Scores of terrorists ,violent extremists were neutralized and several others apprehended in series of operations conducted by Nigerian military in conjunction with hybrid forces and other security agencies between 17 – 25 April 2025 .
Director of Defence Media Operations Major General Markus Kangye disclosed this on Friday in a statement.He said despite minor set-backs encountered in some areas troops dealt decisively with the ISWAP/BHTs as well as armed bandits within the week.
Nigerian troops captured 29 perpetrators of oil theft in the anti-crude oil theft operation and rescued some kidnapped hostages and foiled oil theft worth over Ninety Four Million One Hundred and Sixteen Thousand Four Hundred and Seventy Six Naira (N94,116,476.00)
Specifically, 89,684 litres of stolen crude oil, 46,538 litres of illegally refined AGO and 1,650 litres of DPK were recovered from the criminals.
“Additionally, they discovered and destroyed 62 crude oil cooking ovens, 71 dugout pits, 18 boats, 3 speedboats, 36 storage tanks, 88 drums and 35 illegal refining sites. Other items recovered include, pumping machines, drilling machines, tricycles, motorcycles, mobile phones and 4 vehicles.
“Relatedly, troops recovered huge quantities of assorted arms including machine guns, RPG tubes, automatic weapons as well as locally fabricated guns and Improvised Explosive Devices. Furthermore, huge cache of ammunition and live cartridges were also recovered”
Also within the week scores of terrorists comprising adult males, adult females and some children surrendered to troops within the theatre of operation following the ongoing onslaught on them by troops.
Troops in conjunction with Hybrid Forces, conducted several offensive operations including fighting patrols, raids and clearance operations in Konduga, Bama, Dikwa, Askira Uba, Gwoza and Mafa LGAs of Borno State. They neutralized some terrorists rescued 14 kidnapped victims. They also recovered arms and some kinds of assorted rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition as well as Improvised Explosive Devices.
In Zamfara and Sokoto States, troops on fighting patrols made contact with terrorists and engaged them in Gusau, Maru, Zurmi and Kaura Namoda LGAs of Zamfara State as well as Gudu and Isa LGAs of Sokoto State.
They conducted operations in Argungu and Sabuwa LGAs of Kebbi and Katsina States respectively. During the encounters, many terrorists were neutralized, 5 of the terrorists arrested while 3 kidnapped victims were rescued. Some weapons as well as assorted quantities of ammunition, livestock and motorcycles were also recovered.
Troops on anti-kidnapping and anti-criminality operations on 15 April 2025, responded to distress call about terrorists activities, setting ablaze a community in Hong LGA of Adamawa State. On arrival, troops neutralized a terrorist and restored normalcy in the community.
The director said while conducting offensive operations, troops made contact with extremists in Riyom, Bassa, Wase and Kanam LGAs of Plateau State that has become a hot spot in the past few months . Troops also made contact with terrorists in Jama’a LGA of Kaduna State and there was a fire fight in which several extremists were neutralized and 9 of them arrested. They also recovered from the criminals weapons, assorted ammunition, vehicles and motorcycles
Troops also confronted violent extremists in Lafia LGA of Nasarawa State as well as Ukum, Ohimini, Kwande, Logo and Otukpo LGAs of Benue State and in fire fight neutralized some extremists, arrested 11 of them, among them were 4 members of kidnapping syndicate identified as Hassan Mohammed, Saleh Sani, Idi Yusuf, Adamu Daamai and Hassan Bello.
Similar operation was conducted in Ibi, Wukari, Karim Lamido and Lau LGAs of Taraba State. A suspected kidnapper identified as Stephen Vincent Douga was apprehended at his hideout. Troops recovered assorted weapons, ammunition, vehicle, motorcycles and military uniforms.
In another development, troops conducted operations and destroyed 4 terrorist camps belonging to Kachalla Ibrahim and Kachalla Shuaibu at Ofere Forest in Kabba Bunu and Yagba West LGAs of Kogi State as well as Tudun Wada LGA of Kano State.
Several other similar operations were conducted across the country within the week in effort aim at checking terrorists activities that have been on the rise in recent weeks.