Troops kill 31 ‘ISWAP terrorists’, recover arms in Borno, Yobe

The Nigerian Army says it has killed 31 members of the Jama’tu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), two jihadist factions of Boko Haram, in Borno and Yobe states.

Edward Buba, director of defence media operations, detailed this on Friday in a statement.

Buba said the offensive took place in Konduga and Gwoza LGAs of Borno, as well as in Gujba and Geidam LGAs of  Yobe, between August 28-September 3.

“Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 31, arrested 7 and rescued 26 kidnapped hostages,” the statement reads.

“Troops also recovered 21 AK 47 Rifles, 4 Dane guns, 7 fabricated rifles, one RPG Tube, one RPG Bomb, one RPG bomb charger and GPMG belt linked with 223 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammo, 1,480 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 26 bicycles and IED materials, 7 motorcycles and 9 mobile phones, amongst others.”

The statement said troops also intercepted and arrested 24 suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP/JAS collaborators and informants in Damboa, Konduga, and Kukawa LGAs of Borno, as well as in Gubio, Geidam, Tarmuwa LGAs of Yobe, within the same time frame.

“Troops recovered one AK47 loaded with 24 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 6 vehicles, 8 new motorcycles, large quantity of motorcycle spare parts, 5 mobile phones and the sum of N332,700.00 amongst other items,” the statement added.

Buba said the army intercepted and arrested three persons carting away 19 seed planter machines and one motorcycle, belonging to the Yobe government, on August 27.

The major-general added that strongholds of two prominent terrorist commanders were also destroyed, “namely, Sadiku Enclave in Tsora Hill in Safana LGA of Katsina State and Alhaji Yusuf Enclave at Yadi Forest in Giwa LGA of Kaduna State”.

TROOPS RECOVER ‘725K LITRES OF STOLEN CRUDE OIL, 475k LITRES OF ILLEGALLY REFINED AGO IN DELTA’ 

In Delta, Buba said ​the army destroyed several illegal refining sites and recovered stolen products.

“Troops recovered 725,920 litres of stolen crude oil and 475,250 litres of illegally refined AGO. Additionally, troops discovered and destroyed 36 dugout pits, 40 boats, 22 drums and 27 storage tanks,” he said.

“Other items recovered include 32 cooking ovens, 6 speedboats, 3 vehicles, 3 motorcycles, one pumping machine, one generator and 58 illegal refining sites.”

The statement added that troops crippled crude oil theft activities at Bugama, Idama, Cawtorne Channel, and Krakrama, all in Rivers, through air interdiction.

Buba said the military is improving and finding more effective ways to deal with threat situations posed by terror groups.