…As troops neutralize 10,937 terrorists, arrested 12,538 of them in 2024
The Nigerian Armed Forces said on Tuesday that it had further degraded the military and fighting capabilities of terrorist in 2024 by neutralizing 10,937 terrorists and arrested 12,538 others just as it rescued 7,063 kidnapped hostages.
It said that achievements recorded by troops at various theatres across the country “are indicative of a major defeat of the terrorist in 2025. “
“Importantly, troops in the battlefield are in high spirits, fully committed, devoted and believe in the justness of the cause.Troops will be going the extra mile in the new year to get the job done. “
Major General Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, disclosed this on Tuesday December 31, in Abuja while giving summary of military operations during the year.
He reiterated that during the year, troops
significantly degraded the terrorists’ military capabilities recovered 8,815 weapons, 228,004 ammunitions and denied the oil theft of an estimated sum over #68 bn (N68,453,376,040.00) only.
According to him, “over the last 12 months, troops were confronted by several threats across the country ranging from armed banditry, kidnapping for ransom, crude oil theft, violent extremism, insurgency as well as terrorism among others
“Several of these threats adversely affected innocent citizens and disrupted peace and security in the country.”
He said that troops war effort was therefore designed and crafted to defeat and destroy the terrorist as well as dismantle their terror infrastructure across the country.
He added that troops mounted continued, relentless, and painful pressure on the terrorist enclaves, hideouts and strongholds in their efforts to defeating the terrorist.
Major General Buba further statedly that troops eliminated over a thousand notable terrorist leaders and commanders during the course of the year.
For example,: Dutse Mainasara Idda, Mallam Saleh Umaru,
Mohammed Amadu, Chinemerem (aka Bam Bam), Jeremiah Uzuoma (aka Escoba), Tochukwu Awo (aka Ojoto) and Egwuatu and others met their Waterloo at different encounters.
He also gave the breakdown of the recoveries by the troops are as follows: 4,332 AK47 rifles, 1,244 locally fabricated guns, 838 dane guns, 259 pump action guns, 128,496 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 45,445 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 5,103 cartridges, 2,131 assorted arms and 29,176 assorted ammunitions. Others are: 56,223,002 litres of stolen crude oil, 9,735,836 litres of illegally refined AGO, 95,595 litres of DPK and 156,527 litres of PMS amongst other item.
He assured that troops are focussed on increasingly deliver tangible benefits of their operations for the benefits of citizens he noted, stating that additionally,troops seek to continue to heighten collaboration with neighbouring countries and regional bodies in order to tackle the menace of terrorism.
Meanwhile, the armed forces has assured the public that, many of what was witnessed in the outgoing year, are indicative of a major defeat of the terrorist in 2025. The Director said that the ensuing new year see the end of many terrorists leaders .
“Importantly, troops in the battlefield are in high spirits, fully committed, devoted and believe in the justness of the cause.Troops will be going the extra mile in the new year to get the job done.”
He said on the whole, the war is not for the armed forces alone, but for all citizens . He therefore urges for more citizens support in order to win the war.