DHQ: 28 terrorists killed, 13 arrested in two weeks

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says the troops of the armed forces of Nigeria have killed 28 suspected terrorists in various operations across the country in the past two weeks. 

Edward Buba, director of media operations at the DHQ, spoke on Thursday in Abuja during a bi-weekly press conference.

Buba said troops also arrested 113 suspected insurgents and rescued 82 kidnapped persons during the period.

Giving the breakdown of the figure, Buba said the suspects comprise 92 terrorists, six gunrunners, three kidnappers, six collaborators and seven perpetrators of oil theft.

He said the troops also recovered 22 AK47 rifles, one PKT gun, six pump action guns, four dane guns, one fabricated rifle, one Galil ace rifle, one RGP bomb, one RPG tube and 44 hand grenades.

“Also recovered are 322 rounds of 7.62mm special, 63 rounds of 12.7mm ammo, 12 rounds of 5.6mm ammo, 33 AK47 magazines, one empty case of 7.62mm special and three empty magazines,” NAN quoted Buba as saying.

“Other items include 14 motorcycles, 16 mobile phones, three Motorolla radio, one Boafeng radio, two motorcycle tyres, five torch lights, two solar panels, 104 livestock and the sum of N2.8 million.”

Buba added that the troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 36 dugout pits, 62 wooden boats, 73 storage tanks, one vehicle and 75 cooking ovens during the period.

The defence spokesperson said the troops also impounded four pumping machines, five outboard engines and 33 illegal refining sites, as well as recovered 1,166,900 litres of stolen crude oil, 1,491,250 litres of illegally refined automated gas oil (AGO), 54,750 litres of dual-purpose kerosene (DPK) and 800 litres of premium motor spirit (PMS).

In the north-east, Buba said the troops of operation Hadin Kai eliminated seven terrorists, arrested five and rescued 31 hostages while 28 family members of the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists comprising nine adult females and 19 children were also rescued and taken into custody.

He said the troops recovered 20 AK47 rifles, one FN rifle, one Galileo rifle, three dane guns, one AK47 rifle loaded with 17 rounds of 7.62mm special, 154 rounds of 7.62mm special, 63 rounds of 12.7mm ammo, among others.