The Nigerian military says on Thursday that it’s commitment to defending the country and her citizens remains unwavering and that it is clearing remnants of terrorists and other criminals in the country.
The Director of Defence Media Operations Major General Benard Onyeuko who stated this in the light of the last few days that was “characterized by some operational setbacks orchestrated by terrorists and criminals in North Central.”
Onyeuko who spoke at a media briefing said that the attack “has not dimmed the light on the huge gains and success achieved by own troops in other theatres of operation especially in the North East, North West and South South. Be that is may, own troops would not relent on the arduous task of protecting the lives and property of Nigerians.”
He said that a total of 51,114 Boko Haram terrorist and families have so far surrendered to troops of the Armed Forces of Nigerian as at April 5, 2022.
According to him, all the surrendered terrorists, comprising of 11,398 men, 15,381 women, 24,335 children, “have been documented, while arrested, rescued civilians and recovered items have been handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action.”
“Of significant is the surrender of a high-profile terrorist, Commander Sale Mustapha (Ibin Kathir) to own troops in Bama. He was the Qaid of Garin Ba-Abba,” Onyeuko said.
Highlighting the operational activities in the various theatre of operations between 25 March – 7 April 2022, Major-General Onyeuko said that in the last two weeks, the land component of Operation Hadin Kai, with the support of the air component conducted offensive operations at different locations in Borno State including the Sambisa Forest during which the troops neutralized scores of terrorist sand arrested 22 terrorist spies, 11terrorists, 3 logistics suppliers, rescued 30 civilians.
“Cumulatively, in the last 2 weeks troops recovered 1 Battle Tank, 5artillery guns, 2 GTS, 3 AA guns, 1 Mine Resistance Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, 3 gun trucks, 1 MOWAG Armored Personnel Carrier, 2 RPG tubes, 3 RPG rockets, 3 RPG bombs, 1 NSVT gun, 2 GPMG, 1 light MG.
Others are 1 PKM, 3 GPMG belts, 4 belts of PKT rounds, 600 7.62mm NATO rounds, 16 AK 47 rifles, 1 dane gun, 270 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 1 Toyota Buffalo vehicle, 1 Golf saloon car, 4 motorcycles, 6 magazines, 2 pairs of camouflage, 2 terrorists flags, 1 tricycle and 1 active drone,” he said.
He further disclosed that within the period under review, the troops of Operation Thunder Strike recorded some modest success as the air component on 30 March 2022 conducted air strikes upon receiving credible intelligence report about the movements of some terrorists on motorbikes towards Akilibu – Sarkin Pawa road at Mangoro village, between Kaduna and Niger State.
“The air component intercepted and neutralized scores of the terrorists. Accordingly, 34 terrorists were neutralized while 14 locally fabricated guns and 17 motorcycles were recovered.
“Also, on 31 March 2022 a large concentration of terrorist were sighted around Kusasu after deliberate air surveillance and air interdiction was carried no fewer than 33 terrorists were neutralized according to eyewitness account.
On the incidences of terrorists attacks in Kaduna State,Major General Onyeuko said the troops have embarked on clearance operations in the affected areas and their operations are yielding positive results.