By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Armed forces of Nigeria on Thursday said it killed 2,351 terrorists during the period Jan – Mar 2024, while it arrested 2,308 and rescued 1,241 kidnapped hostages.
This was disclosed by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba at the first Quarter 2024 Press briefing which covers between January and March, 2024.
He said terrorist commanders killed include; Abu Bilal Minuki (aka Abubakar Mainok) – Head of Is-Al Furqan Province (ISGS and ISWAP) and Haruna Isiya Boderi. He was a notorious terrorists who operated along Birnin Gwari Forest in Kaduna State as well as the Abuja Kaduna Highway. He was killed by troops in 21 Feb 24.
Others are: Kachallah Damina (Neutralised in Mar 24, by troops. He was neutralised alongside over 50 combatants), Kachallah Alhaji Dayi, Kachallah Idi (Namaidaro), Kachallah Kabiru (Doka), Kachallah Azarailu (Farin-Ruwa), Kachallah Balejo,Ubangida, Alhaji Baldu among several others.
General Buba assured that those that are around today, are just walking corpses because sooner that later they will meet their Waterloo.
He noted that the successes where achieved through synchronized strikes between the ground and air forces on terrorist enclaves. He added that acquisition of vital targets, fighter jets are scrambled to carry out major bombarding raids on significant terrorist enclaves.
He also credited the achievement to ground troops, as they equally conducted ambushes, raids, fighting patrols and offensive actions against the terrorist.
General Buba also revealed that, troops recovered 2,847 weapons, 58,492 ammunitions and denied the oil theft of an estimated sum over N20 bn (N20,331,713,910.00) only. He stressed that the breakdown for the period includes and is not limited to the following: 1,497 AK47 rifles, 33,878 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 12,698 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 948 assorted arms and 5,520 assorted ammo.
Others are 21,573,310 litres of stolen crude oil, 2,723,430 litres of illegally refined AGO, 53,300 litres of DPK and 52,730 litres of PMS amongst other item.
General Buba also revealed that in the first quarter of 2024 at North East Joint Task Force Operation Hadin Kai, about 2, 703 Boko Haram/ISWAP Terrorists surrendered to Nigerian military troops.
