In the ongoing efforts to checkmate the activities of insurgency in the North East Nigeria troops arrested 456 terrorists and rescued 76 kidnapped hostages.
The Director of Defence Media Operations (DMO) Major General Edward Buba stated this on Thursday as gave details of military operations for the past one week in the North East.
He said that troops of Operation HADIN KAI operating in the zone arrested 12 BH/ISWAP terrorists Logistics Suppliers/Collaborators in Jere, MMC and Biu in Borno State, as well as Gujba LGAs in Yobe State.
Troops recovered 4 AK47 rifles, 32 rounds of 7.62mm special, 3 locally made guns, 10 magazines, 3 vehicles conveying food items, one mobile phone, 50 jerry cans of PMS and AGO and the sum of Three Million One Hundred and Eighty-Six Thousand Naira (₦3,186,000.00)
Troops laid ambush for BH/ISWAP Terrorists at a check point in Konduga LGA of Borno State and in the ensuing encounter neutralized 12 terrorists while others fled. Troops recovered 5 AK47 rifles, 2 locally fabricated rifles, 2 dane guns, 30 rounds of 7.62mm special, 5 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 4 motorcycles and 3 cutlasses.
At another location troops in an offensive operation to terrorists’ enclaves in Gwoza LGA of Borno State neutralised 25 BH/ISWAP terrorists, recovered 8 AK 47 rifle, 27 rounds of 7.62 mm Special ammo, one Beretta pistol, 13 rounds of 9 mm ammo, 2 magazines, one dane gun, 4 mobile phones and 2 motorcycles.
On its part, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN in North Central neutralized 16 terrorists, arrested 16 other terrorists and rescued one kidnapped hostage. Troop also recovered 12 AK47 rifles, 2 pistols, 5 locally fabricated rifles, 6 dane guns, 32 rounds of 7.62mm special, 15 magazines and 3 motorcycles.
While, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE conducted fighting patrol and arrested suspected terrorists in Guma LGA of Benue State in the process recovered 7 AK47 rifles, 4 pistols, 10 rounds of 7.62mm special and 3 empty magazines. Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects belong to a syndicate that have been terrorizing the environment.
Troops of Operation WHIRL PUNCH eliminated 17 terrorists, arrested 3 suspected terrorists and rescued 7 kidnapped hostages. Troops also recovered 34 assorted weapons, 399 IED detonator primers, one vehicle and 2 motorcycles.
Within the week also troops of Operation DELTA SAFE in South South maintained momentum against the activities of crude oil theft, and destroy Illegal refining sites, including 21 dugout pits, 56 boats, 138 storage tanks, 14 vehicles, 235 cooking ovens, 6 pumping machine, 2 mobile phones, 89 illegal refining sites and the sum of N13,950.
Troops also recovered about 1,205,950 litres of stolen crude oil, 452,910 litres of illegally refined AGO, 22,650 litres of PMS and 3000 litres of DPK. Troops apprehended 45 oil theft.
Also during the week, troops of Operation UDO KA in the South East neutralized 17 terrorists, arrested 11 suspected criminals and rescued 2 kidnapped hostages. Troops also recovered 10 AK47 rifles, 5 dane guns, 7 pump action guns, 4 magazines and 34 cartridges.
Major General Buba said all recovered items, arrested suspects and rescued hostages were handed over to the relevant authority for further action.