The Defence Headquarters said on Thursday that troops and other security agencies have sustained their kinetic and non-kinetic efforts in the fight against insecurity in the last two weeks and in the progress neutralized 112 terrorists and arrested 35 other criminal elements in the North East of the country.
Their operations also led to the surrendering of a total of 1,199 terrorists and their families, comprising 114 adult males, 312 adult females and 773 children at different locations in the North East between 14 and 28 October 2021.
Acting Directorate of Defence Media Operations, Brigadier-General Benard Onyeuko, who made this known on Thursday during his bi-weekly briefing on the Armed operational activities of the military at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, further said that 622 bags of fertilized used for the production of IED and 52 livestock were also recovered.
The troops also rescued 19 kidnapped civilian victims in the course of the operations and recovered a total of 101 assorted weapons, including machine guns, 69 AK-47 rifles, gun trucks, teargas launchers, locally-made pistols, 25 extra rifle magazines and 829 rounds of ammunition.
He said troops deployed in ‘Operation HADIN KAI’ have sustained the aggressive posture with zest in the North East and conducted series of land and air operations in different locations .
“They have not only degraded the enemy’s operational capabilities of insurgents, but have contributed to more terrorists surrendering with their families. In the course of the operations within the period, a total of 38 terrorist elements were neutralized, including the ISWAP’s new leader, Bako,” he said.
Brigadier-General Onyeuko also said the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI successfully conducted series of air interdiction missions against the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in different locations. The Air Component on 20 October 2021scored another devastating hit on BHT/ISWAP terrorist elements at Malam Fatori on the fringes of the Lake Chad, he said.
“This feat was achieved on the heels of credible intelligence report and after series of aerial surveillance, which confirmed the convergence of terrorist elements in 20 boats at the location.
” Consequently, air strikes were executed on the target with various NAF platforms, which led to the destruction of the boats and neutralization of scores of the terrorists, while few of them flee in disarray with varying degrees of wounds,” he said.
He said that within the period, troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI dominated the operations theatre with aggressive fighting patrols and other kinetic operations with the support of intensive air operations executed. In the course of these operations, significant achievements were recorded in some locations. These include; Gwandu LGA in Kebbi State where some cattle rustlers were arrested.
While troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN, troops dominated the operations theatre with constant land and air patrols to deny criminal elements freedom of action. This has brought about relative calm in the area of responsibility. Some kinetic operations within the period led to the arrest of 8 criminal elements.
“Operation WHIRL PUNCH/THUNDER STRIKE also sustained its operational activities in parts of the North West Zone. Within the period in focus, troops with the support of the Air Component stormed some armed bandits’ hideouts during clearance operations at; Chikun LGA, Damba and Kange Kadi villages in Kaduna State.
“The operations dealt heavy blows on the criminal elements as they suffered heavy casualties from troops’ superior firepower.”
“Within the period under review, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE have continued to record more success in its operations in the North Central Zone. Some of these operations yielded significant results at some locations in the Zone. Consequently, a total of 35 arms including AK-47 rifles, Machine Guns, teargas launchers, locally-made pistols and rifles, 25 extra rifle magazines and 431 rounds of ammunition were recovered within the period.
” Also a total of 11 armed bandits were arrested and 2 kidnapped civilians rescued in the course of the operations,” he said.
“Furthermore, troops held peace and security meetings with community/youth leaders and other critical stakeholders and security agencies at the Lau Town Hall in Lau LGA and Dogon Gawa Town in Takum LGA of Taraba State. These meetings were also conducted at; Gbise Market Square and Katsina-Ala LGA Headquarters in Katsina-Ala LGA as well as Zaki-Biam community in Ukum LGA of Benue State.