Troops fighting to dismantle terrorists networks and rid the country of insecurity have neutralised 220 terrorists and arrested 450 criminal elements comprising kidnappets, bandits and oil theft perpetrators in the last one week.
Troops also rescued 202 kidnapped hostages nationwide and denied oil thieves, stealing of crude oil and by products valued at the estimated sum of N1.86billion (One billion, eight hundred and sixty million one Hundred and fifty one thousand, seven hundred naira).
Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations who msde this known on Friday said, “Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 105 illegal refining sites, 51 dugout pits, 38 boats and 51 storage tanks, 215 cooking ovens, 44 drums, 3 tug boats, 3 barges, 4 wheelbarrows, one outboard engine, 15 vehicles among others
Troops recovered 1,099,860 litres of stolen crude oil, 1,101,700 litres of illegally refined AGO, 27,350 litres of DPK and 150 litres of PMS.
During the several encounters with the terrorists, ‘troops recovered 432 assorted weapons and 9,004 assorted ammunition comprising 3 PKT guns, one G3 rifle, 83 AK47 rifles, 18 locally fabricated gun, 16 Dane guns, 2 pump action guns, 2 double barrel guns, 2 single barrel guns, 8 locally fabricated pistols, 2 revolver rifles, 14 RPG bombs, one RPG launcher, 234 smoke grenades and 59 mobile phones and the sum of N813,550.00 only amongst others
Detailing the ooerations, Gen Buba said, “In the North East, troops of Operation Hadin Kai neutralized 83 terrorists, arrested 98 suspects and rescued 61 kidnappers hostages.
“Troops recovered 3 PKTguns, 37 AK47 rifles, 10 fabricated rifles, 5 dane guns, 14 RPG bombs, one grenade, 2 bandoliers, 3 magazines, 1,012 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 413 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 154 rounds of 7.62 x 51mm ammo, 9 motorcycles, one mobile phone and the sum of N23,000.00 only amongst others.
“Between 12 and 15 June 2024, troops in separate offensive operations made contact with BH/ISWAP terrorists in Konduga, Gwoza, Biu and Ngala LGA of Borno State.
“Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 26 terrorists, arrested 12 and rescued 34 kidnapped hostages. Troops also recovered 16 AK47 rifles, 3 fabricated guns, 4 dane guns, 14 RPG bombs, 3 PKT guns, 3 magazines, 334 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 201 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 154 rounds of 7.62 x 51mm ammo, one hande grenade, 2 bandoliers, 3 motorcycles and one mobile phone amongst others.
“On 10 June 2024, following a tip-off, troops with hybrid forces raided suspected BH/ISWAP terrorists enclave and made contact in Bama LGA of Borno State. Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 4 BH/ISWAP terrorists and recovered 2 AK47 rifles, 76 rounds of 7.62mm special and one motorcycle.
“Between 10 and 18 June 2024, troops in separate offensive operations ambushed suspected BH/ISWAP terrorists in Bama, Gwoza and Konduga LGAs of Borno State. Following a fire fights, troops neutralized 11 terrorists and recovered 7 AK47 rifles, 3 fabricated rifles, one dane gun, 132 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 109 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 4 magazines and 3 motorcycles amongst others.
“In the North Central troops of Operation Safe Haven neutralized 18 insurgents, arrested 67 violent extremists and rescued 88 kidnapped hostages.
“Troops recovered one G3 rifle, 4 AK47 rifles, 3 Dane guns, 2 locally made pistols, 2 revolver rifles, 5 magazines, 1,454 rounds of 7.62mm special, 143 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 15 cartridges, 2 motorcycles, 6 mobile phones and the sum of N538,550.00 only amongst others.
“Between 14 and 17 June 2024, troops in separate operations responded to information on activities of suspected violent extremists/kidnappers in Jos East, Kanam and Shendam LGAs of Plateau State as well as Jema’a LGA of Kaduna State respectively.
“During the operations, troops arrested 21 suspected violent extremists, kidnappers and recovered 2 locally made pistols, 3 dane guns, 110 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 11 rounds of 9mm ammo, 15 cartridges, 2 motorcycles, 6 mobile phones and the sum of N500,000.00 only amongst others.
“Between 12 and 19 June 2024, troops with hybrid forces in separate operations arrested 6 suspected violent extremists/ kidnappers in Riyom, as wll as Akwanga LGA of Nasarawa State. Troops also recovered 1,348 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, one motorcycle, 9 mobile phones and the sum of N38,550.00.
“On 10 and 12 June 2024, troops in separate raid operations raided suspected violent extremists hideouts in Bokkos and Jos South LGAs of Plateau State. During the operations, troops arrested 9 extremists and recovered one G3 rifle, 2 revolver rifles, one magazine and 33 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammo.
“On 12 June 2024, following a tip-off, troops while conducting offensive operations recovered arms and ammo buried in Qua’an Pan LGA of Plateau State. During the operation, troops recovered 2 AK47 rifles, 2 magazines and 33 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo.
“Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke neutralized 19 terrorists, arrested 35 violent extremists and rescued 25 kidnapped hostages.
“Troops recovered 3 fabricated guns, 4 Dane guns, one locally fabricated pistol, 56 rounds of 7.62mm special, 325 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 13 rounds of 9mm ammo, one motorcycle and 12 mobile phones amongst others.
“On 11 and 16 June 2024, troops while conducting counter/anti kidnapping operations responded to information on activities of suspected violent extremists/kidnappers in Wukari and Bali LGAs of Taraba State. During the operations, troops arrested 7 extremists and recovered 3 fabricated rifles, one dane gun, 127 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 12 mobile phones amongst others.
“On 16 June 2024, troops while conducting offensive operations made contact with violent extremists, terrorists in Giwa LGA of Kaduna State. Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 4 extremists and recovered one AK47 rifle, D dane guns, one locally made pistol, 56 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 198 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 13 rounds 9mm ammo and one motorcycle amonsgt others.
“On 10 June 2024, troops responded to information on kidnapping activities in Keffi LGA of Nasarawa State. During the operations, troops rescued 19 kidnapped hostages.
“In the North West, troops of Operation Hadarin Daji neutralized 54 terrorists, arrested 57 terrorists and rescued 50 kidnapped hostages,
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“Between 12 and 17 June 2024, troops in separate offensive operations responded to information on activities of suspected terrorists in Birnin Gwari and Zurmi LGAs of Kaduna and Zamfara States as well as Illela LGA of Sokoto State.
“Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 18 terrorists and rescued 2 kidnapped hostages. Troops also recovered 15 AK47 rifles, 4 fabricated rifles, 2 double barrel guns, one single barrel gun, 354 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 143 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 200 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, one bandolier, 7 motorcycles, 3 mobile phones and the sum of N150,000.00 only amongst others.
“On 11 and 18 June 2024, troops in separate operations responded to information on activities of suspected terrorists and made contacts in Giwa and Faskari LGAs of Kaduna and Katsina States respectively. Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 15 terrorists/kidnappers and arrested 6 suspects.
“Troops also recovered 11 AK47 rifles, 5 pump action guns, 2 locally fabricated pistols, one single barrel, 190 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 241 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 41 rounds of 9mm ammo, 61 cartridges, one vehicle, 4 motorcycles, 5 mobile phones and one bicycle amongst others.
“On 10 and 11 June 2024, troops in separate operations responded to information on activities of suspected terrorists and made contacts in Zurmi, Maru and Bungudu LGAs of Zamfara State. Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 8 terrorists and rescued one kidnapped hostage. Troops also recovered 4 AK47 rifles, 33 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 2 magazines and 2 motorcycles amongst others.
“On 17 and 19 June 2024, troops in separate operations responded to distress calls on activities of suspected kidnappers in Illela and Danmusa LGAs of Sokoto and Katsina States respectively. During the operations, troops rescued 5 kidnapped hostages.
“Troops of Operation Whirl Punch neutralized 24 terrorists, arrested 46 suspects and rescued 18 kidnapped hostages. Troops recovered 7 AK47 rifles, 3 pump action guns, 2 Dane guns, one AK47 top cover, 6 magazine, 426 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 76 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 34 cartridges, 2 vehicles, 10 motorcycles and 10 mobile phones amonsgt others
“On 13 and 14 June 2024, following a tip-off, troops in separate operations intercepted and arrested 7 suspected violent extremists/kidnappers and informant in Lokoja LGA of Kogi State and Bwari Area Council of FCT Abuja respectively.
“On 13 June 2024, troos while on counter/anti kidnapping operations responded to information activity of suspected violent extremists/armed robbers in Abaji Area Council of FCT Abuja.
“Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 4 extremists, arrested one suspect. Troops also recovered 2 AK47 rifles, 2 pump action guns, 2 magazines, one AK47 rifle top cover, 131 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 34 cartridges, 2 vehicles and one mobile phone amongst others.
“On 10 and 15 June 2024, troops in separate fighting patrols made contact with violent extremists/terrorists in Giwa and Kajuru LGAs of Kaduna State. Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 5 violent extremists and recovered 3 AK47 rifles, 4 magazines, 153 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo and 2 motorcycles amongst others.
“On 11 and 12 June 2024, troops in seperate operations responded to information on activities of suspected violent extremists/kidnappers in Giwa and Birnin Gwari LGAs of Kaduna State. During the operation, troops neutralized 2 extremists and recovered 2 AK47 rifles, 7 magazines, 85 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, one motorcycle and the sum of N30,000.00 only
” On 14 June 2024, following reports troops ambushed suspected violent extremists/terrorists and made contact in Kajuru LGA of Kaduna State. Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 5 extremists and recovered 3 AK47 rifles, 2 dane guns, 142 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 76 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 8 motorcycles and 9 mobile phones amongst others.
“In the South East, troops of Operation Udoka neutralized 22 terrorists, arrested 37 violent extremists and rescued 15 kidnapped hostages. Troops recovered 5 AK47 rifles, one fabricated rifle, 2 Dane guns, 2 pump action guns, one RPG launcher, 2 tear gas launchers, 234 smoke grenades, 9 magazines, 2,368 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 179 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 342 rounds of 9mm ball ammo, among others
“Between 13 and 17 June 2024, troops in separate offensive operations made contact with violent extremists, IPOB/ESN members in Abia and Umunneochi LGAs of Abia and Akpabuyo LGA of Cross River State respectively.
“Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 4 extremists and arrested 8 suspects. Troops also recovered 3 AK47 rifles, one fabricated AK47 rifle, 2 pump action guns, 2 dane guns, 3 locally made pistols, one RPG launcher, 2 tear gas launchers, 9 magazines, 179 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 342 rounds of 9mm ball ammo, 2,368 rnds of 7.62mm special ammo, 85 cartridges, 234 rounds of smoke grenades, 3 baofeng radios, 21 mobile phones and N133,350.00 only amongst others.
“In the Niger Delta, troops apprehended 55 suspects for oil thefts and other violent extremists. Troops recovered 13 weapons and 97 assorted ammunitions.
“On 17 June 2024, following INTREP, troops raided a suspected violent extremist/notorious unrepentant militant identified as Vincent Urolonaan (aka Timaya) hideout in Abua/Odual LGA of Rivers State. During the operation, troops arrested the suspect and recovered one dane gun and one mobile phone.
“On 11 June 2024, troops while on patrol foiled kidnapping incident in Ika North LGA of Delta State. During the operation, troops rescued one kidnapped hostage.
“On 14 and 18 June 2024, troops in seperate routine patrols responded to information on activities of suspected violent extremists in Ika and Oshimili North LGAs of Akwa Ibom and Delta States respectively. During the operations, troops arrested 5 suspected violent extremists/drug peddlers and impostor.
“On 14 and 15 June 2024, following INTREP troops in separate operations arrested 6 suspected violent extremists/IPOB/ESN members in Owerri West and Okigwe LGAs of Imo State.
Furthermore, Gen Buba said, “The armed forces has intensified intelligence collection effort targeted at hunting terrorists and striking them where they maybe hiding and hibernating.
“Troops will continue to employ significant firepower to neutralize terrorists and disrupt their activities across the country.
“Winning the war against the terrorist is non negotiable. The aim is to kill this terrorists and destroy the infrastructure that supports them.
“Additionally, operational adjustments have been made to prioritize protection for farmers to ensure a successful rainy season farming.”
