DHQ: Troops killed 159 terrorists, rescued 188 kidnap victims in one week

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says troops of the Nigerian Army killed 159 terrorists and rescued 188 hostages across the country within one week.

In a statement on Friday, Edward Buba, the director of defence media operations, said troops also arrested 174 individuals and 45 perpetrators of oil theft.

Buba added that the troops recovered 151 assorted weapons and 12,401 rounds of ammunition, which include three PKT guns, one SLR, 92 AK-47 rifles, 25 fabricated rifles, 15 dane guns, and four pump-action shotguns.

He added that the troops also recovered four locally made pistols, one pistol, two RPG tubes, one RPG bomb, 66 AK-47 magazines, one FN magazine, and two locally fabricated hand grenades.

“The ammunition recovered included 10,346 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 1,094 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 92 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammo, 479 rounds of PKT ammo, 182 rounds of MG ammo, and 43 rounds of 9.5mm ammo, along with 12 rounds of 9mm ammo,” the statement reads.

“Other items recovered include 35 live cartridges, 35 empty cases of 7.62mm ammo, 2 Baofeng radios, 15 vehicles, 39 motorcycles, 28 mobile phones, and the sum of N5,386,200.”

The defence spokesperson noted that troops have been strategically deployed to ensure a violence-free, fair, and credible off-cycle governorship election in Edo state on September 21.

Buba said that troops of operation Hadin Kai killed 46 terrorists, arrested 41 suspects, rescued 48 kidnapped hostages, and recovered a cache of arms in the north-east.

He added that 76 terrorists, including nine adult males, 28 adult females, and 39 children, surrendered to troops between September 11 and 17.

He said the air component of operation Hadin Kai also conducted air interdictions on suspected ISWAP/JAS terrorist enclaves in southern Tumbun, Borno, killing several terrorists and destroying their logistics.

He said troops of operations Safe Haven and Whirl Stroke killed 15 violent extremists, arrested 18, and rescued 64 hostages in the north-central.

Buba noted that troops of operation Hadarin Daji also killed 73 terrorists, arrested 23, rescued 54 hostages, and recovered large caches of arms in the north-west.

He said the air component conducted strikes on the enclaves of terrorists’ kingpins, Gambo and Bello Turji, in Gusau and Shinkafi LGAs of Zamfara, killing several bandits and destroying their structures and logistics.

Buba added that troops of operation Whirl Punch took out 15 terrorists, arrested 27 suspects, rescued six hostages, and recovered arms.

He said troops of operation Delta Safe discovered and destroyed 71 illegal refining sites, including nine dugout pits, 35 boats, four speedboats, 32 drums, and 57 storage tanks in the Niger Delta region.

The defence spokesperson noted that the troops recovered 788,400 litres of stolen crude oil, 28,995 litres of illegally refined AGO, 300 litres of DPK, and 3,000 litres of PMS, along with 20 cooking ovens, one pumping machine, 14 vehicles, one motorcycle, one tricycle, and 10 mobile phones.

He said troops of operation UDO KA killed eight extremists, arrested 12, rescued 14 hostages, and recovered arms and four vehicles in the south-east region.

“All recovered items, arrested suspects, and rescued hostages have been handed over to the relevant authorities for further action,” Buba said.