations, they neutralized several terrorists, apprehended their collaborators, rescued kidnapped victims and received surrendered terrorists. Gunrunners, oil theft collaborators and other violent extremists were also apprehended. They also, conducted several close air supports, armed reconnaissance patrols as well as air interdiction missions.
Maj.General Kangye said between 13 – 19 February 2025, a total of 41 terrorists comprising 10 adult males, 12 adult females and 19 children surrendered to troops within the theatre of operation Operation HADIN KAI in the North East.
He said troops of Operation FASAN YAMMA in a fire fight, 21 terrorists were neutralized, 6 were arrested while 60 kidnapped hostages were rescued.
Troops of Operation WHIRL PUNCH: conducted offensive operations in Ovia North East and Benin City LGAs of Edo State and Akure North LGA Ondo State. They also conducted similar operation in Gwagwalada Area Council of FCT, Abuja. During the operations 5 criminals were neutralized, 32 were arrested while 2 kidnapped victims were rescued. During the operations, arrested 3 kidnappers, rescued 7 victims and recovered one vehicle.
Troops of Operation SAFE HAVENDuring the operations, troops neutralized 3 extremists, arrested 19 of them and rescued 5 kidnapped hostages
Troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE on 15 February 2025 raided an illegal mining site in Karu LGA of Nasarawa State and arrested 51 persons. Furthermore, 2 trucks, 20 motorcycles, one compressor pump, 24 mobile phones and some quantities of mined precious stones comprising gold and lithium stone were recovered.
In the South South region, troops foiled oil theft estimated to the tune of about Five Hundred and Eighty Seven Million, One Hhundred and Ninety Thousand, Seven Hundred and Forty Naira (N587,190,740.00) only.
The breakdown includes: 366,530 litres of stolen crude oil, 117,320 litres of illegally refined AGO and 600 litres of DPK. Additionally, troops discovered and destroyed, 38 crude oil cooking ovens, 27 dugout pits, 22 boats, 2 speedboats, 60 storage tanks, 34 drums and 32 illegal refining sites. Other items recovered include 3 pumping machines, one tricycles, 3 motorcycles, 5 mobile phones and 2 vehicles among others. Troops arrested 22 oil thieves, recovered 2 and 152 assorted arms and ammunition as well as 5 magazines among others.
In a related development, troops recovered 86 and 2,040 assorted weapons and ammunition respectively. These includes, 46 AK47 rifles, 18 locally fabricated guns, 19 dane guns, 3 pump action guns, 1,165 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 128 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 600 rounds of 7.62 x 12.7mm ammo, 51 cartridges as well as other 3 assorted arms and 96 assorted ammunitions.