The Defence Headquarters says troops eliminated 187 terrorists, apprehended 183 others and rescued 109 kidnapped hostages in different operations across the country in one week.

DHQ spokesman Edward Buba announced this on Thursday in Abuja while briefing journalists on military operations across the country.

Mr Buba said the troops recovered 128 assorted weapons and 3,300 assorted ammunition comprising 80 AK-47 rifles and 15 locally fabricated guns. He said the troops also covered 1,941 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo and 729 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, among others.

Mr Buba said that in the North-East, the troops of Operation Hadin Kai conducted successful offensive operations in the Dikwa, Gwoza, Bama, Kukawa, Chibok, Damboa, Kaga, Gamboru-Ngala and Konduga areas of Borno.

He said troops killed 97 terrorists, arrested 45 suspects and rescued 21 kidnapped hostages, as well as recovered 47 AK-47 rifles and 15 fabricated rifles, among others.

According to him, a total of 832 terrorists, comprising 88 adult males, 256 adult females and 488 children, surrendered between July 3 and July 9 within the theatre of operations.

”In the North-Central, the troops of Operation Safe Haven conducted successful fighting patrols, raids, counter and anti-kidnapping operations in Plateau and Kaduna states. Troops neutralised 11 insurgents, arrested 29 violent extremists and rescued 20 kidnapped hostages as well as a recovered cache of arms and ammunition,” he said.

He also said that troops of Operation Whirl Stroke conducted successful offensive operations and arrested suspected violent extremists in Karu LGAs of Nasarawa State and AMAC Abuja.

He said the troops conducted operations in Wukari, Lau, Ussa and Sardauna LGAs of Taraba as well as Gwer East LGA of Benue.

”Overall, troops of Operation Whirl Stroke neutralised four terrorists, arrested 21 violent extremists and rescued 11 kidnapped hostages. Troops recovered one AK-47 rifle, one Dane gun, one locally made pistol, 62 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 12 rounds of 9mm ammo, nine empty cases of 7.62mm special, 26 empty cases of cartridges, one motorcycle amongst others,’’ he said.

In the North-West, Buba said the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji neutralised 47 terrorists, arrested 17 terrorists and rescued 33 kidnapped hostages. He said the troops recovered one PKT gun, 14 AK-47 rifles, five Dane guns, 429 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 195 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 12 magazines, and 24 motorcycles, among others.

Under Operation Whirl Punch, Mr Buba said the troops neutralised 21 terrorists, arrested 23 suspects and rescued 22 kidnapped hostages in one week.

According to him, troops recovered nine AK-47 rifles, four Dane guns, five magazines, 261 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, and 91 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, amongst others.

He added that in the South-South, troops of Operation Delta Safe had maintained momentum against the activities of crude oil thieves, destroying several illegal refining sites and recovering stolen products.

He said the troops conducted offensive operations and arrested violent extremists in Ovia South-West Local Government Area in Edo as well as Ikono, Ika and Abak LGAs in Akwa Ibom.

He said the troops recovered 1.1 million litres of stolen crude oil, 213,539 litres of illegally refined AGO and 1,230 litres of petrol. According to him, troops discovered and destroyed 18 dugout pits, 30 boats, 49 storage tanks, 66 cooking ovens, four drums, five speedboats, 15 vehicles and 57 illegal refining sites.

”Troops apprehended 43 suspected oil thieves and other violent extremists as well as recovered 44 assorted ammo’,” he said.

In the South-East, Mr Buba said the troops of Operation UDO KA killed four terrorists, arrested eight violent extremists and rescued two kidnapped hostages.

Accordinmg to him, troops recovered one AK-47 rifle, one pump action gun, one locally fabricated pistol, one locally made double-barrelled gun, 191 rounds of 5.55m ammo, and two primed IED materials.

In the South-West, he said troops of Operation AWATSE killed three terrorists and arrested 10 violent extremists, as well as recovered a cache of arms and ammunition.

According to him, all recovered items, arrested suspects and rescued hostages were handed over to the relevant authority for further action. 

(NAN)