Defense headquarters said on Thursday that the military will continue with its aggressive operations against violent extremist groups in the country that are seeking to undermine the security of the country through violence.
Director of Defence Media Operations (DMO) Major General Edward Buba said that in pursuit of military core functions, troops of Operation HADIN KAI laid an ambush and arrested Boko Haram / Islamic State of West Africa Province (BH/ISWAP ) terrorists in Gwoza and Tarmuwa LGAs of Borno and Yobe States on August 25, 2023.
He recalled that troops had earlier on August 21 and 23,2023 in two separate operations ambushed BH/ISWAP terrorists at Pulka and Firgi in Gwoza LGA of Borno State in encounters that led to firefight and troops neutralization of 4 terrorists while others fled.
One AK47 rifle with 9 rounds of 7.62 mm Special ammo was recovered while in a different location on August 25, 2023, troops responding to a tip-off conducted a raid at Mafa Village in Tarmuwa LGA of Yobe State.
The raid resulted in the arrest of 4 BH/ISWAP terrorists’ combatants and items recovered from them include; one HK 21 gun, one AK 47 rifle, one empty magazine, and 17 rounds of 7.62 mm NATO ammo, he said.
While troops on fighting patrol apprehended 5 terrorists comprising 3 male terrorist combatants and 2 children in Gwoza LGA of Borno State.
“Troops recovered 2 AK47 rifles, 10 AK47 rifle magazines, 9 rounds of 7.62 mm Special (refilled ammo), one Bandelier and the sum of Five Hundred and Nine Thousand Three Hundred Naira (₦509,300.00) only.”
“On August 28, 2023, troops in conjunction with Hybrid Forces conducted a fighting patrol at DIKWA LGA of Borno State where troops made contact with BH/ISWAP terrorists and neutralized one terrorist while others fled. Troops recovered one AK 47 rifle, one magazine, 16 rounds of 7.62 mm Special (refilled ammo) and other sundry items.
While air interdiction was deployed following active terrorists’ activities at Wulade. The air component of Operation HADIN KAI acquired and engaged the targets at the location. The outcome is being continuous monitored, he said.
Similar air interdiction was deployed in the North West Zone of the country by air component of Operation HADARIN DAJI particularly on targets in Sububu Forest in Kankara LGA of Katsina State that in recent times has become behaved of terrorist activities.
On it part, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN conducted raid and recovered arms in Jos North LGA of Plateau State. The operations resulted in neutralized terrorists, arrest of notorious armed robbers and rescue of kidnapped hostages in Jema’s LGA of Kaduna State.
On 21 August 2023, troops raided a suspected criminals’ hideout at Gwash Village in Jos Nort LGA of Plateau State. Troops made no contact with the terrorists and exploited the general area, recovering one fabricated pistol and one cartridge.
Troops on fighting patrol arrested 2 suspects in Jema’a LGA of Kaduna State one of them a notorious armed robber .
Major General Buba said preliminary investigation revealed that the notorious armed robber is on wanted list of security agency meanwhile 2 fabricated rifle, one pistol and one dane gun was recovered.
The troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI continued to clamped down on terrorists’ activities in the general area of it operations, neutralized terrorist and recovered arms and ammunition in Talata Mafara, LGA in Zamfara State, as well as Danmusa and Mutazu LGAs in Katsina State.
Troops also foiled kidnapped activities in Faskari LGA of Zamfara State and rescued hostages in Bukuyyum LGAs of Katsina State.
In the South South zone where criminals are engaged in illegal refining of crude oil troops discovered and destroyed 71 dugout pits, 36 boats, 83 storage tanks, 5 vehicles, 4 motorcycles, 58 cooking ovens, 5 pumping machines, 3 generators, 3 speedboats and 34 illegal refining sites.
Troops recovered 569,400 liters of stolen crude oil, 486,000 liters of illegally refined AGO and 59,500 liters of PMS. Troops also arrested 16 suspected oil theft.
On 22 and 23 August 2023, t
Troops intercepted vehicles loaded with illegally refined AGO in Ughelli and Eleme LGAs of Delta and Rivers States . Troops moved the vehicles to safe place and subsequently destroyed.
Air component of the Joint Task Force conducted air interdictions over active illegal refining sites at Abisse and Idama. The targets were engaged with cannons and rockets destroyed the equipment and reservoirs.
“Additionally, air component destroyed a boat fully loaded with illegally refined products sighted within the gen area. The boat was attacked with rockets,” the director of Media Operations disclosed.