By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Armed Forces of Nigeria has announced the arrest of a notorious terrorist, Mr Haladu Saleh who has been on security forces wanted list since 2018.
Saleh was arrested by troops who were in search of terrorists in Baga.
Acting director of Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Benard Onyeuko disclosed this on Thursday whIle briefing journalists in Abuja on the operational activities of the Armed Forces.
He said that a total of 966 Boko Haram terrorists elements comprising 203 adult males, 302 adult females and 491 children surrendered to troops at different locations in Borno State in the past two weeks following intensive land and air operations.
He said that, “no fewer than 90 terrorists were neutralized and 21 of others arrested” by troops of Operation HADIN KAI in the North East.
“Also, 98 assorted weapons, including AK-47 rifles and 2,589 rounds of ammunition were recovered within the period” while 7 kidnapped civilians were rescued.
Similarly, along Bukarti – Yusufari road and Maima Hari Checkpoint along Biu – Damboa road, troops intercepted and impounded BHT logistics supplies.
Brig.Gen. Onyeuko said that following credible intelligence on terrorists’ activities in Karawar village, troops raided their enclave and recovered arms and ammunition as well as assorted drugs and arrested 2 drug peddlers named; Mr Ezekiel Karson and Galadima Bako with large quantities of cannabis sativa.
He also said that over 50 terrorists were neutralized and several of their combat equipment, including gun trucks and other weapons destroyed during counter-offensive operations in which “some of our gallant officers and soldiers paid the supreme prize.” According to him, terrorists fighting vehicles as well as large caches of arms and ammunition were recovered by troops during the encounter in a coordinated ground and air attacks that led to the repel of terrorists attack on troops at Askira Uba in Borno State on November 13.
Notably, he added, on 12 November 2021, the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI decimated BHT/ISWAP terrorist elements in offensive air strikes in a location within Baga near the Lake Chad. This was achieved on the heels of credible intelligence and after careful aerial surveillance revealed the gathering of some key members and fighters of the terrorists who arrived the location aboard several boats, he said.
Consequently, the theatre commander dispatched a force package of NAF’s platforms to strike the location in successive turns, which led to the neutralization of scores of their key members and fighters of the insurgents.
In same stride, troops of Operation Delta Safe cumulatively, discovered and immobilized a total of 41 illegal refining sites, 33 ovens, 24 cooking pots/boilers, 8 cooling systems, 32 reservoirs, 43 large dugout pits and 93 storage tanks.
A total of 795,500 litres of illegally refined AGO; 60,000 litres of DPK and 6,395,420 litres of stolen crude were recovered in the course of the operations, he stated. Brig Gen. Onyeuko said that 26 criminal elements associated with pipeline vandalism, piracy, illegal oil bunkering and armed robbery were arrested within the period in Delta area.
Also, troops recovered a total of 27 assorted arms and 586 rounds of assorted ammunition in the course of the operations.
