Troops of the Nigerian Armed Forces, in furtherance of operations to rid the country of criminal elements and violent extremists, killed 171 terrorists, bandits and kidnappers in the last seven days.
Troops also arrested 327 other including perpetrators of oil theft just as 134 kidnapped victims were rescued after gunfights.
Troops discovered and destroyed 98 illegal refinery sites, 26 dugout pits, 13 boats, 90 drums and 45 storage tanks. Troops recovered 155 cooking ovens, 4 speedboats, one pumping machine, 7 vehicles
Troops also denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of eight hundred and forty-six million, four hundred and eighty thousand, eight hundred naira (N846,480,800.00) as well as recovered 799,400 litres of stolen crude oil and 151,150 litres of illegally refined AGO.
Major Gen Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations who made this known said that during the encounters, “troops recovered 84 assorted weapons and 1,499 assorted ammunition comprising one PKT gun, one G3 rifle, 3 AK49 rifles, 44 AK47 rifles, 10 fabricated rifles, 18 Dane guns, 10 pump action guns, 4 locally made pistols, 18 AK47 magazines, 2 FN magazines, one smoke grenade and one bandolier, 843 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 506 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 60 rounds of 7.62 unit 54mm ball rimmed, 90 live cartridges, 5 baofeng radios, 11 vehicles, 46 motorcycles, 4 bicycles, 52 mobile phones, and the sum of N126,285.00 amongst other items.
Detailing the operations, Buba said, “Troops of Operation Hadarin Daji neutralized 69 terrorists, arrested 98 suspects and rescued 24 kidnappers hostages. Troops recovered one PKT gun, 25 AK47 rifles, 3 AK49 rifles, 4 fabricated guns, 8 Dane guns, one smoke grenade, 364 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 121 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 60 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ball rimmed ammo, 11 magazines, one bandolier, 2 baofeng radios, 7 motorcycles, 2 tricycles, 4 bicycles, one mobile phone and the sum of N125,285.00 only mongst others.
“On 17 August 2024, troops with hybrid forces while on offensive operations to ISWAP/JAS terrorists enclave made contact killing 27 terrorists including a wanted and notorious terrorist commander known as Abu Rijab. Troops also recovered 15 AK47 rifles, 3 AK49 rifles, 4 fabricated guns, 5 Dane guns, 5 magazines, 231 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 121 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 4 motorcycles and one mobile phone amongst others.
“Between 14 and 19 August 2024, troops with hybrid forces in separate offensive operations made contact with BH/ISWAP/JAS terrorists in Damboa, Askira-Uba, Monguno, Konduga, Gwoza and Ngala LGAs of Borno State as well as Damaturu and Gujba LGAs of Yobe State.
“Additionally, troops conducted operations in Madagali LGA of Adamawa State. Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 12 terrorists, arrested 16 suspects and rescued 6 kidnapped hostages. Troops also recovered 8 AK47 rifles, 3 dane guns, one smoke grenade, 4 magazines, 133 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, one baofeng radio, 3 motorcycles, 2 tricycles,, 4 bicycles, 2 mobile phones and the sum of N78,785.00 only amongst others.
“Following confirmatory ISR on terrorist hibernating around southern tumbuns. On 16 August 2024, the air component of Operation HADIN KAI conducted air interdiction on the location. Battle Damage Assessment revealed several terrorists’ commanders with over 40 terrorist combatants were neutralized as well as their logistics bases destroyed”.
“In the North Central, troops of Operation Safe Haven neutralized 10 insurgents, arrested 79 violent extremists and rescued 48 kidnapped hostages. Troops recovered 2 AK47 rifles, 47 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo and 4 mobile phones amongst others.
“Between 14 and 18 August 2024, troops in separate operations responded to information on activities of suspected violent extremists/kidnappers and raided gunrunners hideouts in Barkin Ladi, Riyom, Bassa, Mikang, Mangu and Jos South LGAs of Plateau State as well as Kauru and Kajuru LGAs of Kaduna State
“During the operations, troops arrested 24 suspects and recovered 2 AK47 rifles, 47 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo and 4 mobile phones amongst others.
“On 14 August 2024, following reports, troops while conducting offensive operations intercepted and arrested a wanted and notorious kidnapper identified as Sebastian Caleb in Bokkos LGA of Plateau State.
“Between 14 and 20 August 2024, following report, troops in separate operations intercepted and arrested 16 suspected violent extremists/kidnappers including 2 high profile gunrunners identified as Armaya’u Abdulkarim (aka Mallam) and Danladi Kefas Dangana in Bokkos, Riyom, Jos North and South LGAs of Plateau State as well as Tafawa Balewa LGA of Bauchi State respectively.
“Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke neutralized 8 terrorists, arrested 15 violent extremists and rescued 16 kidnapped hostages. Troops recovered 2 AK47 rifles, 2 locaĺly made pistols, 2 AK47 rifle magazines, 2 FN rifle magazines, one cartridge, one mobile phone and the sum of N1, 200.00 only amongst others.
“On 14 and 17 August 2024, troops in separate offensive organizations intercepted and arrested 2 suspected violent extremist and gunrunner in Makurdi and Karu LGAs of Benue and Nasarawa States respectively. During the operations, troops recovered one AK47 rifle, one locally made pistol and 2 magazines.
“On 16 August 2024, troops while on offensive operation intercepted and arrested a violent extremist/gunrunner in Gassol LGA of Taraba State. Troops recovered one AK47 rifle and 2 FN rifle magazines.
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“On 17 August 2024, troops while on routine patrol responded to information on activities of suspected violent extremists in Nasarawa LGA of Nasarawa State. During the operations, troops arrested 3 suspects and recovered one locally made pistol, one live cartridge, one cutlass, one knife, one mobile phone and the sum of ₦1,200.00 only
““Troops of Operation Hadarin Daji in North West neutralized 60 terrorists, arrested 23 terrorists and rescued 25 kidnapped hostages. Troops recovered 15 AK47 rifles, 5 pump action guns, 3 fabricated rifles, 432 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 121 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 30 live cartridges, 5 magazines, 2 baofeng radios, 32 motorcycles and 11 mobile phones amongst others.
“Between 14 and 18 August 2024, troops in separate offensive operations made contact with terrorists in Kaura, Giwa, Birnin Gwari and Igabi LGAs of Kaduna State as well as Maradun and Zurmi LGAs of Zamfara State.
“Additionally, troops conducted operations in Danko-Wasagu and Batsari LGAs of Kebbi and Katsina States respectively. Following fire fights, troops neutralized 37 terrorists and recovered 15 AK47 rifles, 5 pump action guns, 3 fabricated rifles, 432 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 121 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 30 cartridges, 5 magazines, 2 baofeng radios, 32 motorcycles and 11 mobile phones amongst others.
“Troops of Operation Whirl Punch neutralized 12 terrorists, arrested 37 suspects and rescued 13 kidnapped hostages. Troops recovered 2 fabricated guns, 4 dane guns, 131 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 4 cartridges, 3 motorcycles and 25 mobile phones amongst others.
“On 15 August 2024, following reports , troops on fighting patrol responded to information on activities of suspected violent extremists/kidnappers on commuters. Troops made contact in Giwa LGA of Kaduna State.
“Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 6 terrorists and recovered 2 locally fabricated guns, 2 Dane guns, 109 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 2 motorcycles and one mobile phone amongst others.
“On 18 August 2024, following tip-off troops in separate operations raided violent extremists’ hideouts and arrested 17 suspects in Bwari Area Council of FCT and Igalamela LGA of Kogi State respectively. During the operations, troops recovered 2 dane guns, 22 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammo, 4 cartridges, one motorcycle and 13 mobile phones amongst others.
“Following confirmatory ISR on activities of terrorists’ kingpins Nasiru and Sirajo’s Enclaves at Malum Forest in Igabi LGA of Kaduna State. On 18 August 2024, air component of Operation Whirl Punch conducted air interdiction. Battle Damage Assessment revealed that several terrorists were neutralized and their
“Troops of Operation Delta Safe apprehended 22 suspected oil thefts and other violent extremists. Troops recovered 8 assorted arms and 88 assorted ammunitions.
“Troops recovered 799,400 litres of stolen crude oil and 151,150 litres of illegally refined AGO. Additionally, troops discovered and destroyed 26 dugout pits, 13 boats, 90 drums and 45 storage tanks. Other items recovered include 155 cooking ovens, 4 speedboats, one pumping machine, 7 vehicles and 98 illegal refining sites.
“On 18 August 2024, troops with hybrid forces conducted offensive operation to sea pirate’s hideout in Mbo LGA of Akwa Ibom State. During the operations, troops recovered one G3 rifle, 2 pump action guns, 4 Dane guns and 88 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammo.
“On 19 August 2024, troops on counter/anti kidnapping operations responded to a distress and rescued kidnapped hostages as well recovered 3 vehicles in Sapele LGA of Delta State.
“On 18 August 2024, following reports troops’ inconjunction with DSS operatives raided a suspected violent extremists/kidnapper’s hideout. The operation led to the arrest of 3 suspects in Okobo LGA of Akwa Ibom State. Suspects were arrested in connection with the kidnap of a student of University of UYO. During the operations, troops recovered one locally made pistol.
“In the South East, troops of Operation Udoka neutralized 12 terrorists, arrested 25 violent extremists and rescued 8 kidnapped hostages.
“Troops recovered 3 pump action guns, 2 Dane guns, one locally fabricated gun, one locally fabricated pistol, 45 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 55 live cartridges, one baofeng radio, one vehicle, 4 motorcycles and 8 mobile phones amongst others. All recovered items, arrested suspects and rescued hostages were handed over to the relevant authority for further action
“14 and 16 August 2024, troops in separate offensive operations responded to information on activities of suspected violent extremists/IPOB/ESN in Ihiala and Ayamelum LGAs of Anambra State as well as Igboeze North LGA of Enugu State. During the operations, troops neutralized one notorious robbery gang and rescued 6 kidnapped hostages.
“Troops also recovered one pump action gun, one locally fabricated gun, 35 cartridges, one Baofeng radio, one vehicle, 4 motorcycles and 6 mobile phones among others.
“On 14 and 17 August 2024, following a tip-off, troops in separate operations intercepted and arrested 4 suspected violent extremists/IPOB/ESN in Ohafia and Aguata LGAs of Abia and Anambra States respectively.
“Troops recovered 2 pump action guns, 2 dane guns, one locally fabricated pistol, 45 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammo, 20 cartridges, 2 mobile phones and 5 vandalized rolls of elect cables.
Gen Buba further said, “The military will maintain its operational activities across the country to ensure enduring defeat of terror groups in the country. Additionally, troops continue to demonstrate stamina, resolve and strong desire to protect citizens and ensure their safety across the country.”
