By Harriet Tornguvan -Abuja
The military has intensified nationwide counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations, focusing not only on neutralizing terrorists but also dismantling their networks of collaborators, informants, and support systems.
He said that troops in North Central Operational Theatre neutralised a notorious terrorist commander, and gun runner identified as Abu Mosaje in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State.
Additionally, same troops apprehended a wanted kidnap kingpin that was on security watch list identified as Babangida Gora Usman. He was arrested in Sanga LGA of Kaduna State.
In a statement issued by the Director Defence Media Operations General Edward Buba troops arrested another notorious gunrunner and his son identified as Timothy Yusuf and Timothy Obadiah.
He said, the South East, troops arrested 7 IPOB/ESN terrorists including a notorious kidnapper and informants in Enugu North and Ehime Mbano LGAs of Enugu and Imo States.
Additionally, during the week under review, troops neutralised 79 and arrested 224 persons. Troops also arrested 28 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 67 kidnapped hostages.
He stated that in the South South, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of Seven Hundred and Forty Seven Million Secenty Thousand Seven Hundred and Ten Naira (N747,070,710.00) only. Additionally, troops discovered and destroyed 215 crude oil cooking ovens, 26 dugout pits, 29 boats, 62 storage tanks, 20 drums and 42 illegal refining sites.
"Other items recovered include one barge, one tug boat, 2 pumping machines, 2 speedboats, 9 outboard engines, 2 vehicles, 21 motorcycles, 11 mobile phones and 8 vehicles among others. Troops recovered 842,685 litres of stolen crude oil, 12,340 litres of illegally refined AGO and 200 litres of DPK.
Furthermore, across all the theatres of operations, troops recovered 104 assorted weapons and 1,953 assorted ammunition. The breakdown as follows: 53 AK47 rifles, 25 fabricated rifles, one FN rifle, 11 dane guns, 2 pump action guns, one fabricated SMG, 4 IEDs, 7 RPG bombs, 30 magazines, 4 IEDs and 3 locally made butts.
General Buba reassures citizens that, troops remain steadfast in destruction of terrorists across the country. Even as the armed forces remain committed to creating conditions in which the safety and security of citizens is guaranteed.
