The Defence Headquarters said on Thursday that pressure mountains by its troops have led to the surrender of more than 5,890 terrorists in the last few weeks.
Troops have not only sustained operations but intensified operational engagements against all criminal elements across the country notwithstanding some negative incidents of the past week, the Defence Headquarters said.
The Acting Director of Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Benard Onyeuko disclosed this during the bi- weekly press briefing in Abuja on Thursday.
THe said that troops operations yielded significant results in the North East where terrorists and their foot soldiers, and commanders surrendered to own troops in the last few weeks.
“This is evident in the reduction of the spate of incidents recorded; the massive surrendering of terrorists in the North East as well as reduction in IPOB/ESN activities in the South East and economic sabotage in the South-South and South West zones of the Country.”
Brigadier General Onyeuko said that the counter insurgency efforts of the troops through kinetic and non-kinetic operations have compelled the terrorists to surrender in large numbers.
“Suffice to note that, within the last few weeks, more than 5,890 terrorists comprising foot soldiers and their commanders have surrendered with their families to own troops in the North East Zone .
“A total of 565 BHT’s comprising 3 Commanders, 4 Amirs, 5 Nakibs and 5 cattle rustling specialists, out of the surrendered BHTs and their family members were handed over to the Borno State Government in Maiduguri for further management after thorough profiling,” he said.
Even as the terrorists are surrendering some adamant groups have continue their attacks on troops positions.
On August 14, 2021, he stated , our troops repelled terrorists’ attack in Borno State and with the support of the Air component interdiction missions inflicted heavy casualties on the terrorists and their equipment.
According to Onyeuko,”no few than 48 terrorists including their commanders were neutralized while 20 others were arrested as their logistic base and 3 gun trucks were destroyed.
In the North West Zone part of the country, a total of 15 armed bandits, 2 armed robbers were neutralized, 13 bandits informants were arrested and 15 motorcycles recovered within the period. Also recovered were 2 AK 47 rifles.
Nigerian troops also rescued 33 kidnap victims and arrested 66 criminal elements responsible for vandalizing railway sleepers/tracks .
The operations that led to the significant results were carried out at Gidan Zuma village under Kwatarkwashi District and Bakinwa in Gusau LGA; Matuzgi and Gora Namaye village in Maradun LGA of Zamfara State; and along Gurbi – Shimfida Road in Jibia LGA of Katsina State.
Other locations where significant results were recorded include; Magam village in Tangaza LGA of Sokoto State, Faskari Town and Batsari/Ruma general area in Batsari LGA and Jibia Town in Jibia LGA of Katsina State.