The Nigerian military has reported significant progress in its ongoing operations against terrorism and other criminal activities across the country. In the past week alone, the military neutralized 108 terrorists and rescued 214 kidnapped hostages. This information was disclosed by Major General Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, in a statement released in Abuja.
In addition to eliminating the terrorists, the military also apprehended 204 suspected terrorists and other criminal elements. A wide array of weapons and ammunition were recovered, including 66 assorted weapons and 4,087 rounds of ammunition. The recovered arsenal included heavy weapons such as machine guns (MGs), general-purpose machine guns (GPMGs), rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), and various rifles.
The operations were conducted across multiple regions:
– **North East:** Troops under Operation Hadin Kai neutralized 47 terrorists, arrested 18 suspects, and rescued 130 hostages. Additionally, 622 terrorists, including men, women, and children, surrendered to the military. The air component of the operation conducted a successful strike on a Boko Haram/ISWAP hideout and IED factory in the Mandara Mountains, resulting in the elimination of several terrorists.
– **North Central:** Operations Safe Haven and Whirl Stroke led to the neutralization of 13 insurgents, the apprehension of 57 violent extremists, and the rescue of 36 kidnapped hostages.
– **North West:** Troops under Operation Hadarin Daji neutralized 15 terrorists, arrested 22, and rescued 27 hostages across various states, including Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara. Air strikes targeted key terrorist enclaves, resulting in the destruction of their logistics and structures.
– **South-South:** Under Operation Delta Safe, the military recovered over a million liters of stolen crude oil and large quantities of illegally refined petroleum products. Additionally, troops destroyed numerous illegal refining sites and recovered various weapons and vehicles.
– **South East:** Troops under Operation UDO KA neutralized five terrorists, arrested 12 violent extremists, and rescued four hostages.
All recovered items, arrested suspects, and rescued hostages have been handed over to the relevant authorities for further action. This extensive operation underscores the Nigerian military’s commitment to restoring peace and security across the country.
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