The director of Media operations, Edward Buba, has confirmed the killing of 147 terrorists by the Nigerian troops in the country in the past week in a statement released recently in Abuja.
The statement further disclosed that the troops in the week also arrested a total of 381 suspects and rescued 113 kidnapped victims in different operations around the country.
The statement disclosed that 41 Boko haram terrorists and other members of the Islamic States of West African Province (ISWAP), which comprised 28 children, surrendered to troops in Bama, Gwoza, and Dikwa LGAs of the terror-hit Borno state.
The statement further disclosed that 11 terrorists were killed while the troops collected weapons of different kinds during a patrol that led to a fight in Damboa LGA, of Borno State; the Stament confirmed that ten other terrorists were apprehended in the Bama area on August 12 2024.
In another operation in Gwoza, the troops ambushed and killed 13 terrorists, while 28 others were killed in Bama. Another operation in Damaturu and Gujba LGAs of Yobe state, as well as Damboa LGA of Borno, led to the death of six other Bokoharam members.
In Bama, Biu, Damboa and Kukawa LGAs of the Borno local government area, the troops were able to arrest 26 suspected terrorists, collaborators, informants and kidnappers.
The troops who conducted several operations in Borno and Yobe LGAs were able to discover some detonated UXOs and Improvised Explosive Devices (IED).
In Plateau state, the troop raided the hideout of suspected extremists, which led to the arrest of 31 suspects; the statement added the troops of Operations Operation Safe Haven neutralized ten insurgents, arrested 78 violent extremists and rescued 16 kidnapped hostages in the state.
The troops under Operation Whirl Stroke in Taraba, Benue and Nasarawa killed seven terrorists, arrested 23 violent extremists and rescued seven kidnapped hostages in the three states.
The troops in the North West recorded a huge success in the states of Katsina, Kaduna and Zamfara state. During the week, the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji killed 30 terrorists, apprehended 21 terrorists and rescued 44 kidnapped.
In the operations across the three states, the statement disclosed that 13 AK47 rifles, one fabricated rifle, 5 Dane guns, 288 rounds of RG55 ammo, 40 rounds of CJ95 ammo, 256 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 101 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, six live cartridges, three magazines, one Baofeng radio, 11 motorcycles, and three mobile phones were recovered by the troops in one week.
The troops in the Federal Capital Capital Territory, Kaduna State Nasarawa State, under Operation Whirl Punch, arrested suspected violent extremists/gunrunners in Lere of Kaduna and Karu LGA of Nasarawa state; the success was also recorded in Gwagwalada Area Council of FCT Abuja. He also disclosed that the troops successfully recovered a total of one AK47 Rifle, one magazine, 1,641 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo and 49 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammo.
In another operation on the 8th of August 2024, the troops in different coordinated operations in arrested 152 suspected violent extremists; the individuals included foreign nationals from Niger and Cameroon; according to the statement, the individuals were detained in Karu LGA of Nasarawa state and Gwagwalada area council of FCT Abuja.
The troops of Operation Delta Safe also recovered 920,800 litres of stolen crude oil, 88,760 litres of illegally refined AGO, and 7,500 litres of petrol in the southeast. The statement added that on the southeast, the troops also discovered and destroyed 15 dugout pits, 17 boats, 62 drums, one receiver, and 27 storage tanks, as well as 84 illegal refining sites.
The troops also successfully killed one terrorist and arrested 23 suspects who have been perceived to be oil thieves and other violent extremists. The troops recovered other weapons of different kinds, amounting to nine. Other items recovered include 10 magazines and 63 assorted ammunition.
The troops in the southeast under Operation Udoka rescued six individuals there, kidnapped and held hostage by criminals, arrested eight violent extremists and killed nine terrorists.
The troops in the southwest of the country who acted under Operation Awatse arrested five violent extremists and recovered four AK47 rifles, one locally fabricated pistol, and 110 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, with other illegal weapons.
The statement concluded the troops had handed over all the suspects arrested for proper actions and the beginning of investigations.
