Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Defence Headquarters said on Thursday that 965 terrorists, their families and 550 children surrendered to troops deployed at different locations in the North-East.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Bernard Onyeuko stated this at the bi-weekly press briefing in Abuja.
The briefing on operational activities of troops and other security agencies conducting operations covered between 20 January – 10 February 22.
In Operation Hadin Kai, he said troops neutralized 120 fighters, arrested 50 of the terrorists, 5 gun trucks, 50 assorted arms and 200 rounds of different calibers of ammunition were captured from the terrorists.
“Additionally, troops rescued 25 abducted civilians. Similarly, a total of 965 terrorists and their families and 550 children surrendered to own troops deployed at different location including: Gamboru, Tumbumma, Kukawa, Baga, Gwoza, Mallam Fotori, Damboa, Kirta Wulgo, Bun Yadi, Gujiba, Madiya all in Borno and Yobe State.
“It is noteworthy to state that out of the 965 terrorists that surrendered within the period under review 104 are from ISWAP Camp that surrendered to own troops at Marte. The surrendered terrorist have been properly documented and handed over to the appropriate authorities for necessary action.
He said Troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI within the last 3 weeks recovered 40 AK-47 rifles, and assorted arms and 340 rounds of different calibres of ammunition, 45 motorcycles and decimations of scores of bandits and 90 rustled livestock.
Similarly, troops of operation SAFE HAVEN within the last 3 weeks arrested 50 criminal elements and rescued 13 kidnapped victims. Also, troops recovered 33 arms and 150 calibers of ammunitions, 450 rustled livestocks among others items of security concern in the course of their operations.
While troops of Operation Whirl Stroke in the last 3 weeks troops rescued 10 kidnapped persons, 8 trucks laden with vandalized railway track sleepers, 3 cars, 7 motorcycles with large quantities of Marijuana impounded in the course of operations, within the same period.
Troops also continued operations against economic saboteurs in the the South-South. “In the last 2 weeks, troop discovered, and destroyed a total of 45 illegal refining sites, 72 cooking ovens, 127 metal storage tanks, 30 dug out pits, 23 cotonou boats, 47 pumping machine, 9 tankers. Consequently, a total of 2,531,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil and and 2,807,000 litres of stolen crude oil were recovered in the course of the operations in addition, 20 coolants, 9 tankers were recovered. Also, 50 galvanized pipes illegally connected to pipelines were excavated, 12 economic saboteurs associated with pipeline vandalization were arrested within the period. All the apprehended criminals and recovered items have been handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action.”
