The military said on Thursday that troops operations this week against terrorist resulted in neutralising 105 terrorists in addition to a total of 266 terrorists neutralised in the month of January 2024.
They also arrested 140 terrorists, rescued 86 kidnapped hostages this week alone compared to 463 violent extremists/insurgents that were arrested and 116 kidnapped hostages rescued in January.
Director of Defence Media Operations Major General Edward Buba who disclosed this in Abuja noted that “since the beginning of the year several terrorists and their leaders have been killed or badly injured owing to offensive actions by both land and air forces”
“Troops are continuing their actions even at this very moment and we are proud of them and appreciate their brave conduct, even though it might not seem that way due to recent events across the country.”
Major General Buba said that the fact remains that, their goal is to restore peace and security for citizens to have an enjoyable life and “we will continue to do that in spite of the current circumstances, troops will continue fighting with great effort, determination and sacrifice to bring about great results.”
To further buttress the point that the nation is winning the war, Buba said that in the month of January 2024, for instance, troops recovered 447 assorted weapons and 6,697 assorted ammunitions.
“In the month of Jan 24, troops operating in the SS, denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of Two Billion Eight Hundred and Twenty One Million Five Hundred and Three Thousand and Nine Hundred Sixty Two Naira (N2,821,503,962.00) only.”
Breakdown for the month of January is as follows: 237 AK47 rifles, 26 locally fabricated guns, 18 pump action guns, 55 dane guns, 6,807 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 421 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 16 rounds of 9mm and 506 live cartridges. Others are 1,832,150 litres of stolen crude oil, 523,799 litres of illegally refined AGO, 16,716 litres of DPK and 5,200 litres of PMS amongst other item.
While, during the week under review. troops arrested 26 perpetrators of oil theft . In the South South troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of Two Hundred and Twenty Million Eight Hundred and Thirty Nine Thousand and Five Hundred Naira (N220,839,500.00) only.
Additionally, troops also this week recovered 208 assorted weapons and 5,332 assorted ammunition as follows: 95 AK47 rifles, one assault rifle, 39 locally fabricated guns, 34 dane guns, 14 pump action guns, 4 fabricated pistol, 3 fabricated pump action gun, one fabricated revolver pistol, 2 fabricated double barrel gun and locally fabricated arty pieces.
Others are: 3,830 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 640 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 265 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 98 rounds of 7.62 x 51mm ammo, 62 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammo, 64 rounds of 9mm ammo, 359 live cartridges, 8 magazines, 6 mobile phones and the sum of N383,200.00 amongst other items.
Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 9 dugout pits, 19 boats, 21 storage tanks and 8 vehicles. Other items recovered include 35 cooking ovens, 3 pump machines and 18 illegal refining sites. Troops recovered 157,300 litres of stolen crude oil, 23,750 litres of illegally refined AGO and 1,050 litres of DPK.
Buba said “that given all stated above, and because our security challenges are mostly self inflicted , (in the sense that It is not an external aggression) It is pertinent to urge citizens to rise up to the challenge. It is time to stop the bleeding in order for healing to commence.”
Stating that unity is key to our victory in over coming the security challenges confronting us as a nation, General Buba said “militaries don’t go to war, rather it is nations that go to war.”
Therefore, he urged all segments of society to take example from our gallant troops in the front lines fighting to achieve the goal of liquidating terrorists and insurgents across the country in order to restore peace and security.
According to him,these men and women, are from all the nooks and cranny of our country, and act shoulder to shoulder as a united force to achieve a common cause of destroying camps of violence in the country.
He said it is time for citizens to close ranks with the military to win this war adding that Citizens are critical in war, and must therefore be quick to realize their role in the ongoing war and act accordingly.