TheCable

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says troops of the Nigerian Army killed 715 terrorists and rescued 465 hostages in April.

Edward Buba, director of defence media operations, gave the update in Abuja on Thursday.

Buba said the troops also apprehended 1,146 suspects during ambushes, raids, fighting patrols and other covert operations during the month.

He added that several enclaves of notable terrorist leaders and commanders such as Nasanda, Babaru, Kamilu Buzaru, Ali Dawud, Bakura Fallujah and Mallam Ari across the north-west were bombarded and destroyed.

Buba said the troops recovered 937 assorted weapons and 23,034 ammunitions and prevented the theft of oil estimated at over N2 billion.

“All the surviving terrorist commanders and leaders are walking corpses as we would get them, sooner than later,” the defence spokesperson said.

Buba said troops of Operation Hadin Kai in the north-east conducted operations into the Sambisa forest, Timbuktu triangle and the Tumbus around the Lake Chad region.

He said  248 terrorists were killed and 422 arrested while 163 hostages were rescued during the operations.

He added that 714 Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists and their families also surrendered to the troops.

He said 208 AK-47 rifles, 34 fabricated and 45 dane guns, 18 assorted arms, 3,672 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 2,058 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 422 assorted ammunitions were recovered.

The defence spokesperson said troops of Operation Safe Haven in the north-central killed 32 terrorists and arrested 148 fighters while 35 hostages were rescued.

He said the troops recovered 23 AK47 rifles, 19 fabricated guns, 93 assorted arms, 788 rounds of 7.62mm special, 451 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 256 assorted ammunitions.

In the north-west, Buba said the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji killed 297 terrorists and apprehended 141 suspects.

He said 143 hostages were rescued from the Bayan Ruwa enclave and other terrorist hideouts in Zamfara state.

Buba said there has been a linkage between illegal mining and acts of terrorism in the region, as well as the connivance of foreign elements.

He said the troops recovered 182 AK-47 rifles, 57 fabricated guns, 71 assorted arms, 4,192 rounds of 7.62mm special, 2,341 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 556 assorted ammunitions from the operations.

Under Operation Whirl Punch, Buba said the troops killed 31 terrorists, arrested 69 suspects, rescued 17 kidnap victims, and recovered weapons.

In the south-south, he said the troops of Operation Delta Safe killed nine violent extremists and arrested 164 persons involved in crude oil theft.

He added that troops also recovered 56 assorted weapons and destroyed 74 wooden boats, 1,501 assorted ammunition and 76 illegal refining sites during the month.

The defence spokesperson said the troops of Operation UDO KA in the south-east killed 38 terrorists, arrested 103 suspects and rescued 50 hostages.