In furtherance of military operations to rid the nation of criminal elements, troops have neutralised 106 terrorists and arrested 196 others including oil theft perpetrators in the lsst one week.
Troops also rescued 103 kidnapped hostages after raids on terrorists/bandits enclaves and hideouts.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major Gen Edward Buba while making this known at a briefing disclosed that troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 36 illegal refining sites, 20 dugout pits, 24 boats and 34 storage tanks, 56 cooking ovens, 14 pumping machines, 18 drums and 22 vehicles among ithers
Troops also denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of N793.53million (Seven Hundred and Ninty Three Million Five Hundred and Thirty Six Thousand Naira (N793,536,000.00).
Troops recovered 802,200 litres of stolen crude oil, 121,900 litres of illegally refined AGO and 450 litres of DPK
During the varous encounters, troops recovered 125 assorted weapons and 1,522 assorted ammunition comprising 41 AK47 rifles, one PKT gun, 24 locally fabricated gun, 28 Dane guns, one pump action gun, 755 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 623 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 102 rounds of 7.62 by 54mm, 63 live cartridges, 247 empty case of 7.62mm ammo, 22 AK47 magazines, 22 vehicles, 31 motorcycles, 10 mobile phones and the sum of N2,956,000.00 only amongst other items.
Giiving details of the operations, Buba said, “In the North East, troops of Operation Hadin Kai neutralized 41 terrorists, arrested 27 suspects and rescued 16 kidnappers hostages.
“Troops recovered 17 AK47 rifles, one PKT gun, 5 fabricated rifles, 4 dane guns, 11 magazines, 360 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 195 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 247 empty cases of various calibres of ammo, one baofeng radio, 9 motorcycles and 2 mobile phones only mongst others.
“On 23 July 2024, troops with hybrid forces conducted night ambush operations and made contact with suspected BH/ISWAP terrorists in Gamboru – Ngala LGA of Borno State.
“Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 13 terrorists and recovered 7 AK47 rifles, 5 fabricated rifles, one PKT gun, 143 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 94 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 4 magazines, 4 motorcycles and one mobile phone amongst others.
“On 22 July 2024, troops in seperate raid operations raided suspected terrorists hideouts in Girei and Song LGAs of Adamawa State. During the operations, troops arrested 6 suspected terrorists.
“On 17 July 2024, following a tip-off, troops conducted a snap check and arrested 3 suspected BH/ISWAP terrorists collaborators in Geidam LGA of Yobe State.
“During the operations, troops recovered 247 empty cases of various calibres of rounds, 24 different sizes of car battery and other IED making materials.
“On 18 July 2024, following reports, troops responded to information on activities of suspected BH/ISWAP terrorists and made contact in Nganzai LGA of Borno State.
“Follwoing a fire fight, troops neutralized 14 terrorists and recovered 10 AK47 Rifle, 4 dane guns, 7 magazines, 217 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 101 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, one baofeng radio, 5 motorcycles and one mobile phones.
“On 15 and 16 July 2024, a total of 961 BH/ISWAP terrorists fighters and family members comprising of 110 male adults, 298 adult females and 553 children surrendered to troops in Bama, Gwoza and Dikwa LGAs of Borno State.
“On 22 and 23 July 2024, a total of 115 suspected BH/ISWAP/JAS terrorists and family members comprising of 7 adult males, 47 adult females and 75 children surrendered to troops in Bama, Kala Barge, Gwoza and Dikwa LGAs of Borno State.
“In the North Central, troops of Operation Safe Haven neutralized 7 insurgents, arrested 31 violent extremists and rescued 11 kidnapped hostages.
“Troops recovered 19 AK47 rifles, 12 fabricated pistols, 15 dane guns, 243 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 200 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 102 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 42 cartridges, and 7 motorcycle only amongst others.
“On 17 July 2024, while conducting clearance operarations, troops intercepted and arrested 18 suspected violent extremists/terrorists in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State.
“During the operations, troops recovered 19 AK47 rifles, 12 fabricated AK47 rifles, 15 dane guns, 15 AK47 magazines, 243 rounds of 7.62mm special, 200 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 102 rounds of 7.62Â units of 54mm ammo, 4 AK47 drum magazines, 42 cartridges, 7 motorcycles, military accoutrements, bow, arrows and 2 bottles of gun powder.
“Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke neutralized 5 terrorists, arrested 8 violent extremists and rescued 28 kidnapped hostages.
“Troops recovered 2 AK47 rifles, 2 fabricated guns, 42 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 2 magazines and 3 motorcycles amongst others.
“On 21 July 2024, troops with hybrid forces responded to information on activities of suspected violent extremists/terrorists in Ardo Kola and Bali LGAs of Taraba State.
“During the operations, troops arrested 2 suspected extremists/kidnappers and recovered one AK47 rifle and 22 rounds 7.62mm special ammo.
“On 22 July 2024, troops while conducting fighting patrol made contact with violent extremists/terrorists in Katsina-Ala LGA of Benue State.
“Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 3 extremists and recover one AK47 rifle, 2 fabricated guns, 2 magazines and 3 motorcycles amongst others.
“In the North West, troops of Operation Hadarin Daji neutralized 22 terrorists, arrested 23 terrorists and rescued 32 kidnapped hostages.
“Troops recovered 2 AK47 rifles, 9 fabricated rifles, 5 dane guns, 73 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 228 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 2 magazines, 6 motorcycle, 2 bicycles and 2 mobile phones amongst others.
“On 16 July 2024, troops in separate offensive operations made contact with terrorists in Goronyo LGA of Sokoto State as well as Mulumfashi, Kankara and Danmusa LGAs of Katsina State.
“Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 11 terrorists and rescued 13 kidnapped hostages. Troops also recovered 6 fabricated rifles, 5 Dane guns, 161 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 4 motorcycles and 2 bicycles amongst others.
“On 22 July 2024, troops with hybrid forces conducted offensive operations in Kankara LGA of Katsina State.
“During the operations, troops recovered 2 AK47 rifles, 3 locally fabricated gun, 73 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 67 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammo, 2 magazines, 2 motorcycles and 2 mobile phones amongst others.
“Troops of Operation Whirl Punch neutralized 8 terrorists, arrested 20 suspects and rescued 12 kidnapped hostages. Troops recovered one AK47 rifle, 26 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 4 motorcycles and the sum of N2,900,000.00 only amonsgt others.
“On 16 July 2024, troops while on patrol intercepted suspected violent extremists/kidnappers in Munya LGA of Niger State.
“During the operation, troops rescued 3 kidnapped hostages and recovered one AK47 rifle with 26 rounds of 7.62mm special.
“On 23 July 2024, troops responded to a distress call on activities of suspected kidnappers in Tafa LGA of Niger State. Following the operation, troops rescued one kidnapped hostage.
“On 17 July 2024, following a tip-off, troops conducted offensive operations and arrested one suspected violent extremist/kidnapper collaborator in Okene LGA of Kogi State.
“During the operation, troops recovered one motorcycle, one POS machine, 11 ATM cards and the sum of N2,900,000.00 only.
“On 22 and 23 July 2024, following INTREP, troops in separate operations intercepted and arrested 4 suspected violent extremists/kidnappers including a notorious kingpin identified as Isah in AMAC and Kwali Area Council of FCT Abuja.
“In the South East, troops of Operation Udoka neutralized 3 terrorists, arrested 22 violent extremists and rescued 4 kidnapped hostages.
Troops recovered one pump action gun, 31 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 23 cartridges, one baofeng radio, 6 mobile phones and the sum of N56,000.00 only amongst other. All recovered items, arrested suspects and rescued hostages were handed over to the relevant authority for further action.
“On 21 and 22 July 2024, troops in separate raid operations raided suspected violent extremists/IPOB/ESN hideouts in Njaba and Mbaitoli LGAs of Imo State as well as Aba North LGA of Abia State respectively.
“During the operations, troops arrested 13 suspects and recovered one pump action gun, 31 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, one baofeng radio, 6 mobile phones and the sum of Fifty Six Thousand Naira (N56,000.00)”.
Gen Buba continued, “Pertaining the planned nationwide protest, there are essentially several factors to be thoroughly examined. Some of which are whether or not the planned strike is motivated by opposition politics, independent parties, sovereign interference, terrorist groups or any numbers of organizations that have fed on the frustrations of Nigerians to create the situation.
“However, for us in the military, the constitution is clear as to how and when the military gets involved. The constitution also clearly defines the roles and functions of the armed forces.
“On the other hand, while citizens have a constitutional right to peaceful protest, they do not have a right to mobilise for anarchy in order to unleash terror.
“The comptemporary context of the planned protest is to shadow happenings in Kenya which has so far been violent and unresolved to date.
“Given the situation, there are already indicators that, unscrupulous elements are bent on hijacking the planned protest for violent purposes.
“For instance, there are signs of status related violence such that persons with things as basic as a smart phone and car are targets.
“This does not leave out those that own a house, shop, or even use air conditioner in their houses. Other targets includes; places of worship, businesses, markets, persons of other ethnic groups and members of opposing political party among others.
“Based on the foregoing, the level of violence envisaged is best described as a state of anarchy. It is for this reason the armed forces will not watch and allow the nation spiral out of control to such low levels.
“Basically, the military has been exposed to wars and have witnessed situations of anarchy in countries ravaged by war, particularly during ECOMOG or during peacekeeping operations.
“It is for this reason that, troops will act dutifully to forestall such ugly occurrences from happening in our nation.
“On the whole, citizens are urged to note that, both the timing and the atmosphere of hardship in the country makes the planned protest different from others in the past. It is therefore incumbent upon us all, to quench the fires of violence rather than ignite them.
“It is time to let, cool heads prevail in order for government to further remedy the situation and make our nation flourish again.”
