By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Defence Headquarters on Thursday said troops killed 1,937 terrorists, arrested 2,782 suspects and rescued 1,854 kidnapped hostages in the third quarter of the year.
This was disclosed by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba during the quarterly media briefing on the ongoing military operations from July to September at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja
He said further that 65 terrorist senior leaders of terrorist groups were killed in the third quarter of this year.
General Buba said troops offensive actions culminated in the neutralization of several notable terrorist leaders, commanders and combatants across all theatres of operations.
These include; Munzir Arika, Sani Dilla (Dan Hausawan Jubillaram), Ameer Modu, Matawal Bitrus, Thomas Benedict, Mohammed Sani, Rimamy (aka Omo), Terkimbi Injoko and Jacob Uzege, Ibn Kasir.
Others are: Kachalla Dan Baleri, Kachallah Halilu (Buzu), Kachalla Dan Ali Garin Fadama, Kachalla Basiru Zakarriya and ofem Emmanuel Igwe among several others.
He also revealed that troops recovered 1,304 weapons, 43,347 ammunitions and denied the oil theft of an estimated sum over N13 Billion (N13,081,605,534.00) only.
Breakdown for the period includes and is not limited to the following: 688 AK47 rifles, 32,945 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo and 9,677 rounds of 7.62mm NATO among others.
Others are 12,143,870 litres of stolen crude oil, 2,623,216 litres of illegally refined AGO, 6,970 litres of DPK and 31,450 litres of PMS amongst other item.
According to General Buba, during the third quarter of the year, troops of OP HADIN ΚΑΙ neutralised 792 terrorist, arrested 606 suspects and rescued 476 kidnapped hostages.
Additionally, troops recorded a total of 7,283 surrendered BH/ISWAP terrorists combatants and their families.
Troops disminished the terrorist military capabilities by recovering 339 AK47 rifles, 58 fabricated rifles 9,653 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo and 3,147 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, among others.
The air component of Operation HADIN KAI in the third quarter of the year conducted air interdictions to several terrorists enclaves. These include: Mandara Mountain, Maradun, Southern Tumbun Fulani among others. The air interdictions conducted killed several terrorist leaders, commanders and combatants as well as destroyed their logistics dumps.
Overall, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN neutralized 122 violent extremist, arrested 513 suspects and rescued 305 kidnap hostages.
Troops equally recovered 48 AK47 rifles, 41 fabricated guns, 52 assorted arms and 9,457 rounds of 7.62mm special among others.
At the Theatre of Operation HADIN KAI, troops neutralized terrorists which include: Rimamy (aka Omo), Terkimbi Injoko, Jacob Uzege, Abdulkadir Yaya, Kingsley, Mathew Tersee, Ali Ibrahim, Yusuf Musa, Usman Umar and Isiah Ioraa, among others.
Additionally, troops arrested gunrunners kingpins such as: Paul Hammeza, Salisu Nasiru, Lomina Bisala, Manuka Sunday and Bulus Ibrahim, among others.
In the third quarter of the year, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE neutralized 109 terrorist, arrested 203 suspects and rescued 210 kidnapped hostages. Terrorists neutralized include: IBN Kasir, Kachalla Dan Baleri, Kachalla Dogo Kwaddi, Lawalli Dodo, Kachalla Naguru Kachalla Hana-Zuwa, Kachalla Adamu, Kachallah Halilu Jimmare (Buzu), Sani Black amongst others.
Troops of Operations HADARIN DAJI neutralized 598 terrorist, arrested 325 suspects and rescued 523 kidnap hostages.
Troops also recovered 162 AK47 rifles, 72 fabricated guns, 39 assorted arms, 4,984 rounds of 7.62mm special, 2,491 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 1,852 assorted ammunitions.
Terrorists killed include: IBN Kasir, Kachalla Dan Baleri, Kachalla Dogo Kwaddi, Lawalli Dodo, Kachalla Naguru Kachalla Hana-Zuwa, Kachalla Adamu, Kachallah Halilu Jimmare (Buzu), Sani Black amongst others.
Air component of Operation HADARIN DAJI conducted air interdiction to several terrorists enclaves/camps within the theatre of Operation.
Troops of Operation WHIRL PUNCH neutralized 217 terrorist, arrested 448 suspects and rescued 217 kidnap hostages.
Troops also recovered 92 AK47 rifles, 28 assorted arms, 5,807 rounds of 7.62mm special, among others
The air component of Operation WHIRL PUNCH conducted air strikes on terrorists several terrorist enclave during the third quarter of the year.
Terrorists neutralized at this theatre include terrorist enclaves at Mariga, Kabago, Alawa Forest, Kwaki forest, East Getamiya, Katarma, Chikun, Kuduru and Giwa among others in Niger and Kaduna States.
Terrorists killed incluse; Kankara, Zurmi, Danmusa, Maradun and Gusau as well as other areas within Katsina and Zamfara States.
Also kingpins including: Kachalla Dan Ali Garin Fadama, Kachalla Dan Mani Na Inna and Kachalla Basiru Zakarriya.
Others are Sani Baka, Inusa Zagon Kuzi, Ibrahim, Kachalla Sani Black, Kachalla Baleri Fakai and Halilu Sabubu, among several others.
Furthermore, troops intercepted and apprehended suspected gunrunner kingpins namely: Alhaji Musa Abdullahi, Mallam Hassan Iliyasu and Hashimu Ahmad among others.
Troops of Operation UDO ΚΑ neutralized 93 terrorist, arrested 240 suspects and rescued 75 kidnap hostages. Troops recovered 20 AK47 rifles, 47 pump action guns, 384 rounds of 7.62mm special, among others.
In the course of operations, troops of Operation UDO KA neutralized 180 combatants, arrested 354 IPOB/ESN criminals and rescued 148 kidnapped hostages.
Additionally, troops recovered 28 AK47 rifles, 44 pump action guns, 58 assorted arms, 3,456 rounds of 7.62mm special, among others.
Troops arrested high profile member of IPOB/ESN such as one Mr Onwuha Onyebuchi at Agwu LGA of Enugu State. He and several others are assisting ongoing investigation.
Troops also neutralized and arrested notorious extremists, gunrunners as well as kidnappers.
These includes Ofem Emmanuel, Ejim Anthony Wisdom, Ogonna Igwe, Joseph Ugochukwu Alli, Chika Opko, Sunday Okpo and Nnena Nkole.
Troops also conducted raid on notorious gunrunner and weapon fabricator’s house identified as Chief Solomon. He is also known as Ogbuefi at Ebum Eburutu in Abi LGA in Cross River State.
General Buba stressed that the ongoing counter terrorism and counter insurgency operations across the country, prioritised the killing of terrorist leadership and the destruction of terror infrastructure.
