*Neutralized 87 terrorists
The Nigerian Armed Forces Defence Headquarters said it troops operating in the South South Zone of the country have denied oil thieves access to the sum of N222,338,430.00 worth of oil.
Major General Musa Danmadami, the
Director of Military Operations, DMO, made this disclosure on Thursday during the bi- weekly press briefing in Abuja on the activities of military against insurgents and criminals between February 9 and 23 , 2023.
He said troops destroyed 61 illegal refining sites, 289 storage tanks, 167 ovens, 19 dugout pits, and 13 wooden boats.
“Troops equally recovered 250,500 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, 75,000 litres of crude oil, 2,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, 20 assorted weapons, 359 variety of ammunition, 10 vehicles, 2 speedboat, 2 pumping machines and 2 outboard engine, while a total of 142 suspected criminals were also arrested.”
Major General Danmadami said that the flight against the insurgents yielded results as more than 87 Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists were neutralised in the past two weeks.
He said also that over a total of 312 terrorists, gunrunners and drug peddlers were arrested from the six geopolitical zone of the country.
According to the military operations spokesman not less than 50 AK-47 rifles were seized from the criminals while in one location 3,924 round of 7.62mm Special ammunition was found and recovered from them.
On the military operations against insurgents in North East, Major General Danmadami said that troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation HADIN KAI in the zone of the country, conducted various offensive operations at villages, mountains, roads .
They also conducted operations in
Gwoza, Bama, Gubio, Biu, Dikwa, Monguno and Konduga towns in Konduga Local Government Areas of Borno State as well as Mubi town in Mubi Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
Several raids, fighting patrols and ambushes operations were also carried out in efforts to curb the activities of terrorists and other criminals within the Joint Area of Operations.
“Notably, between 8 and 13 February 2023, troops while acting on credible intelligence, ambushed Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists at locations within Gwoza, Mafa, and Bama Local Government Areas of Borno State. At these locations, troops made contact with the terrorists, during which, 10 terrorists were neutralized while other fled in disarray with gun shot wound.
He said that troops exploited these general areas and recovered 6 AK47 rifles, 38 rounds of 7.62mm special, 71 rounds of 45mm ammunitions, 50 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 5 dane guns, 4 AK47 magazines, 4 motorcycles, 2 pairs of desert camouflage, 28 bundles of mats, clothing materials, medical supplies and boafeng radios among other sundry items.
Equally, troops while on fighting patrols between 9 and 21 February 2023, made contact with Boko Haram Terrorist/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists at villages within Gwoza, Jere and Bama Local Government Areas of Borno State, during these engagements, troops neutralized 7 Boko Haram Terrorist/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists while other fled with gun shot injuries.
Troops also recovered 2 AK47 rifles loaded with 10 rounds each of 7.62mm special ammunition. Other items recovered are 3 dane guns, medical supplies, mobile phones, motorcycles, clothing materials among other items.
Furthermore, between 9 and 20 February 2023, troops arrested 11 Boko Haram Terrorist/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists logistic suppliers at several locations within Borno and Adamawa State.
“Items recovered from them include assorted clothing materials, medical supplies, large quantities of items suspected to be hard drugs, livestock, 138 jerrican of PMS and other sundry items. While on 11 February 2023, troops on fighting patrol responded to distress call on the activities of terrorists at Mallam Maja in Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State, however, the terrorists fled on sighting the troops. The general area was exploited and troops rescued 20 abducted civilians.
He said troops in the North East, recovered 17 AK47 rifles, 9 dane guns, 12 AK47 magazines, 86 rounds of 7.62mm special, 71 rounds of 45mm ammunitions and 145 rounds of 7.62mm NATO.
Others items recovered are 132 jerricans of Premium Motor Spirit, 6 motorcycles, a vehicle, medical supplies, livestock, 28 bundles of mats, assorted clothing materials, mobile phones and other sundry items.
Troops neutralized 27 terrorists and arrested 18 Boko Haram Terrorist/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists logistics suppliers, spies and informants at different locations within the theatre as well as rescued 20 abducted civilians while a total of 252 Boko Haram Terrorist/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorist and member of their families comprising of 24 adult male, 79 adult female and 150 children surrendered to own troops at different location within the theatre of operations.
All recovered items, rescued civilians, and apprehended suspects have been handed over to the appropriate authority for further action while surrendered Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists and members of their families are being profiled for further actio, he said.