By Chuks Oyema-Aziken and Felix Khanoba
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Thursday revealed that troops eliminated 715 terrorists across the country in April.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj -Gen. Edward Buba, who made this known at a media briefing in Abuja, said 146 terrorists were also arrested while 465 kidnapped hostages were rescued in the same month.
Maj.-Gen. Buba said troops recovered 937 assorted weapons, 23,034 assorted ammunitions and stolen products worth over N2,572,397,190.00 during the period.
The military spokesman gave a breakdown of recovered weapons as 495 AK-47 rifles, 190 locally fabricated guns, 43 pump action guns, 151 dane guns, 11,549 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo; 6,722 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 511 rounds of 9mm and 941 live cartridges.
Others include 2,563,335 litres of stolen crude oil, 254,620 litres of illegally refined AGO, 1,050 litres of DPK and 8,000 litres of PMS amongst other item.
The Director also stressed that troops’ commitment to defeat the terrorist groups is non-negotiable as it would deny them the opportunity to terrorize or hurt citizens of this country.
Giving a further breakdown of the operations across the country, General Buba said troops in the month under review conducted onslaughts ranging from ambushes, raids, fighting patrols and other covert operations.
“Tactically, whenever there is a clash between troops and terrorist on the ground, troops clearly win in the fire fight, though sadly in certain operations, casualties are sustained.
“However, each and every engagement ends with troops victory, with several dead or surrendered terrorist in every location,” Buba said.
He said the air component carried out air offensives on identified terrorist leaders’ enclaves including that of terrorist Nasanda and his loyalist in Zurmi LGA of Katsina State.
The defence spokesman disclosed that three senior terrorist commanders – Ali Dawud, Bakura Fallujah and Mallam Ari were all killed in air strikes carried out on 13 April 2024 at Kolleram Village along Lake Chad.
“Also on 15 April 2024, air strike destroyed enclave of terrorist commander, Babaru in Kankara LGA of Katsina State.
“Similarly, on 19 April 24, the terrorist hideout belonging to a senior terrorist commander, Kamilu Buzaru in Danmusa LGA of Katsina State was decimated.
” Furthermore, air strike on 20 April 2024, neutralised a gathering of senior terrorist commander, Ado Ailero and Kamilu Buzaru in Danmusa LGA of Katsina State.
“Other terrorist commanders engaged within the period under review include Mallam Yadee at Mariga LGA of Niger State, Abdullahi Nasanda and Mallam Tukur in Zurmi and Gusau LGAs of Zamfara State.
“The enclave of Mallam Umar and several other commanders located in the Alawa Forest area of Niger State and Bello Turji’s Camp in Kagara Forest located between Shinkafi in Zamfara and Isa LGA in Sokoto were also dislodged.
“All the surviving terrorist Commanders and leaders are walking corpses as we would get them, sooner than later.
“Overall, the armed forces is building and maintaining the momentum against the terrorists and their cohorts across the country,” he said.
In another development, General Buba said two personnel of the Nigerian Army are facing a court martial in respect of the bombing incident at Tudun Biri in Kaduna State.
He said that the military would punish personnel found culpable in the Dec. 3 incident, adding that investigation was conducted and concluded with a resolve to ensure that the personnel involved were brought to book and justice served for the victims.
“The military has conducted a painstaking investigation into the incident and has initiated disciplinary action against those culpable.
“Accordingly, the affected personnel are to face a court martial for acts of omission or commission with respect to the incident.
“I am however constrained not to speak much about the incident as it would be adjudged as prejudicial being a case before court martial.
“The military will take extra precautions in the future to ensure that non combatants are safe,” he added.
