TheCable

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says troops of the Nigerian Army killed 121 terrorists, apprehended 252 insurgents and rescued 244 hostages in one week.

Edward Buba, director of defence media operations, who gave the update on Thursday, said the troops also recovered 223 assorted weapons and 2,756 ammunition.

He said the seized weapons comprised three M56 rifles, 115 AK47 rifles, three PKT-belt-fed general-purpose machine guns, 24 locally fabricated guns, and 36 Dane guns.

Buba listed other weapons recovered to include seven locally fabricated pistols, 1,716 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 494 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, a rimless, bottlenecked rifle cartridge and 60 rounds of 7.62 x 25mm ammo.

He said troops of operation Hadin Kai in the north-east neutralised 52 terrorists, arrested 137 fighters and rescued 78 kidnapped persons.

In the north-central, Buba said the troops of operations Safe Haven and Whirl Stroke, killed 47 terrorists, apprehended 17 others and rescued four kidnap victims as well as recovered a cache of arms.

In the north-west, he said troops of operation Hadarin Daji killed 62 terrorists, arrested 12 others and rescued 162 persons held captives.

He added that the air component of the operation conducted raids on the enclaves of two terrorist commanders, Maudi Maudi and Mallam Aibo in Safana LGA of Katsina.

“Following confirmatory ISR, the rocky terrain at the locations used by terrorists as hideouts and forward bases were acquired and attacked with bombs and rockets,” Buba said.

“Battle Damage Assessment revealed that several terrorists were neutralized and their structures and logistic base destroyed.

“Additionally, following reports on the massing up of terrorists, the air component conducted another air interdiction on the location of interest in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State.

“The location was acquired and engaged with rockets while Battle Damage Assessment revealed that several terrorists were neutralized and their logistics destroyed.”

Buba said the troops of operation Whirl Punch also arrested 43 violent extremists and recovered a stockpile of arms and ammunition.

He added that the air component in several passes conducted armed patrol and air interdiction at terrorist locations Yadi and Abu Bilal’s enclave in Giwa LGA of Kaduna.

In the Niger Delta area, the DGQ spokesperson said the troops of operation Delta Safe recovered 944,700 litres of stolen crude oil, 171,060 litres of illegally refined AGO and 1,500 litres of DPK.

He said the troops also discovered and destroyed 61 illegal refining sites with 102 dugout pits, 41 boats, 36 storage tanks, 49 cooking ovens, six pumping machines and eight vehicles.

Buba added that the troops apprehended 29 suspected oil thieves and other suspects as well as recovered 12 weapons and 113 assorted ammunition.

In the south-east, he said the troops of operation UDO KA apprehended suspected violent extremists/kidnappers, and gunrunners.

He said troops also raided camps of members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Anambra and Ebonyi states.