The Defence Headquarters said the operations of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in the last week have resulted in the killing of more than 180 terrorists, arrest of 204 others and rescue of 234 kidnapped victims.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Edward Buba, said in a statement on Friday that the operations involved land and air interdictions across the theatres of operation.
Buba said the troops also recovered 46 assorted weapons and 148 ammunition, comprising 30 AK-47 rifles, two Josef Magnum pump-action guns, one double-barrel gun, and two single-barrel guns.
Others, according to him, include 12 locally-made pistols, 13 Dane guns, one hand grenade, nine locally-made rifles, three RPG chargers, two locally-made hand grenades and 120 rounds of 7.62mm NATO.
Also recovered were 364 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 54 live cartridges, 11 rounds of empty cases of 7.62mm special ammo, 32 magazines, 34 vehicles, 64 mobile phones, 47 motorcycles, and N1.5 million, amongst other items.
In the North East, Buba said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai neutralised 19 terrorists, arrested 52, and rescued 134 kidnapped victims within the week.
He said the troops recovered six AK-47 rifles, 58 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, seven live cartridges, three vehicles, eight mobile phones, three motorcycles, one bicycle, and two camouflage magazine carrier jackets.
According to him, troops arrested suspected ISWAP/Boko Haram terrorists in Chibok Local Government Area and conducted fighting patrols in Kukawa, Bama, and Gwoza local government areas in Borno.
He said the troops also conducted fighting patrols in Gulani Local Government Area of Yobe, where they arrested kidnappers and illegal miners.
Buba said the troops also discovered and detonated IEDs in Monguno, Mafa, and Gwoza local government areas of Borno and neutralised suspected ISWAP/JAS terrorists in Madagali in Adamawa and Maiduguri municipal council area in Borno.
He added that a total of 91 terrorists, comprising 13 adult males, 35 adult females, and 43 children, surrendered to troops between Nov. 22 and 28.
According to him, the air component of Operations Hadin Kai had between Nov. 24 and 25, conducted air interdiction overhead Tagoshe and Chongolo Kura in Borno.
“Battle damage assessment revealed that over 130 terrorists gathered were neutralised, with a low possibility of surviving for those wounded.
In the North Central, Buba said troops of Operations Safe Haven and Whirl Stroke neutralised several terrorists in land and air offensives and destroyed their enclaves in Niger, Benue, Plateau, and Taraba states.
He said the air interdiction on Nov. 26 at terrorist kingpin Ali Kawaje’s enclave in Dagam in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger killed several terrorists, with the structures destroyed.
He said the troops of Operation Safe Haven neutralised two terrorists, arrested 37, and rescued three kidnapped hostages, while the troops of Operation Whirl Stroke neutralised five terrorists, arrested 10 and rescued one hostage.
In the North West, the defence spokesman said the troops of Operations Hadarin Daji and Whirl Punch eliminated several terrorists in land and air offensives in Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara states within the week.
He said the air component conducted air interdiction on Nov. 25 at a bandits’ enclave in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara and neutralised several terrorists.
“Overall, troops of Operation Hadarin Daji neutralised 14 terrorists, arrested 20 terrorists, and rescued 88 hostages in land operations.
“Also, troops of Operation Whirl Punch arrested a gunrunner in Kaduna and criminals in Abaji Area Council of FCT Abuja.
“Troops equally raided criminal hideouts in Gwagwalada Area Council of FCT, Abuja, and conducted offensive operations in Abaji and Kuje Area Councils.
“Overall, troops of Operation Whirl Punch neutralised four terrorists, arrested four suspected terrorists and rescued two hostages,” he said.
