Chuks Oyema-Aziken
About 1,332 terrorists have surrendered to troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai in North Eastern Nigeria.
Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Musa Danmadami disclosed this during the Bi-Weekly News briefing in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital saying that the briefing covered the period of 23rd February to 9th of March, 2023.
General Danmadami said that “the surrendered terrorists and their family members comprising 222 adult males, 411 adult females and 699 children surrendered to troops at different locations within the theatre of Operations”.
The Director said that all recovered items, rescued civilians, and apprehended suspects have been handed over to the appropriate authority for further action while surrendered terrorists and members of their families were being profiled for further action.
According to him, the air component of Operation HADIN KAI conducted several air interdiction operations against terrorist enclaves and logistics in support of ground operations.
Notably, intelligent report revealed terrorist converging with plans to attack some locations in Kauwa, Gamboru and Monguno in Borno State in a bid to disrupt the 2023 general elections.
Consequently, “series of air interdiction operations was carried out at these identified locations. Feedback revealed that the airstrike dealt with terrorists, as several terrorists were neutralized with their logistics destroyed”, he said.
The Director noted that troops of Operation DELTA SAFE in the conduct of Operation OCTOPUS GRIP and other operations discovered and destroyed 74 illegal refining sites, 341 storage tanks, 31 wooden boats, 260 ovens and 15 dugout pits in the South South of the country.
He said that “troops also recovered 209,000 litres of crude oil, 145,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, 4,500 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, 27 variety of weapons, 468 assorted ammunition, 2 speed boats, 2 outboard engine, 8 vehicles and 4 motorcycles while a total of 71 criminals were arrested within the weeks in focus”.
According to him, all recovered items and apprehended suspects have been handed over to the appropriate authority for further action
He said that “the sum of One Hundred Seventy Three Million, Nine Hundred and Eighty Five Thousand Six Hundred and Fifty Naira (N173,985,650.00) only were denied oil thieves”.
According to him, operations were conducted at the creeks, waterways, high sea, towns and cities of Bayelsa, Delta, River State, Cross River and Akwa Ibom state respectively, which yielded appreciable results.
