The Nigerian Military on Friday vowed that they will “banish and defeat terrorism from the nation rather than bow to it,” .
They says troops are maintaining the momentum in neutralizing the terrorist leaders and commanders and “are going to continue to be very kinetic and strong against the terrorist in ongoing counter terrorism and counter insurgency operations across the country,”
The Director Defence Media Operations Major General Edward Buba stated this in a statement on Friday while highlighting the activities of the military within the week.
“indeed, we remain focused in fighting for the basic safety and security of citizens of this country,” he said.
The Director disclosed that during the week under review troops neutralised 216 terrorists and arrested 332 persons. Troops also arrested 24 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 161 kidnapped hostages.
In the South South Zone troops denied the oil theft of an estimated sum of Four Hundred and Forty Eight Million Five Hundred Fifty Seven Thousand Five Hundred and Ninty Naira (N448,557,590.00) only.
Furthermore, troops recovered 234 assorted weapons and 5,994 assorted ammunition. The breakdown as follows: 131 AK47 rifles, 3 PKT guns, one M16 rifle, 43 locally fabricated gun, 21 dane guns, one 105mm gun, 2 automatic pump action guns, 18 locally fabricated pistols, 8 single barrel guns, 2 automatic pump action guns, one LG4 bomb, one MG skeleton, 3 explosive IED case, one MOWAG APC, one 81mm mortar tripod stand
Others are: 3,120 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 2,195 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 211 rounds of 9mm ammo, 99 rounds of 7.62 x 25mm ammo, 467 live cartridges, one rifle butt, 15 magazines, 2 baofeng radios, 10 vehicles, 38 motorcycles, 43 mobile phones and the sum of N871,500.00 amongst other items.
Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 97 dugout pits, 6 boats, 20 storage tanks, 2 receivers, 16 drums and 7 vehicles. Other items recovered includes 174 cooking ovens, one pumping machine and 8 illegal refining sites. Troops recovered 533,127 litres of stolen crude oil and 24,520 litres of illegally refined AGO., he added.
JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION HADARIN DAJI (NORTH WEST)
The troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI recorded the following during the period under review; conducted offensive operations and arrested suspected terrorists collaborators in Faskari and Danmusa LGAs of Katsina State as well as Maru LGA of Zamfara State.
- Details are as follows;
a. Offensive Operations.
(1) On 16 April 2024, troops in separate operations conducted offensive operations and made contact with terrorists in Faskari and Maru LGAs of Zamfara State. Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 3 terrorists and arrested one suspected terrorist collaborator identifed as Abubakar Likita age 50. Troops also recovered 3 dane guns, jerricans of PMS and the sum of N568,000.00 only.
(2) Between 17 and 23 April 2024, troops in separate conducted offensive operations and made contact with terrorists in Danmusa, Batsari, Safana, Faskari and Kankara LGAs of Katsina State as well as Rogo LGA of Kano State. Troops also conducted operations in Giwa, Igabi and Sabon Birni LGAs of Kaduna State. Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 28 terrorists and rescued 11 kidnapped hostages. Troops also recovered 17 AK47 rifles, 6 fabricated rifles, 3 dane guns, 2 single barrel guns, 4 fabricated pistols, 432 rounds of 7.62mm special, 301 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 97 rounds of 9mm ammo, 110 live cartridges, one rifle butt, 2 baofeng radios, 8 motorcycles, 4 mobile phones and military accoutrements amongst others.
b. Arrest Operations.
(1) On 17 April 2024, troops while on patrol intercepted and arrested 2 suspected terrorists collaborators identified as Akilu Lawal 25 yrs and Lawal Yar Kariya 40 yrs in Danmusa LGA of Katsina State.
(2) Between 17 and 21 April 2024, troops in separate operations conducted fighting patrols in Danmusa and Gwadabawa LGAs of Katsina and Sokoto States as well as Giwa LGA of Kaduna State. During the operations, troops arrested 8 suspected terrorists and recovered 2 fabricated pistols, 34 live cartridges, empty cases of 7.62mm special ammo, 2 motorcycles, 5 mobile phones and the sum of 189,000.00 only amongst others.
b. Counter/anti -kidnapping operations.
(1) On 22 and 23 April 2024, troops in separate operations conducted counter/anti kidnapping operations and made contact with terrorists in Tsafe, Talata Mafara and Zurmi LGAs of Zamfara State as well as Tangaza and Goronyo LGAs of Sokoto State respectively. Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 15 terrorists, arrested 6 and rescued 8 kidnapped hostages. Troops also recovered 4 AK47 rifles, 7 fabricated rifles, 2 dane guns, 114 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 76 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 6 motorcycles and 4 mobile phones amongst others.
(2) On 25 April 2024, troops in conjunction with DSS operatives while on counter/anti kidnapping operations responded to distress call on movement of terrorists and made contact in Isa LGA of Sokoto State. Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 7 terrorists and recovered 7 AK47 rifles, 150 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 2 mobile phones and 4 cutlasses.
c. Ambush Operation. On 24 April 2024, troops in conjunction with hybrid forces while conducting offensive operations ambushed terrorists in Gusau LGA of Zamfara State. Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 32 terrorists including a terrorists kingpin identified as Shuaibu Danlukutus. Troops also recovered 25 AK47 rifles, 7 dane guns, 3 fabricated pistols, 432 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 245 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 6 motorcycles and 2 mobile phones.
- Air Interdiction. On 15 and 19 April 2024, the air component of Operation HADARIN DAJI in multiple passes conducted air interdiction following report and confirmatory ISR at terrorists kingpins Babaru’s and Kamilu Buzaru’s hideouts in Kankara and Danmusa LGAs of Katsina State. The terrorists kingpins were sighted hibernating at respective locations with their cronies mobilizing associates for planned attacked around the locations. Consequently, the locations were acquired and attacked with rockets and bombs. Battle Damage Assessment revealed that several terrorists were neutralized with their structures and logistics destroyed.
- Additionally, on 20 April 2024, intelligence revealed that terrorists kingpins Ado Ailero and Kamilu Buzaru with cronies were attending a naming ceremony at a populace North of Bichi in Danmusa LGA of Katsina State. On sighting air platform, the terrorists fled. The air component acquired and attacked fleeing terrorists on motorcycles North and South of the location.
SUMMARY
- Overall, troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI neutralized 116 terrorists, arrested 42 terrorists and rescued 52 kidnapped hostages, Troops recovered 67 AK47 rifles, 14 fabricated guns, 10 fabricated pistols, 2 single barrel guns, 8 dane guns, 1,310 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 732 rounds of 7.62mm