By TOM CHIAHEMEN, Abuja –
The on-going military operations against insurgency have continued to record successes as troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria neutralized 266 terrorists, arrested 463 violent extremists/insurgents and rescued 116 kidnapped hostages in the month of January 2024.
In the same period, troops recovered 447 assorted weapons and 6,697 assorted ammunitions, while denying the oil theft of the estimated sum of N2,821,503,962.00 in the South South region.
The Director, Defence Media Operations (DMO), Major General Edward Buba, who disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday, gave the breakdown of the weapons and ammunition recovered as 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.
He added that the troops operating in the South-South region also recovered 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 amonsgt other items.
According to Major-General Buba, in the last week alone, troops neutralised 105 terrorist and arrested 140 of them.
He added that in the South south, 26 perpetrators of oil theft were arrested and 86 kidnapped hostages rescued, just as troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of N220,839,500.00 during the week under review.
“Additionally, troops recovered 208 assorted weapons and 5,332 assorted ammunitions. The breakdown for the week is 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,” Major General Buba said.
The DMO Director, who was briefing the media at the Defence Headquarters (DGQ), vowed that the armed forces would continue to fulfill its mission of hunting and destroying terrorist and their cohorts across the country in the most professional manner.
“Needless to mention, these terrorists are left with only two choices which is to either be killed die or surrender,” he declared.
He noted that since the beginning of the year, several terrorists and their leaders had 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,” he stated.
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