The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) reported that in the past week, troops have eliminated 187 terrorists, captured 183, and rescued 109 hostages in various operations nationwide.
Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, revealed this in Abuja on Thursday during a press briefing about the military’s activities across the country.
According to Buba, the troops seized 128 assorted weapons and 3,300 rounds of ammunition, including 80 AK-47 rifles and 15 locally made guns. They also recovered 1,941 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo and 729 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammo, among others.
In the North East, Operation Hadin Kai troops carried out successful operations in Borno, neutralizing 97 terrorists, arresting 45 suspects, rescuing 21 hostages, and recovering 47 AK-47 rifles and 15 fabricated rifles, among other items. Between July 3 and July 9, 832 terrorists surrendered, including 88 adult males, 256 adult females, and 488 children.
In the North Central, Operation Safe Haven troops conducted patrols, raids, and counter/anti-kidnapping operations in Plateau and Kaduna States, neutralizing 11 insurgents, arresting 29 extremists, rescuing 20 hostages, and recovering arms and ammunition.
Operation Whirl Stroke troops also had successful operations, arresting violent extremists in Nasarawa State and AMAC Abuja, and conducting operations in various Local Government Areas in Taraba and Benue. They neutralized four terrorists, arrested 21 extremists, and rescued 11 hostages, recovering various weapons and ammunition.
In the North West, Operation Hadarin Daji troops neutralized 47 terrorists, arrested 17, and rescued 33 hostages, recovering weapons and ammunition. Operation Whirl Punch troops neutralized 21 terrorists, arrested 23 suspects, and rescued 22 hostages in one week, recovering additional weapons and ammunition.
In the South-South, Operation Delta Safe troops continued their offensive against crude oil thieves, destroying illegal refining sites and recovering stolen products. They arrested violent extremists in various Local Government Areas in Edo and Akwa Ibom, recovering over a million liters of stolen crude oil, other refined products, and various equipment, and apprehending 43 suspected oil thieves and extremists.
In the South East, Operation UDO KA troops neutralized four terrorists, arrested eight extremists, and rescued two hostages, recovering various weapons and ammunition. In the South West, Operation AWATSE troops neutralized three terrorists, arrested 10 extremists, and recovered a cache of arms and ammunition.
All recovered items, arrested suspects, and rescued hostages were handed over to the relevant authorities for further action.