The Defence Headquarters has emphasised that counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations across the country remain critical to the armed forces’ efforts to achieve peace and ensure that violent extremist groups do not find safe haven in the country.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, stated this while giving update on ongoing military operations by the Armed Forces Of Nigeria
Buba said the week leading to 31 August 2023, the military troops arrested 157 terrorists, 16 perpetrators of oil theft, rescued 109 kidnapped hostages and denied oil theft of the sum of Seven Hundred and Sixty-Five Million Eight Hundred and Sixty-Three Thousand Naira (N765,863,000.00) only.
He further said that troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 83 storage tanks, 5 vehicles, 4 motorcycles, 34 illegal refining sites and recovered 96 assorted ammunition.
The military high command however promised to continually pursue aggressive military operations against violent extremist groups seeking to undermine the security of the country and conduct violence against the people.
Giving the breakdown of discovery and recovery during activities, Major General Buba said 12 AK47 rifles, one GPMG, one HK21 gun, one FN rifle loaded with 5 rounds of NATO ammo, 2 Dane guns, 3 fabricated rifles, one fabricated pistol, 3 locally made pistols, 11 AK47 magazines, 71 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 22 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 2 rounds of 9mm ammo, one cartridge, one bandolier, 7 rounds 7.62mm special empty cases, 24 motorcycles, 13 mobile phones, 10 bicycles and the sum of Eight Hundred and Eighty One Thousand Seven Hundred Naira (N881,700.00).
He said. troops of Operation HADIN KAI ambushed and arrested BH/ISWAP terrorists in Gwoza and Tarmuwa local government area of Borno and Yobe States respectfully. Troops offensive led to the surrender of some BH/ISWAP terrorist combatants at Gwoza LGAs of Borno State and resulted in eliminated terrorists, rescued kidnapped hostages, recovery of arms and ammunitions.
According to the DMO “troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN conducted raid and recovered arms in Jos North LGA of Plateau State. The operations resulted in neutralized terrorists, arrest of notorious armed robbers and rescue of kidnapped hostages in Jema’s LGA of Kaduna State.
“Troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE arrested a member of notorious violent extremist group in Ukum LGA of Benue State. Troops operations resulted in neutralized terrorists and the rescue of kidnapped hostages,” he said.
For troops of Operation UDO KA in the South East, the Director said they arrested suspected criminals and recovered arms and ammunition at Orumba South and Oji River LGAs of Anambra and Enugu State respectively. Troops also foiled kidnap activities and rescued hostages in Enugu East and Ohimini of Enugu and Benue State respectively.
