By Harriet Tornguvan
The Defence Headquarters on thursday, said troops in the ongoing operations have neutralized 147 criminals, arrested 381 others suspected terrorists in one week.
Director Defence Media Operations DDMO, Major General Edward Buba disclosed this during the bi -weekly press briefing on the successes of the military operations across the country.
General Buba also revealed that during the week under review troops arrested 23 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 113 kidnapped hostages.
He said in the South South, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of Nine Hundred and Forty Three Million One Hundred and Sixty One Thousand Six Hundred and Eighty Naira (N943,161,680.00) only.
According to him, troops also recovered 74 assorted weapons and 3,498 assorted ammunition. The breakdown as follows: one dushka, one RPG bomb, one RPG charger, 42 AK47 rifles, 10 fabricated rifles, 13 dane guns, one FN rifle, one revolver pistol, one locally made pistol, 27 magazines, one AK47 dummy rifle, one AK47 top cover and one baofeng radio.
General Buba highlighted Other successes which includes: 288 rounds RG55 ammo, 40 rounds CJ95 ammo, 2,466 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 470 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 73 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm, 112 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm, 42 live cartridges, 6 vehicles, 32 motorcycles and 8 mobile phones amongst other items recovered by the troops.
"Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 15 dugout pits, 17 boats, 62 drums, one receiver and 27 storage tanks. Other items recovered include 32 cooking ovens, 2 outboard engines, 2 pumping machines, 2 vehicles, one tricycle, 3 motorcycles and 84 illegal refining sites.
"Troops recovered 920,800 litres of stolen crude oil, 88,760 litres of illegally refined AGO and 7,500 litres of PMS.7. Overall, we are constantly assessing our actions, adjusting and amending our operations in order annihilate terrorist across.
"Troops of Operation HADIN KAI recorded the following activities during the period under review; surrendering of BH/ISWAP/JAS terrorists fighters and families, conducted fighting patrols, offensive, ambush and raid operations, arrested suspected BH/ISWAP/JAS collaborators as well as discovered and detonated IEDs in Bama, Gwoza, Dikwa, Damboa, Biu, Kukawa, MMC, Monguno and Marte LGAs of Borno State as well as Damaturu, Geidam and Gujba LGAs of Yobe State respectively.
"On 7 August 2024, a total of 41 BH/ISWAP terrorists and family members comprising 5 adult males, 8 adult females and 28 children surrendered to troos in Bama, Gwoza and Dikwa LGAs of Borno State.
"Between 7 and 13 Aug 24, a total of 94 terrs comprising 19 adult males 26 adult females and 49 children surrendered to troops within the theatre of operations.b. Fighting Patrols.
"On 7 August 2024, following reports, troops with hybrid forces while on fighting patrol responded to information on activities of suspected BH/ISWAP terrorists and made contact in Damboa LGA of Borno State.
"Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 11 terrorists and recovered 7 AK47 rifles, 2 locally fabricated guns, 4 magazines, 112 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammo, 89 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 2 motorcycles and cutlasses amongst others.
"On 12 August 2024, troops in conjunction with hybrid forces conducted fighting patrol to BH/ISWAP terrorist’s enclaves and made contact in Bama LGA of Borno State. Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 10 and recovered 4 AK47 rifles, 3 dane guns, 103 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 76 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 6 motorcycles amongst others.
"Ambush Operation Between 8 and 11 August 2024, troops in conjunction with hybrid forces in separate offensive operations conducted long range ambush and made contact with BH/ISWAP/JAS terrorists in MMC and Gwoza LGAs of Borno State. Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 13 terrorists and recovered 6 AK47 rifles, 3 fabricated, 2 dane guns, 241 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 91 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 3 motorcycles and 6 bicycles amongst.
"On 9 and 10 August 2024, a combined team of troops in separate offensive operations raided suspected BH/ISWAP terrorists enclaves and made contact in Bama LGA of Borno State. Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 28 terrorists and rescued 19 kidnapped hostages including children. Troops also recovered 3 dane guns, 2 RPG bombs, one RPG bomb charger, one magazine, 73 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm and medical supplies as well as discovered and detonated one locally made IED.
"Between 7 and 11 August 2024, troops in conjunction with hybrid forces in separate offensive operations made contact with BH/ISWAP/JAS terrorists in Damaturu and Gujba LGAs of Yobe State as well as Damboa LGA of Borno State respectively. Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 6 terrorists and arrested 4 suspected kidnappers. Troops also recovered 4 AK47 rifles, one FN rifle, 64 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 2 motorcycles, 2 mobile phones and the sum of N39,000.00 only amongst others.
"Between 7 and 12 August 2024, troops in separate operations intercepted and arrested 26 suspected BH/ISWAP/JAS terrorists collaborators, informants and kidnappers in Gujba and Geidam LGA of Yobe State as well as Bama, Biu, Damboa and Kukawa LGAs of Borno State respectively.
"Between 9 and 11 August 2024, troops in separate fighting patrols discovered and detonated buried and concealed UXO and IEDs in Monguno, Damboa, Marte and Kukawa LGAs of Borno State as well as Damaturu LGA of Yobe State respectively.
"Overall, troops of Operation HADIN KAI neutralized 81 terrorists, arrested 52 suspects and rescued 34 kidnappers hostages. Troops recovered 21 AK47 rifles, one FN rifle, 5 fabricated guns, 8 dane guns, 2 RPG bombs, one RPG charger, 344 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 320 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 112 rounds 7.62 x 39mm ammo, 73 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 5 magazines, 13 motorcycles, 6 bicycles, 2 mobile phones and the sum of N39,000.00 only mongst others.
"Troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN recorded the following during the period under review; conducted offensive operations, counter/anti kidnapping operations as well as arrested suspected violent extremists in Riyom, Wase, Bokkos, Bassa, Barkin Ladi, Mangu, Kanke, Jos East, North and South LGAs of Plateau State as well as Sanga LGA of Kaduna State respectively.
"Between 9 and 11 August 2024, troops in separate offensive operations responded to information on activities of suspected violent extremists and raided extremist hideouts in Riyom, Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, Wase and Jos South LGAs of Plateau State.
"During the operations, troops arrested 31 suspects including drug peddlers and recovered 4 motorcycles, Between 7 and 12 August 2024, troops in separate counter/anti kidnapping criminality operations responded to information on activities of suspected violent extremists and kidnappers in Mangu, Kanke, Bokkos, Jos East and South LGAs of Plateau State. During the operations, troops neutralized one extremist, arrested one suspect and rescued 5 kidnapped hostages
"Arrest Operations. Between 9 and 13 August 2024, troops in separate fighting patrols intercepted and arrested 29 suspected violent extremists and illegal miners in Barkin Ladi, Wase, Bassa, Riyom, Jos South and North LGAs of Plateau State as well as Sanga LGA of Kaduna State respectively, among other operations.
"Accordingly, troops are working decisively to kill the terrorist , stop the insecurity and ensure the safety of citizens across the country.
"Citizens are urged to note that, winning the war depends not only on the military, weapons and finances. It also largely depends on the people. Together we can make an extra ordinary difference in wiping out insecurity in our nation.
