By TOM CHIAHEMEN, Abuja –
The heightened activities of troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in the fight against insecurity in the country yielded significant results in the various theatres as no fewer than 420 Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists and armed bandits were neutralized between September 2 and 30, 2021.
Also, a total of 147 assorted weapons, including over 50 Ak-47 rifles, and ammunition, were recovered, while over 100 terrorists, including their collaborators and logistics suppliers, were arrested during the period.
Acting Director of Defence Media Operations (DMO), Brigadier-General Benard Onyeuo, made this known in Abuja on Thursday whiling briefing Defence Correspondents on the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s operational activities.
According to him, in the northern part of the country, troops of Operation HADIN KAI sustained the operational tempo in land and air offensives against terrorists and other criminal elements in the North East theatre.
Brigadier-General Onyeuko noted that significant results were recorded in different locations in the North East in the course of the operations, particularly at Daban Masara, north of Lake Chad in Kukawa LGA of Borno State, from where the criminal elements launch attacks on own troops’ locations and innocent civilians in the area.
“Cumulatively, a total of 85 BHT/ISWAP terrorists were neutralized and 43 terrorists including their collaborators and logistics suppliers were arrested in the course of the various operations. Also, a total of 121 assorted weapons including SMG, HK21 guns, AK-47 and locally-made rifles with magazines, 3,372 rounds of 7.62mm NATO/Special ammunition, locally made pistols and smooth body grenades, RPG-7 bombs as well as 12,250 bags of fertilizers and 178 rustled livestock among several other items were recovered. Furthermore, a total of 2,783 terrorists and their families surrendered within the period under review,” he said.
In the North West Zone of the country, he said the troops operation HADARIN DAJI intensified their offensive operations on bandits’ enclaves and drastically degraded their operational capabilities and denied them freedom of action as well as frustrated movement of arms, ammunition and other illegal items, at the same time-built confidence among locals.
He said the troops, who responded to distress calls on bandits’ activities at different locations in Zamfara, Sokoto and Katsina States with superior firepower troops, successfully neutralized a total of 240 armed bandits and recovered “125 assorted arms including AK-47 and FN riffles and Dane guns as well as 1,166 rounds of 7.62mm special/NATO ammunition, 1,304 livestock and 54 motorcycles among other items were recovered within the period,” in addition to the arrest of 47 armed bandits, informants and bandits’ collaborators.
In the same vein, the Air Component conducted air bombardments on criminal enclaves in different locations in Zamfara State and carried out coordinated offensive air strikes on bandits’ hideouts, from where they launched attacks own troops’ locations and innocent civilians between 22 and 26 September 2021, resulting in the neutralization of no fewer than 53 armed bandits, while several others escaped with varying degree of gunshot wounds.
Continuing, Brigadier-General Onyeuo said the troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE maintained their aggressive postures, while the Air Component dominated the airspace by maintaining surveillance patrols to flush out armed bandits and other criminal elements to create peaceful atmosphere in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba States.
“Security operatives arrested a notorious militia leader named Keffas Aondofa aka Azonto at Jalingo Metropolis in Taraba State. Azonto who took over leadership of the late Gana’s militia gang has been terrorizing and imposing levies on locals in the State and has been on the wanted list of Operation WHIRL STROKE and other security forces. In the course of the operations within the period under review, a total of 15 armed bandits were neutralized, while 23 AK-47 rifles with magazines as well as 66 rounds of 7.62mm special and 39mm ammunition were recovered,” he said.
In Kaduna state, he said Operation THUNDER STRKE/WHIRL PUNCH maintained their highway and fighting patrols to dominate and provide security in major and minor roads as well as deny armed elements freedom of action, resulting in the neutralization of no fewer than 43 armed bandits in the process, just as over 40 armed bandits were neutralized at Fadaman Kanauta in Kidandan forest under Giwa LGA of Kaduna State between 13 and 15 September 2021.
“In addition, troops neutralized 3 armed bandits around Kasamari Bridge along Kaduna – Abuja Highway and recovered 3 AK-47 rifles with magazines and 48 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition,” he said.
In the southern part of the country, he said the Troops of Operation DELTA SAFE continued to sustain the tempo in its anti-illegal oil operations to forestall economic saboteurs in the South-South Zone, adding that some of the operations recorded significant results at different locations in Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta States during which 2,157,000 litres of illegally refined AGO as well as 1,300 tons and 4,538,000 litres of stolen crude oil were intercepted.
While assuring that the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies would not rest on their oars in the fight against criminalities in all parts of the Country, Brigadier-General Onyeuko said the Military High Command was appreciative of the continuous sacrifices of its troops in the various theatres of operation across the Country.
It equally expressed appreciation to the general public and the press community for their continued support and further encourage all to avail the Armed Forces with credible and timely information that will facilitate our proactive engagements across the country.
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