By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
Troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria have neutralized at least 39 terrorists and arrested 157 others in the last two weeks.
Director of Defence Media Operations (DMO), Major General Edward Buba, disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday while briefing Defence Correspondents on the on-going military operations, as he stressed that the focus of the military was to conduct its operations in support of national security interests
Also, during the week leading to 31 August 2023, the military arrested 16 perpetrators of oil theft, and denied oil theft of the sum of N765,863,000.00, just as the troops recovered 55 assorted weapons and 96 assorted ammunition and the cash sum of N881,700.
He said weapons recovered include 12 AK47 rifles, one GPMG, one HK21 gun, one FN rifle loaded with 5 rounds of NATO ammo, 2 Dane guns, 3 fabricated rifles, one fabricated pistol, 3 locally made pistols, 11 AK47 magazines, 71 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 22 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 2 rounds of 9mm ammo, one cartridge, one bandolier, 7 rounds 7.62mm special empty cases, 24 motorcycles, 13 mobile phones and , 10 bicycles.
According to Major General Buba, troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 71 dugout pits, 36 boats, 83 storage tanks, 5 vehicles, 4 motorcycles, 58 cooking ovens, 5 pumping machines, 3 generators, 3 speedboats and 34 illegal refining sites. Also, troops recovered 569,400 liters of stolen crude oil, 486,000 liters of illegally refined AGO and 59,500 liters of PMS.
He said the Troops of Operation HADIN KAI ambushed and arrested BH/ISWAP terrorists in Gwoza and Tarmuwa LGAs of Borno and Yobe States respectfully, adding that the troops’ offensive led to the surrender of some BH/ISWAP terrorist combatants at Gwoza LGAs of Borno State and resulted in eliminated terrorists, rescued kidnapped hostages, recovery of arms and ammunitions.
While restating the commitment of the Armed Forces to continue to work with supportive groups to defeat any group undermining security and safety in the country, major-General Buba said, “the military will continue to pursue aggressive military operations against violent extremist groups seeking to undermine the security of the country and conduct violence against the people.
“Accordingly, the armed forces remains focused on its core mission and would continually make adjustments along the way to better protect citizens, while isolating and annihilating those groups constituting a security nuisance to the country.”
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