965 terrorists surrendered to troops, several scores eliminated
From Zakaa Lazarus
The military high command has revealed that a total of 965 terrorists and their families and 550 children surrendered to Nigerian troops while 145 others were eliminated in the past three weeks as the war against insecurity in the North-Eastern part of the country continued to record significant results.
DHQ also said troops effected the arrest of 125 other terrorist fighters and criminal elements, while rescuing 48 civilians kidnapped by bandits for ransom and recovering 540 rustled livestock.
Director of Defence Media Operations (DMO), Major-General Benard Onyeuko, who made these known at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) in Abuja on Thursday, said the terrorists were neutralized by troops deployed at different locations between 20 January and 10 February 2022.
The Director said the locations included Gamboru, Tumbumma, Kukawa, Baga, Gwoza, Mallam Fotori, Damboa, Kirta Wulgo, Bun Yadi, Gujiba and Madiya, all in Borno and Yobe State, he added.
According to Major-General Onyeuko, troops of Operation Hadin Kai consolidated their operational success against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province Terrorist (ISWAP) in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa state, recording significant results at various locations, including the elimination of an ISWAP senior commander, Mallam Ari, the Amirul Fiya in charge of Kirta Wulgo and some foreign mercenaries fabricating Improvised Explosive Device (IED) for the terrorist were killed during the airstrike.
He said: “Cumulatively, the troops within the period under review, neutralized 120 fighters, arrested 50 of the terrorists, 5 gun trucks, 50 assorted arms and 200 rounds of different calibers of ammunition were captured from the terrorists.
“Additionally, troops rescued 25 abducted civilians. Similarly, a total of 965 terrorists and their families and 550 children surrendered to own troops deployed at different location including: Gamboru, Tumbumma, Kukawa, Baga, Gwoza, Mallam Fotori, Damboa, Kirta Wulgo, Bun Yadi, Gujiba, Madiya all in Borno and Yobe State.”
He further disclosed that the troops of operation SAFE HAVEN within the last 3 weeks carried out several operational activities at different locations of the theatre that yielded notable result, including the arrest of 50 criminal elements and rescuing of 13 kidnapped victims, as well as the recovery of 33 arms and 150 calibers of ammunitions, 450 rustled livestock, among other items of security concern in the course of their operations.
During the same period, troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI maintained the operational pace by conducting clearance operations on criminal enclaves across the theatre.
“Consequently, these operations resulted in the recovery of 40 AK-47 rifles, and assorted arms and 340 rounds of different calibres of ammunition, 45 motorcycles and decimations of scores of bandits and 90 rustled livestock were recovered by own troops,” he said.
On the operations carried in the oil-rich Niger Delta region during the period, Major-General Onyeuoo disclosed that the troops of Operation Delta Safe discovered and destroyed a total of 45 illegal refining sites, 72 cooking ovens, 127 metal storage tanks, 30 dug out pits, 23cotonou boats, 47 pumping machine, 9 tankers. Consequently, a total of 2,531,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil and 2,807,000 litres of stolen crude oil were recovered in the course of the operations in addition, 20 coolants, 9 tankers were recovered.
“Also, 50 galvanized pipes illegally connected to pipelines were excavated, 12 economic saboteurs associated with pipeline vandalization were arrested within the period. All the apprehended criminals and recovered items have been handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action,” he added.
He equally gave account of Operation Whirl Stroke across Nasarawa, Taraba and Benue States, during which a total of 25 criminals were arrested, while large caches of assorted arms and different calibers of ammunition were recovered. Additionally, troops rescued 10 kidnapped persons, 8 trucks laden with vandalized railway track sleepers, 3 cars, 7 motorcycles with large quantities of Marijuana impounded in the course of operations, within the same period.
He conveyed the appreciation of the Military High Command to the troops in the frontlines of operations in the various theatre for their sacrifices in combating the various security challenges confronting the nation.
While also conveying appreciation to the general public for the cooperation given the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies in the course of our operations, Major-General Onyeuko further expressed appreciation of Military High Command for the media for its immense support, as he for more credible and timely information that would aid the military in its proactive operational engagements in the country.
