The Defence Headquarters said on Thursday that troops achieved “the most decisive battlefield outcomes over the last 3 months” in April and neutralised not less than 201 terrorists.
In the intense battles that ranged through out the month in six theatres across the geopolitical zones of the country, troops arrested 284 terrorist suspects and rescued 188 kidnapped victims from their captives.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, who disclosed this in Abuja during the monthly briefing on the activities of military against the insurgents said the battles are ongoing in
North-East, North-West, North-Central, South-South, and South-East to defeat the enemies.
According to him, in coordinated land and air offensives, troops destroyed multiple terrorist enclaves, criminal hideouts, and illegal armament facilities and significantly degraded the capacity of insurgent and criminal groups.
He said that among those neutralized are “some key ring leaders and collaborators.” He described the outcomes of April military offensive against the insurgents as “an unambiguous account” of sustained military pressure.
Major General Onoja said impressively troops worked in synergy with other security agencies and local stakeholders.
“Across every geopolitical zone of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, troops of the AFN executed precision kinetic strikes against insurgent and criminal formations, dismantled terrorist enclaves and logistical networks,”
They also “rescued scores of abducted civilians, restoring safety to communities that had endured the menace of terrorism, kidnapping, and armed violence.”
Giving details on some of activities conducted in each of theatres, the director said troops of Operation Hadin Kai in North-East neutralised 136 insurgents, arrested 114 suspects, and rescued 18 victims.
“Several Boko Haram and ISWAP enclaves were destroyed, with troops repelling coordinated attacks and recovering high-grade weapons in Borno and Yobe states.”
In the North-West — Operation Fansan Yamma,
20 terrorists were neutralised and 70 kidnapped victims were rescued, several terrorists camps were dismantled in Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kebbi states.
While notable feats included the rescue of 31 Christian worshippers abducted from a church in Kaduna State and the interception of a suspect transporting IED materials was achieved within the period.
In North-Central where troops of Operations Savannah Shield, Enduring Peace, Whirl Stroke are battling to the encroaching insurgents, 53 terrorists neutralised, while over 100 suspects were arrested.
Scores of kidnapped victims were rescued across Niger, Kwara, Plateau, Benue, Kogi, and Nasarawa states. Troops also dismantled criminal camps, destroyed illicit weapons production sites, and recovered ransom money.
While in the South-South where troops of Operation Delta Safe are battling economic sabotage efforts against anti-crude oil theft have been intensified.
During the month under review troops were said to have intensified destruction illegal refining sites and they recovered over 101,000 litres of petroleum products. Several kidnapped victims were also rescued.
On its part South-East — Operation Udo Ka disrupted IPOB/ESN activities by arresting key commanders and the destruction of major camps, including a strategic enclave in Enugu State.
Major General Onoja said the military is now going
beyond combat to sustaining civil-military cooperation initiatives during the period, because it has uncovered that “peace meetings, community engagements, and support for farming activities in conflict-prone areas”, are vital to achieving it’s objectives of restoring peace.
These initiatives, he noted, will help in fostering trust, facilitating resettlement, and promoting long-term stability.