The Defense Headquarters says that Nigerian troops have, in the last week, killed 38 terrorists, detained another 242 and rescued 89 hostages kidnapped in different operations across the country. Defense Media Operations Director Edward Buba made it known in a statement on Friday. in Abuja.
Brigadier General Mr. Buba said the apprehended suspects included 175 gunmen/criminals, 20 kidnappers, 30 collaborators and 17 pipeline vandals.
He said the troops denied the spoilers of the oil theft N607 million worth of the seizures, as well as the recovery of 38 assorted weapons and 186 ammunition.
Giving the breakdown, Buba said the troops recovered 14 AK 47 rifles, one G3 rifle, one PKT, three AK47 rifles loaded with 23 special 7.62mm cartridges, one SMG, 10 Danish pistols and five locally made pistols.
Others, according to him, include two manufactured weapons, two double-barreled pistols, one locally-made revolver, three locally-made pistols, 151 7.62mm special cartridges, five 7.62mm NATO cartridges, 16 rounds of ammunition 9mm, 16 rounds of 5.56 x 45mm ammunition, 5 rounds of 7.62mm special (reloaded), 12 AK47 magazines, one G3 rifle magazine, one FN rifle magazine, one magazine containing 30 rounds of 7.62 mm special and seven empty boxes of 7.62 mm special.
“Sundry items recovered include; 33 motorcycles, 30 mobile phones, four tricycles, four Motorola HH radios, four vehicles, 10 bags of fertilizers and 73 head of cattle.
“Also recovered were seven machetes, a magazine bag, two solar panels, 10 liters of PMS, a Nigerian police uniform, two gas cylinders, a power bank, a pair of forest and desert camouflage each.
“The troops also recovered the sum of N2.59 million,” he said.
In the northeast, Buba said Operation Hadin Kai troops neutralized 16 terrorists, arrested 53 terrorists and rescued 34 hostages, as well as recovered a large amount of weapons during the period.
In the center-north, he said, Operation Safe Haven troops remained relentless in an offensive posture against the hijackers and other criminal elements within the operational area.
He said the troops also killed three terrorists in the week, arrested 13 criminal suspects and five kidnappers and rescued three kidnapped hostages.
According to him, Operation Whirl Stroke troops also killed seven terrorists, arrested three suspects and rescued three kidnapped hostages.
In the northwest, Buba said Operation Hadarin Daji troops neutralized five terrorists, arrested eight suspects and rescued nine kidnapped hostages while several terrorist camps were destroyed.
He said Operation Whirl Punch troops neutralized five terrorists, arrested 44 collaborators and rescued 15 kidnapped civilians while various weapons were recovered with four trucks and four motorcycles, among other items.
In the South-South, Mr. Buba said Operation Delta Safe troops destroyed 39 illegal refining sites, 72 pits, 65 wooden boats, 70 storage tanks and 119 kitchen ovens with miscellaneous equipment including two speedboats , five outboard motors and four pumping machines
He added that the troops recovered one million 247 thousand 700 liters of stolen crude, 132 thousand 500 liters of illegally refined Automotive Diesel, 57 thousand 450 liters of Dual Purpose Kerosene and 800 liters of Premium Motor Spirit.
In the southeast, he said, Operation UDO KA troops eliminated two members of the outlawed Eastern Security Network/Biafra Indigenous Peoples, arrested two, seized two trucks loaded with illegally refined AGO and rescued four kidnapped hostages.
“The Nigerian Armed Forces will not back down from their offensive operations aimed at addressing insecurity in all 6 geopolitical zones of the country.
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“Rather, the military will brutally go after the orchestrators and take appropriate steps to hold them accountable for their actions.
“The military, while conducting these operations, will continue to take great steps to prevent civilian casualties, as protecting civilians remains a vital part of our goal of promoting greater security for all Nigerians.
“The rare cooperation, collaboration and support received from citizens across the country is greatly helping our operations produce the expected results,” he said.
(YAYA)
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