By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Thursday said troops killed 99 terrorists, arrested 198 and 49 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 139 kidnapped hostages in different operations across the country.
Major General Edward Buba, the Director Defence Media Operations (DDMO) disclosed this at a bi-weekly briefing of the Ongoing Military Operational Activities by the Armed Forces of Nigeria as of 23 November 2023 in Abuja.
The DDMO restated that victory in the war against terrorist, insurgent, violent extremists and others creating insecurity is non-negotiable.
He said the armed forces continue to eliminate and destroy large number of terrorist infrastructure and continue to degrade their military capability in the North West (NE), North West (NW), North Central (NC), South West (SW), South East (SE) and South South (SS) zones of the country.
According to him, military war objective is to destroy the groups, decapitate them, and erode their ability to rage terror attacks against citizens.
Speaking on the SE, Maj. Gen Buba said, troops conducted offensive actions against the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network (IPOB/ESN) as well as other miscreants engaged in diverse violent activities, while in the SS Zone, troops curtailed the sabotage of the nation’s oil infrastructure and theft of crude oil.
“The war against terrorist, insurgent, violent extremists and others creating insecurity in the country wages on, and the military is progressing towards it goal of total destruction of these elements. In this war, the military is learning every day how to better deal with the threat posed by these groups.
“We are maximizing the substantial advantage that we have such as air superiority and aerial cover for the ground forces. The joint operational environment is witnessing communication and coordination of fires between ground and aerial assets to decimate the enemy on the ground.
“In the SS, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of One Billion Eighteen Million Four Hundred and Eighty Three Thousand Nine Hundred Naira (N1,018,483,900.00) only. Furthermore, troops recovered 141 assorted weapons and 1,463 assorted ammunition.
“The breakdown are as follows: one GPMG, one GT3 rifle, one assault rifle, 49 AK47 rifles, one josef magnum pump action gun, one double barrel gun, 2 single barrel guns, 9 locally made pistols, 13 dane guns, one hand grenade, 7 locally made rifles, 3 RPG chargers, 2 locally made hand grenades.
“Others are: 347 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 966 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 25 rounds of 9mm ammo, 58 live cartridges, 50 rounds of empty cases of 7.62mm special ammo, 30 magazines, 27 vehicles, 47 mobile phones, 34 motorcycles and sum of N717,580.00 amongst other items.
“Troops in the Niger Delta area destroyed 245 dugout pits, 31 boats, 69 storage tanks, 23 vehicles, 162 cooking ovens, one pumping machine, 3 outboard engine, one tricycle and 50 illegal refining sites. Troops recovered 578,900 litres of stolen crude oil, 454,330 litres of illegally refined AGO and 10,000 litres of DPK.
“Going by the outcome of ongoing operations across the country. The military is ready, capable and eager to continue its mission of securing the country by the destruction of terrorist, extremist and insurgents.
“Given that there are several lines of operation in countering insurgency. It is pertinent to state that combat operations against these insurgents, terrorists and extremists remains one line of action. It is for this reason that the armed forces is calling on Nigerians for support, particularly in the area of public opinion. We have to show support for our troops to win this war.
“The gallant men and women of the armed forces continue to put themselves in harms way to ensure the safety and security of citizens. We have to exhibite patriotism and encourage them in our public discuss.
“The leadership of the armed forces under the Chief of Defence Staff, General CG Musa, is open to workable ideas to improve ongoing operations. Nigeria belongs to us all and therefore victory in this war, is nonnegotiable. Together, we not just win, but we have dominion” he noted.
Similarly, Maj Gen Buba mentioned that the Joint Task Force Operation Hadin in the North East arrested suspected BH/ISWAP terrorists collaborators in Gujba LGA of Yobe State.
Troops conducted fighting patrols in Askira Uba, Bama, Abadam and Gujba LGAs of Borno and Yobe State respectively, BH/ISWAP terrorists ambushed terrorists in Gwoza and Damboa LGAs of Borno State.
Troops also discovered Unexploded Ordinance and IED in Mobbar and Biu LGAs of Borno State.
Additionally, troops arrested suspected BH/ISWAP terrorists spy and a gunrunner in Damaturu and Kwaya Kusar LGAs of Yobe and Borno States respectively. Troops further conducted offensive operations in Damboa
