The Defence Headquarters said the troops of the armed forces have, in the last one week, neutralised at least 253 terrorists, apprehended 172 suspects and rescued 206 kidnapped hostages.

The DHQ spokesperson, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba made this known in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

Mr Buba said the troops also apprehended 15 perpetrators of oil theft and denied oil thieves an estimated sum of N1.07 billion in the Niger Delta during the week.

He said troops recovered 251 assorted weapons and 4,113 ammunition comprising one GPMG, 118 AK47 rifles, 54 locally fabricated guns, 47 Dane guns, six pump action guns, four IED, 60mm mortar tube, two AK butts, MRAP and one bandolier.

According to him, others are 2,047 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 942 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 98 rounds of 9mm ammo, 342 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm, 334 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm, 252 rounds of 7.62 x 51mm, and 110 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ball.

”Recovered items include 299 live cartridges, 32 magazines, two baofeng radios, 2 KYD radios, eight vehicles, 41 motorcycles, 27 bicycles, 41 mobile phones and N74.7 million, amongst other items.

”Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 22 dugout pits, 37 boats, 70 drums, four receivers, four reservoirs and 29 storage tanks.

”Other items include 215 cooking ovens, 13 vehicles, four wheelbarrows, one tricycle, one motorcycle, five mobile phones, one speedboat, two KYD radios, two outboard engines and 75 illegal refining sites.

”Troops also recovered 1.04 million litres of stolen crude oil and 205,550 litres of illegally refined AGO,” Mr Buba explained.

Mr Buba said the operations across the country were a testament to the military’s tireless effort to prevent anarchy, unrest and national security destabilisation.

He urged citizens to extend utmost respect to the armed forces rather than degrade the institution, saying it would be counterproductive and amount to self-sabotage to do otherwise.

According to him, the military remains steadfast as an element of national power utilised to protect and project the nation’s national interest. 

(NAN)