The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says 10,937 terrorists were eliminated, 12,538 apprehended and 7,063 hostages rescued in the last 12 months by troops deployed in various operations across the country in the last 12 months.
Major-General Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, made the disclosure while briefing newsmen on the operations of the military in the year 2024, on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to Buba, the troops significantly degraded the fighting capabilities of terrorists, recording 16,171 surrendered terrorist combatants and their families, during the course of the year.
He explained that troops recovered 8,815 weapons and 228,004 ammunition and denied the oil thieves an estimated sum of over N68.4 billion.
The breakdown of the recoveries, according to the director are 4,332 AK47 rifles, 1,244 locally fabricated guns, 838 Dane guns; 259 pump action guns, 128,496 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, and 45,445 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, while others are 5,103 cartridges, 2,131 assorted arms and 29,176 assorted ammunition.
He stated that in the North-East, the troops of Operation Hadin Kai neutralised 3,151 terrorists, arrested 2,503 suspects and rescued 1,605 kidnapped hostages within the year.
He added that, “The troops also recovered 1,802 AK47 rifles, 446 fabricated rifles; 438 Dane guns; 378 assorted arms; 42,439 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 16,336 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 12,429 assorted ammunition in the North East.”
In the North-Central, the director explained that the troops of Operations Safe Haven and Whirl Stroke neutralised 1,047 violent extremists, arrested 3,001, and rescued 1,782 kidnapped hostages, stressing that the troops also recovered 549 AK-47 rifles, 321 fabricated guns; 629 assorted arms; 19,577 rounds of 7.62mm special, 2,962 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 4,084 assorted ammunition.
Buba pointing out that in the North-West, the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji, in the course of the year neutralised 2,906 terrorists, arrested 1,826 suspects and rescued 2,616 kidnap hostages, adding that the troops recovered 1,450 AK47 rifles, 477 fabricated guns; 576 assorted arms, 31,999 rounds of 7.62mm special; 14,960 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 6,564 assorted ammunitions.
The director explained that in the South-South, the troops of Operation Delta Safe neutralised 78 terrorists, arrested 2,357 persons involved in crude oil theft and rescued 93 kidnapped hostages and also blocked oil thieves from stealing 56.2 million litres of crude oil, 9.7 million litres of AGO; 95,595 litres of DPK and 156,527 litres of PMS.
He added that the troops recovered 538 assorted weapons; 13,198 assorted ammunition; destroyed 2,019 wooden boats and 2,612 illegal refining sites.
While in the South-East, the troops of Operation UDO KA sustained the momentum in finding, flushing out and destroying IPOB /ESN terrorists at locations in which they hibernate.
Buba further explained that the troops intercepted and arrested several IPOB/ESN terrorists, collaborators, gun runners and informants, as well as neutralised 734 terrorists, arrested 974 suspects and rescued 372 kidnapped hostages.
He added that the troops seek to continue to heighten collaboration with neighbouring countries and regional bodies in order to tackle the menace of terrorism, assuring that troops on the battlefield are in high spirits, fully committed, devoted, and believe in the justness of the course.
Buba stated, “On the whole, the war is not for the armed forces alone, but for all citizens. The military, therefore, urges for more citizens’ support in order to win the war.”
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