By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Thursday disclosed that troops in different theater of operations across the country killed 1,166 terrorists and arrested 1,096 suspected terrorists and other criminal elements in the month of August.
Director Defence Media Operations Major General Edward Buba who disclosed this while briefing journalists in Abuja, said some of those killed were terrorists’ leaders.
He said the troops rescued 721 kidnapped hostages.
The terrorists leaders and commanders killed in North East include Munir Arika, Sani Dilla (aka Dan Hausawan Jibilarram), Ameer Modu, Dan Fulani Fari Fari, Bakoura Araina Chikin, Dungusu, Abu Darda and Abu Rijab, the Director said.
“While those killed in the North West include; Kachalla Dan Ali Garin Fadama, Kachalla Dan Mani Na Inna, Kachalla Basiru Zakariyya, Sani Baka Tsine, Inusa Zangon Kuzi, Ibrahim, Tukur and Kamilu Buzaru, among others.
General Buba said troops have significantly dismantle these terror groups in the North East, where they are a diminishing but still a active threat.
“The motivation of the terrorist is getting lower and lower in the North East, which is leading to the mass surrending recorded.
“Troops aim at replicating same in other theatres of Operation in order to bring peace and safety to citizens,” he said.
He added that troops are also intensifying operations in the North West, North Central, South East and South South to defeat and dismantle the threats in these areas.
The defence spokesperson further disclosed that troops recovered 391 weapons, 15,234 ammunitions from criminal elements in the month of August.
According to him, the breakdown of recoveries in the month of August includes: “208 AK47 rifles, 54 locally fabricated guns, 53 dane guns, 36 pump action guns, 10,452 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 1,991 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 293 cartridges, 42 assorted arms and 2,498 assorted ammunitions.
“Others are 5,047,150 litres of stolen crude oil, 1,152,500 litres of illegally refined AGO, 320 litres of DPK and 28,500 litres of PMS amongst other item.”
The military is on high alert and ever ready to protect the country from further terrorist aggression.
“We urge citizens to understand that this war is not a quick fix, but a long and enduring military operation.
”It is certain that at the end, these terrorists will be destroyed and our nation will be safe and peaceful again,” he said.
