No fewer than 1,000 terrorists and their families including two notorious Boko Haram bomb experts have surrendered to Nigerian troops in last two weeks,the Defence Headquarters said on Thursday.
Brigadier General Benard Onyeuko the Acting Director , Defence Media Operations disclosed this in Abuja during the bi- weekly briefing on the Armed Forces of Nigeria’ s operational activities from July 29, to August 12, 2021.
He also said that the surrendered terrorists “comprising adult females and children surrendered to own troops at different locations in the North East would in no small measure deplete terrorists fighting force.
In the last two weeks the Headquarters of Operation HADIN KAI has intensified it’s operations in the North East theatre.
The intensity of these operations has yielded tremendous results as evidenced in the number of casualties and massive surrender of terrorists in Buni Yari, Gorgore, Baga and Monguno Towns as well as Maiduguri – Baga Road, Maiduguri – Damboa Road and Bula Yobe – Darel Jamel Road all in Borno State, he said.
Troops also carried out operations at Kayamri and Mairari villages as well as Monguno and Kukawa Towns, all in Borno State, he said.
“Cumulatively, the operations led to the neutralization of 27 BHT/ISWAP fighters, arrest of 51 BHT/ISWAP terrorists, 3 terrorists’ collaborators as well as recovery of 35 assorted arms and 1,051 round of ammunition including AK-47 and FN rifles, Dushka anti-aircraft guns, GPMG, PKT guns, 60mm mortar tubes, Makarov pistol and other machine guns, amongst other items,” he stated.
In addition these hauls, 29 abducted civilians were rescued within the period under review.
General Onyeuko said that notable among the terrorists that surrendered “are the notorious BHT bomb expert named, Musa Adamu aka Mala Musa Abuja and his deputy, Usman Adamu aka Abu Darda,” adding that “this has in no small measure depleted the BHT fighting force.”
The Acting Director Defence Media operations said that the troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI on July 31 responded to distress calls from locals at Bagida village in Sokoto State; Shinkafi in Zamfara State , Maigora, Falale and Ungwan Dudu villages as well as Kankara – Katsina Road in Katsina State that were attacked.
He said the villagers were attacked by either cattle rustlers, kidnappers or armed bandits on their farms.
“In all incidents, troops repelled the criminals, rescued farmers and kidnapped victims as well as recovered arms, ammunition and some livestock, while some criminal elements were arrested, he said.
General Onyeuko stated that “cumulatively, a total of 89 livestock, 5 AK-47 rifles, 3 rounds of 9mm ball and 48 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition were recovered and 4 kidnap victims rescued.”
Also, 2 notorious cattle rustlers named, “Mallam Buda Umar from Niger Republic and Mai Hatsi Ibrahim from Gada LGA of Sokoto State as well as 4 armed bandits and drug peddlers were arrested”.
He said that between August 2 and 6 2021, the Air Component of Operation HADARIN DAJI, carried out intensive air strikes on bandits’ hideouts at the South of Dansadau Town; North of Kwiambana Forest Reserves as well as North of Sububu Forest and Dudufi village under Faru District in Maradun LGA, all in Zamfara State.
The air strikes, according to military high command resulted in the destruction of bandits’ structures including the residence of one of their leaders, Halilu Tubali, in which the armed bandits converged for a meeting.
The air strikes in conjunction with ground troops’ assaults also resulted in the neutralization of no fewer than 123 armed bandits and destruction of their logistics facilities.