The Defence Headquarters says the troops of the armed forces have in neutralised 2,245 terrorists, apprehended 3,682 terrorists and criminal elements and rescued 1,993 kidnapped hostages between April and June. The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, made this known while briefing newsmen on the operations of the military in the second quarter, yesterday in Abuja. Buba said the troops recovered 2,783 weapons, 64,547 ammunitions and denied the oil thieves of an estimated sum over N10 billion during the period. He said the arms and ammunition recovered includeed 1,169 AK47 rifles, 36,273 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 14,764 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 713 assorted arms and 9,850 assorted ammo. Others, according to him, are 9.2 million litres of stolen crude oil, 2.8 million litres of illegally refined AGO, 29,900 litres of DPK and 31,380 litres of PMS amongst other item.
In the North East, Buba said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai conducted operations deep in terrorist enclaves in Sambisa Forest and the Tumbuns of the Lake Chad Region targeted at terrorist commanders and leaders strongholds. He said the operations denied terrorists the ability to carry out major offensive as well as diminished their offensive capability, saying the terrorist were limited to low level skirmishes and attacks, mostly on soft targets.
According to him, troops neutralised 857 terrorists, arrested 913 suspects and rescued 594 kidnapped hostages during the second quarter of the year.
“Additionally, troops recorded a total of 4,582 surrendered BH/ISWAP terrorists combatants and their families.
“Troops dismantled the terrorist military capabilities by recovering 559 AK47 rifles, 151 fabricated rifles, 181 dane guns, 157 assorted arms, 13,493 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 5,409 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 4,921 assorted ammunitions. “The air component of Operation Hadin Kai in the second quarter of the year conducted air interdictions to terrorists enclaves at Mandara mountain, Maradun, Southern Tumbun Fulani and several other locations in the NE. “Several terrorist enclaves and hideouts were destroyed killing terrorist leaders, commanders and foot soldiers as well as destroying their logistics dumps,” he added. In the North Central, Buba said the troops of Operation Safe Haven neutralized 130 terrorist violent extremist, arrested 544 suspects and rescued 277 kidnap hostages.
He added that the troops also recovered 39 AK47 rifles, 37 fabricated guns, 126 assorted arms, 3,852 rounds of 7.62mm special, 827 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 499 assorted ammunitions. Under Operation Whirl Stroke, he said the troops with the support of sister services had emplaced measures to minimise communal clashes and optimised operations against terrorist and their cohorts.
Buba said the troops neutralised 138 terrorist, arrested 377 suspects and rescued 204 kidnapped hostages as well as recovery of 63 AK47 rifles, 110 assorted arms, 3,563 rounds of 7.62mm special, 1,524 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 649 assorted ammunitions.
In the North West, he said the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji neutralised 764 terrorists, arrested 673 suspects and rescued 592 kidnap hostages.
According to him, troops recovered 420 AK47 rifles, 126 fabricated guns, 174 assorted arms, 9,893 rounds of 7.62mm special, 4,678 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 1,239 assorted ammunitions. (NAN)
