By TOM CHIAHEMEN, Abuja –
In their sustained efforts aimed at addressing the various security challenges across the country, troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies neutralized a total of 71 Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists and other criminal elements, arrested 99 others and recovered 40 AK47 rifles between April 20 and May 4, 2023.
The troops also discovered and destroyed 41 illegal refining sites, 156 cooking ovens, 189 storage tanks, 12 dugout pits and 15 wooden boats, as well as 1,060,000 litres of crude oil, 13,500 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, and 8,500 litres of Premium Motor Spirit in the Niger Delta, with a total value of N286,277,650.00.
Director, Defence Media Operations (DMO), Major General Musa Danmadami, disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday during the fortnightly briefing on troops activities and operational successes being recorded in the various operational theaters within the 6 geo-political zones of the country.
He noted that in the past 2 weeks, both kinetic and non-kinetic operations were conducted in the various theatres of operations, with significant results recorded.
In the North East zone, Major General Danmadami said the troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation HADIN KAI sustained and continued to dominate the Joint Area of Operations by conducting operational activities in villages, forest, mountains, towns and cities of Gwoza, Bama, Biu, Kukawa, Monguno, Marte, Damboa, Mobbar and Konduga Local Government Areas of Borno State.
Such activities were also conducted in Michika and Madagali Local Government Areas of Adamawa State as well as Damaturu Local Government Area in Yobe State. Several raids, fighting patrols and ambushes operations, he added.
Cumulatively, he said, the troops recovered “16 AK47 rifles, 15 dane guns, 6 QJC 88 AA guns, 1 QJC 88 barrel, 1 SMG, 2 DSHKAA guns, 2 NSVT AA guns, 1 GMPG, 1 pump action gun, 2 local made double barrel gun, 1 local made short gun, 51 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition, 26 rounds of 12.7 x 108mm, 280 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 16 refilled rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 1 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 74 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 77 rounds of 7.62 x 51mm ammo, 182 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammunition, 15 empty cases of 7.62mm special, 14 empty cases 155mm ammunition, 46 assorted bullets, 4 Improvised Explosive Devices, and 48 AK47 rifles magazines.”
The troops also rescued 131 abducted civilians while a total of 510 Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists and members of their families, comprising 54 adult male, 164 adult female and 292 children surrendered to troops at different locations within the theatre of operations.
Troops in the North Central zone of the country equally sustained their commitment and resilience in the fight against terrorists and other criminal activities aimed at restoring peace and normalcy to the general area of operation, with operational activities conducted at different locations and villages in Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, Niger States as well as FCT.
Consequently, he said, the troops recovered 2 AK47 rifles, 2 locally fabricated pistols, 1 locally made revolver rifle, 1 dane gun, 1 fabricated wooden dummy gun, 1 AK47 rifle butt, 2 AK47 magazines, 58 rounds of 7.62mm special, 3 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 4 cartridges, 3 jack knives, 10 cutlasses, 7 motorcycles, 6 mobile phones and the sum of N1,144,715.00 only. Troops also neutralized 5 terrorists, arrested 10 and rescued 3 abducted civilians.
He further disclosed that the land and air component of Operation HADARIN DAJI in the North West zone of the country also sustained offensive operations on terrorists enclaves, camps and hideouts within the zone by carrying out fighting patrol to villages in Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, Bungudu, Zurmi and Maradum Local Government Areas of Zamfara State as well as Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State and Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State and made contact with terrorists at these various location between 21 – 25 April 2023.
“Cumulatively, within the weeks in review, troops in the North West zone recovered 19 AK47 rifles, 1 LMG, 2 dane gun, 3 GPMG, 3 fabricated pistol, 1 baretta pistol, 1 locally made revolver pistol, 1 double barrel gun, 8 AK47 magazines, 1 PKT magazines, 64 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 3 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 6 AGL bombs, 50 rounds of 7.62mm special, 60 cutlasses, 1 boafeng radio, 2 solar panel, 13 mobile phones, 38 motorcycles, 87 bags of rice, 24 cows, 8 donkeys, 28 camels, 102 goats, 231 sheep, 105 wrapped cannabis, 1,035 tablets of tramadol and the sum of N89,000.00 only,” Major General Danmadami said.
“Troops also neutralized 25 terrorists, arrested 30 terorists informants, 6 terrorists logistics suppliers, 2 gunrunners and rescued 4 kidnapped victims,” he added.
According to him, troops of Joint Task Force Operation DELTA SAFE and other Operations in the South South region of the country continued to sustain the war against oil theft, illegal refineries and other criminal activities in the Niger Delta through aggressive patrols, raids and clearance operation amongst other activities.
Specifically, he said, operations were conducted at the creeks, waterways, high sea, towns and cities of Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers State respectively which yielded appreciable results.
“Consequently, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE in the conduct of Operation OCTOPUS GRIP and other operations discovered and destroyed 41 illegal refining sites, 156 cooking ovens, 189 storage tanks, 12 dugout pits and 15 wooden boats. Troops also recovered 6 vehicles, 1 tricycle, 1,060,000 litres of crude oil, 13,500 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, and 8,500 litres of Premium Motor Spirit while 18 suspected economics saboteurs were arrested,” he disclosed.
In the South East zone of the country, he said, troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation UDO KA, sustained the fight against the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network terrorist group, aimed at restoring peace and normalcy in the zone, adding that within the weeks in review, troops in these recovered 3 AK47 rifles, 49 pump action guns, 6 dane guns, 4 AK47 rifle magazines, 75 rounds of 7.62mm special, 3,371 live cartridges, 1 knife, 1 axe and 1 hammer. Other items include 1 military jungle hat, 2 baofeng radios, 2 CCTV cameras, 3 mobile phones, 8 motorcycles, and substance suspected to be cannabis.
“Troops also neutralized 1 Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network terrorist and arrested 8,” he said.
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