Troops Neutralize Over 200 Terrorists, Rescue 122 Captives In Two Weeks

 

By ZAKAA LAZARUS-Abuja

 

The Defence Headquarters has said, it’s troops in various operations across the country have eliminated about 286 terrorists in the last two weeks.

Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General. Edward Buba disclosed this during the bi-weekly media briefing on Thursday and explained that troops also arrested 244 criminal elements within the period in focus.

He said troops apprehended 83 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 122 kidnapped hostages within the period.

He said, during the week under review, troops neutralised 286 and arrested 244 of them. Troops also arrested 83 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 122 kidnapped hostages. In the SS, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of Two Billion Five Hundred and Sixty-Five million Four Hundred and Seventy-Nine thousand and Seven Hundred and Twenty Naira (N2,565,479,720.00) only.”

 

General Buba added that troops recovered 587 assorted weapons and 7,943 assorted ammunition. The breakdown is as follows: 207 AK47 rifles, 56 locally fabricated guns, 17 pump action guns, 10 locally fabricated pistols, 22 Danes, one FN rifle, 6 double barrel automatic pump action, 2 double barrel guns, 2 x 36 hand grenades and 10 IEDs.

“Others are 4088 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 2,529 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 138 rounds of 9mm ammo, 39 rounds of 7.62mm refilled ammo, 331 P445 rounds of 7.62mm special, 180 rounds of 5.5mm ammo, 2 PKT link of 7.62mm special, 445 live cartridges, 67 magazines, 6 HH radios,14 vehicles, 32 motorcycles, 34 mobile phones and the sum of N4,876,950.00 amongst other items.

The Director noted that the military has achieved significant successes in the counter-insurgency war evident in the elimination of thousands of terrorist commanders, leaders and their foot soldiers over the years but averred that the war cannot be won militarily alone.

General Buba called for increased support to the military by the Government at all levels and other critical stakeholders, among many other ways to enable them to win the ongoing war against terrorists, bandits and other criminals.

”On one hand, the above is indicative of the fact that troops are recording successes week in and week out in the ongoing counters insurgency operations across the country.

“On the other hand, the classic principle of counterinsurgency is that you can not win this kind of war militarily.

“We have eliminated several terrorists, their leaders and commanders. Troops are continually going after the terrorist and dislodging them from their hideouts. Despite all these, it would appear that there is more to be done to win this war outside the use of military pressure.

“We must now win this war by changing the conditions that make the insurgents willing to fight. We must also win the war by increasing support for the government at various levels through heart and mind projects indicative of good governance.”

Speaking in specific terms, the Director said in the South-South zone, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE denied oil thieves’ crude worth over N2.5 billion within the period.

Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and discovered and destroyed 134 dugout pits, 79 boats and 116 storage tanks. Other items recovered include 149 cooking ovens, one speedboat, 11 vehicles, 8 motorcycles and 74 illegal refining sites. Troops recovered 2,947,770 litres of stolen crude oil, 251,800 litres of illegally refined AGO, 6,125 litres of DPK and 6,790 litres of PMS.”

In the North East zone, the Director said “Overall, troops of Operation HADIN KAI neutralized 70 terrorists, arrested 31 BH/ISWAP terrorists and rescued 27 kidnapped hostages.

“Troops recovered 47 AK47 rifles, one FN rifle, 21 fabricated guns, 8 Dane guns, 2 pump action guns, 2 hand grenades, 3 locally made pistols, 1,163 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 604 rounds of 7.62mm NATO,72 rounds of belted 7.62mm NATO ammo, 32 rounds of 9mm ammo, 39 rounds of 7.62mm refilled, 99 cartridges, 16 magazines, 3 vehicles, 18 motorcycles, 13 mobile phones, 2 HH radios and the sum of N21,500.00 among others.”

While in the North Central, troops of Operation SAVE HAVEN and WHIRL STROKE in separate operations neutralized 19 insurgents, arrested 48 violent extremists and 10 rescued kidnapped hostages respectively.

General Buba disclosed that significant successes have been recorded at the other zones and promised that the Nigerian military in collaboration with other security agencies would relentlessly continue to discharge its assigned responsibility professionally and diligently.

”Accordingly, we would continue to take necessary measures to ensure a secure and safer environment for citizens.

“Following the chorus of voices saturating the airwaves in the country, there is no gain in saying that, there are salient challenges affecting our country that require practical ideas and solutions. It is against this background that the military finds itself uniquely positioned to unabatedly address the security challenges in the country.

“The armed forces are not only ensuring the elimination of terrorists and threats in the country. It remains focused and concentrates on the task and mission at hand,” he stated.

He urged patriotic and well-meaning citizens to contribute alternative ideas on ways to make a difference in turning the security situation of the country around.

“There is no doubt that the times that we are in, are difficult and therefore a watershed moment for our country. Citizens are urged to realize that tough times do not last, but tough people do.

“As a people, we are renowned for our pride in being tough and resilient. There is a better time to manifest these qualities in us in overcoming the pains of today, in fore gains of tomorrow. I dare say that, this too shall pass.

“The time is ripe for patriotic and well-meaning citizens to contribute alternative ideas on ways to make a difference in turning the situation around.

“Collaborative effort is essential at this time. Simply put, we are one people, one nation and one destiny,” he said

Troops Neutralize Over 200 Terrorists, Rescue 122
Captives In Two Weeks

By ZAKAA LAZARUS-Abuja

 

The Defence Headquarters has said, it’s troops in various operations across the country have eliminated about 286 terrorists in the last two weeks.

Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General. Edward Buba disclosed this during the bi-weekly media briefing on Thursday and explained that troops also arrested 244 criminal elements within the period in focus.

He said troops apprehended 83 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 122 kidnapped hostages within the period.

He said, during the week under review, troops neutralised 286 and arrested 244 of them. Troops also arrested 83 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 122 kidnapped hostages. In the SS, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of Two Billion Five Hundred and Sixty-Five million Four Hundred and Seventy-Nine thousand and Seven Hundred and Twenty Naira (N2,565,479,720.00) only.”

 

General Buba added that troops recovered 587 assorted weapons and 7,943 assorted ammunition. The breakdown is as follows: 207 AK47 rifles, 56 locally fabricated guns, 17 pump action guns, 10 locally fabricated pistols, 22 Danes, one FN rifle, 6 double barrel automatic pump action, 2 double barrel guns, 2 x 36 hand grenades and 10 IEDs.

“Others are 4088 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 2,529 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 138 rounds of 9mm ammo, 39 rounds of 7.62mm refilled ammo, 331 P445 rounds of 7.62mm special, 180 rounds of 5.5mm ammo, 2 PKT link of 7.62mm special, 445 live cartridges, 67 magazines, 6 HH radios,14 vehicles, 32 motorcycles, 34 mobile phones and the sum of N4,876,950.00 amongst other items.

The Director noted that the military has achieved significant successes in the counter-insurgency war evident in the elimination of thousands of terrorist commanders, leaders and their foot soldiers over the years but averred that the war cannot be won militarily alone.

General Buba called for increased support to the military by the Government at all levels and other critical stakeholders, among many other ways to enable them to win the ongoing war against terrorists, bandits and other criminals.

”On one hand, the above is indicative of the fact that troops are recording successes week in and week out in the ongoing counters insurgency operations across the country.

“On the other hand, the classic principle of counterinsurgency is that you can not win this kind of war militarily.

“We have eliminated several terrorists, their leaders and commanders. Troops are continually going after the terrorist and dislodging them from their hideouts. Despite all these, it would appear that there is more to be done to win this war outside the use of military pressure.

“We must now win this war by changing the conditions that make the insurgents willing to fight. We must also win the war by increasing support for the government at various levels through heart and mind projects indicative of good governance.”

Speaking in specific terms, the Director said in the South-South zone, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE denied oil thieves’ crude worth over N2.5 billion within the period.

Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and discovered and destroyed 134 dugout pits, 79 boats and 116 storage tanks. Other items recovered include 149 cooking ovens, one speedboat, 11 vehicles, 8 motorcycles and 74 illegal refining sites. Troops recovered 2,947,770 litres of stolen crude oil, 251,800 litres of illegally refined AGO, 6,125 litres of DPK and 6,790 litres of PMS.”

In the North East zone, the Director said “Overall, troops of Operation HADIN KAI neutralized 70 terrorists, arrested 31 BH/ISWAP terrorists and rescued 27 kidnapped hostages.

“Troops recovered 47 AK47 rifles, one FN rifle, 21 fabricated guns, 8 Dane guns, 2 pump action guns, 2 hand grenades, 3 locally made pistols, 1,163 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 604 rounds of 7.62mm NATO,72 rounds of belted 7.62mm NATO ammo, 32 rounds of 9mm ammo, 39 rounds of 7.62mm refilled, 99 cartridges, 16 magazines, 3 vehicles, 18 motorcycles, 13 mobile phones, 2 HH radios and the sum of N21,500.00 among others.”

While in the North Central, troops of Operation SAVE HAVEN and WHIRL STROKE in separate operations neutralized 19 insurgents, arrested 48 violent extremists and 10 rescued kidnapped hostages respectively.

General Buba disclosed that significant successes have been recorded at the other zones and promised that the Nigerian military in collaboration with other security agencies would relentlessly continue to discharge its assigned responsibility professionally and diligently.

”Accordingly, we would continue to take necessary measures to ensure a secure and safer environment for citizens.

“Following the chorus of voices saturating the airwaves in the country, there is no gain in saying that, there are salient challenges affecting our country that require practical ideas and solutions. It is against this background that the military finds itself uniquely positioned to unabatedly address the security challenges in the country.

“The armed forces are not only ensuring the elimination of terrorists and threats in the country. It remains focused and concentrates on the task and mission at hand,” he stated.

He urged patriotic and well-meaning citizens to contribute alternative ideas on ways to make a difference in turning the security situation of the country around.

“There is no doubt that the times that we are in, are difficult and therefore a watershed moment for our country. Citizens are urged to realize that tough times do not last, but tough people do.

“As a people, we are renowned for our pride in being tough and resilient. There is a better time to manifest these qualities in us in overcoming the pains of today, in fore gains of tomorrow. I dare say that, this too shall pass.

“The time is ripe for patriotic and well-meaning citizens to contribute alternative ideas on ways to make a difference in turning the situation around.

“Collaborative effort is essential at this time. Simply put, we are one people, one nation and one destiny,” he said