The Defence Headquarters has unveiled names of terrorist commanders neutralised and arrested in the first Quarter of 2025, spanning January - March, witnessed aggressive operational tempo by gallant troops in conjunction with hybrid forces and other security agencies across all theaters.
Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye revealed this during the bi-weekly media briefing at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
Terrorist commanders like Abba Allai (aka Amirul Khalid of Alafa), Abdullahi (aka Honour), Jagaban and Dan Danger amongst others were neutralized, while Abdullahi Ali was captured alive with severe gun Wounds
The sustained operations against the terrorists also led to the arrest of scores of them, rescue of kidnapped hostages as well as surrendering of many to our troops. Some gunrunners and terrorists' logistics suppliers such as Alhaji Mansur Mohammed,Shehu Babangida, Sagi David, Blessing Paul, Shuaibu Maji were also arrested.
Maj General Kangye said the troops demonstrated uncommon bravery, resilience, determination and strong will during various encounters throughout the quarter, including fighting and confidence building patrols, raids, ambushes and clearance as well as search and rescue operations with remarkable outcomes.
Air component also conducted reconnaissance, close air support and interdiction missions with high success rate, which seriously degraded the terrorists strength and will to fight.
"This effort by our gallant troops created gaps in the command and leadership structures of BHTs as well as ISWAP /JAS terrorists. There were also infighting for supremacy within the ranks of the various terrorist factions, which sparked cracks in their leadership hierarchy, hence the observed confusion in their various ✓ camps.
"Our gallant troops exploited the situation and dealt decisively with them on various fronts, hence their resort to attack on soft targets and the use of IEDs and isolated ambushes." he said
During the Quarter, Operation DELTA SAFE foiled oil theft worth over Seven Billion, Four Hundred and Twenty-Eight Million, Six Hundred and Forty-Eight Thousand, Two Hundred and Forty-Six Naira (7,428,648,246.00) only.
The breakdown indicates: 6,290,437 litres of stolen crude oil, 1,319,350 litres of illegally refined AGO, 6,130 litres of DPK and 4,545 litres of PMS. Additionally, troops discovered and destroyed 257 crude oil cooking ovens, 128 dugout pits, 192 boats, 138 storage tanks, 236 drums and 122 illegal refining sites. Other items recovered include; barges, speedboats, pumping machines, drilling machines, and over 90 vehicles.
Relatedly, troops recovered huge quantities of assorted arms including various kinds of machine guns, RPG tubes, automatic weapons as well as locally fabricated guns and IEDs.
Additionally, huge cache of assorted 7.62mm and 9mm ammunition, as well as live cartridges were also recovered.
In the last one week, troops of Operation HADIN KAI recorded the following successes during the week under review: On 27 and 29 March 2025, scores of terrorists comprising adult males, adult females and somechildren surrendered to troops within the theatre of operation following the ongoing onslaught on them by our gallant troops.
Between 27 March – 1 April 2025, troops in conjunction with Hybrid Forces, conducted offensive operations including fighting patrols, raids and clearance operations in Bama, Gwoza, Kaga and Konduga LGAs of Borno State.
During the operations, some terrorists were neutralized and others apprehended. They also recovered Ak47 rifles, locally fabricated rifles, as well as assorted rounds of 7.62mm special ammunitiomn.