The Defence Headquarters said on Thursday that troops have neutralized more than 59 terrorists in various operational theaters within the 6 geo-political zones of the Country in the past two weeks.
It said that troops at various theatres of operations in the country captured over 60 terrorists in the last two weeks and recovered more than 34 Ak47 rifles.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Musa Danmadami made this disclosure on Thursday during the bi-weekly press briefing in Abuja.
He said however that citizens and other foreign national resident in the country have nothing to worry about . “You should not to be worried about security alerts issued by United States and some other European countries on Abuja and environs because troops and operatives of other security agencies are in firm control of security situation in Abuja and in the entire country.”
Danmadami who stated this while fielding question about the security alert said that troops and operatives of other security agencies are working on daily bases to keep Abuja and environs safe, therefore, “security alert by foreign countries should not be a thing of worry.”
He explained that “alerts are produced of intelligence, ” which the Department of State Service,DSS, had in the past issued and wondered why Nigerian press preferred to highlight the alarm raised by the Americans instead of the DSS side of the story.
On the operations across the country, Danmadami said that troops also recovered are 1 RPG bomb, 1 GPMG, 2 x 36 hand grenade, 61 rounds of 7.62mm special, 36 refilled 7.62 mm special, 3 AK47 magazines and 3 magazine holders. Others are 6 motorcycles, 7 bicycles, 1 pumping machine, 6 grinding machines.
Others recovery are Nine mobile phones, 6 x 25litres jerrican of PMS, bag of grains, motorcycle accessories, foodstuff, 1 baofeng radio and the sum of N10,660.00 only as well as other sundry items in Borno State by troops of operation HADIN KAI in North East.
The above items were recovered by troops during ambushes, clearance operations, fighting patrols and cordon and search operations at different locations in Bama, Kukawa, Kaga, and Biu Local Government Areas in Borno State as well as Damaturu, Gujba and Geidam Local Government Areas in Yobe States, he added.
“Precisely, on the 20 October 2022, troops in conjunction with Department of State Security personnel and Civilian Joint Task Force made contact with Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists in Buduwa and Banki villages in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State and neutralized 1 terrorist while other fled with gunshot injuries. Also, 1 terrorist surrendered to own troops and handover 1 AK47 rifle, 5 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 1 baofeng radio, 2 mobile phones, 1 camel pack amongst other items.”
“On the same day, 2 suspected Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists were arrested in Damaturu, Yobe State.”
Major General Danmadami said that on October 24, 2022 troops in conjunction with Civilian Joint Task Force at custom Internally Displaced Persons Camp Shuwari town in Maiduguri Local Government Area of Borno State arrested one suspect in possession of 67 Permanent Voter Cards.
The suspect is currently in troops custody for further interrogation. Also, in the same camp, a known terrorist Mr Lawan Yashin who attempted to escape upon sighting troops was neutralized.
Meanwhile, in the last two weeks, “a total of 145 Boko Haram Terrorists and their families comprising 30 adult males, 33 adult females and 82 children surrendered to troops at different locations within the North East theatre of operation”.