The Military said on Thursday that troops deployed for counter-terrorism, counter-kidnapping and anti-banditry operations in the last one neutralised 187 terrorists, arrested 213 criminal elements and rescued 109 kidnapped victims.
Troops also discovered and destroyed 57 illegal refinery sites Troops in, 49 storage tanks, 30 boats 18 massive dug-out pits and 66 cooking ovens while oil theft estimated at over N1,12 billion was denied crude oil thieves.
The Military further disclosed that it is "aware of some of the plans to target some critical infrastructure in the country" noting "Accordingly, we have emplaced measures to forestall such plans. Security agencies responsible for securing critical infrastructure and facilities have also been placed on alert. Accordingly, some of such plans have been frustrated".
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba while making this known at a briefing stated that during the encounters, "troops recovered 128 assorted weapons and 3,300 assorted ammunition including 80 AK47 rifles, 15 locally fabricated guns, 15 Dane guns, 4 locally fabricated pistols, 2 hand grenades, 2 primed IEDs and materials, 26 AK47 magazines
and the sum of N102,010.00 amongst other items".
Detailing the operations, the DMO said, "Troops of Operation Hadin Kai in the North East neutralized 97 terrorists, arrested 45 suspects and rescued 21 kidnappers hostages.
"Troops recovered 47 AK47 rifles, 15 fabricated rifles, 5 Dane guns, 2 FN rifles, 4 pump action guns, one single barrel gun, 12 magazines, 282 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 231 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 377 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 119 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammo, 23 live cartridges, 2 hand grenades, 2 G3 magazines, 10 motorcycles and 6 mobile phones amongst others.
"On 3 July 2024, troops in conjunction with hybrid forces conducted a night ambush on BH/ISWAP terrorists and made contact in Gwoza LGA of Borno State.
"Following a firefight, troops neutralized 13 terrorists and recovered 5 AK47 rifles, 5 dane guns, one single barrel gun, 102 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 231 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 23 cartridges, 3 magazines, 2 motorcycles and 2 mobile phones amongst others.
"On 2 and 4 July 2024, troops in separate operations discovered and detonated IEDs as well as recovered Unexploded Ordinance in Ngala and MMC LGAs of Borno State.
On 2 and 5 July 2024, following reports, troops in separate fighting patrols made contact with BH/ISWAP terrorists in Gamboru Ngala and Bama LGAs of Borno State.
Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 22 terrorists and recovered 12 AK47 rifles, 5 locally fabricated guns, 199 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm on metal link, 119 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammo, 6 magazines and 2 x 36 hand grenades amongst others.
"Between 2 and 11 July 2024, troops in separate offensive operations made contact with BH/ISWAP terrorists in Gwoza, Nganzai, Konduga, Bama, MMC and Kukawa LGAs of Borno State as well as Damaturu LGA of Yobe State respectively.
"Following a firefight, troops neutralized 40 terrorists and rescued 3 kidnapped hostages. Troops also recovered 25 AK47 rifles, 10 fabricated rifles, 2 FN rifles, 4 pump action guns, 699 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 150 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 178 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 20 AK47 magazines, 4 magazines carriers, 6 motorcycles and 4 mobile phones amongst others
"Between 3 and 9 Jul 24, a total of 832 terrorists comprising 88 adult males 256 adult females and 488 children surrendered to troops within the theatre of operations.
In the North Central, troops of Operation Safe Haven neutralized 11 insurgents, arrested 29 violent extremists and rescued 20 kidnapped hostages.
"Troops recovered 3 AK47 rifles, 2 fabricated pistols, 102 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo and 2 motorcycles amongst others.
"On 2 and 7 July 2024, troops in separate operations responded to a distress call on a kidnapping incident and made contact in Kauru and Zango Kataf LGAs of Kaduna State.
"Following a firefight, troops neutralized 3 violent extremists and rescued 2 kidnapped hostages. Troops recovered 2 AK47 rifles and 72 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo.
"On 3 July 2024, troops in conjunction with NDLEA personnel raided a violent extremist hideout in Jos North LGA of Plateau State. During the operation, troops arrested 2 suspected extremists and recovered 2 fabricated pistols.
"On 5 July 2024, troops while on separate counter/anti-kidnapping operations responded to information on activities of suspected violent extremists/kidnappers in Mangu and Bassa LGAs of Plateau State.
"During the operations, troops rescued 5 kidnapped hostages and recovered one AK47 rifle, 30 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo and 2 motorcycles.
Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke neutralized 4 terrorists, arrested 21 violent extremists and rescued 11 kidnapped hostages.
"Troops recovered one AK47 rifle, one Dane gun, one locally made pistol, 62 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 12 rounds of 9mm ammo, 9 empty cases of 7.62mm special, 26 empty cases of cartridges, one motorcycle and 2 mobile phones amongst others.
"On 1 July 2024, following a report troops in conjunction with NDLEA raided suspected violent extremists/drug peddlers hideouts in Karu LGA and AMAC of Nasarawa State and FCT Abuja. During the operations, troops arrested 6 suspects and recovered large quantities of substance suspected to be cannabis.
"On 7 and 8 July 2024, troops while in separate offensive operations raided suspected violent extremists' hideouts and made contact in Wukari and Lau LGAs of Taraba State.
"Following a firefight, troops neutralized 2 terrorists, arrested 6 extremists and rescued 2 kidnapped hostages. Troops also recovered one AK47 rifle, one dane gun, 62 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and one motorcycle.
"On 5 July 2024, following a tip-off, troops raided a suspected violent extremist hideout in Ussa LGA of Taraba State. During the operation, troops arrested one suspect and recovered 26 empty cartridges, 4 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo and 9 empty cases of 7.62mm Special ammo.
"On 4 and 7 July 2024, troops in separate operations responded to information on activities of suspected violent extremists in Sardauna and Gwer East LGAs of Taraba and Benue States. During the operation, troops arrested 2 suspects and recovered one locally made pistol, 16 rounds of 9mm ammo and 2 mobile phones.
"In the North West, troops of Operation Hadarin Daji neutralized 47 terrorists, arrested 17 terrorists and rescued 33 kidnapped hostages,
"Troops recovered one PKT gun, 14 AK47 rifles, 5 dane guns, 429 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 195 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 12 magazines, 24 motorcycles, 5 mobile phones and the sum of N102,010.00 only amongst others.
"Between 5 and 9 July 2024, troops in separate offensive operations made contact with terrorists in Birnin Gwari, Chikun and Igabi LGAs of Kaduna State as well as Kankara LGA of Katsina State respectively.
"Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 8 terrorists and rescued 2 kidnapped hostages. Troops also recovered 3 AK47 rifles, 5 magazines, 118 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 119 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammo, 22 motorcycles and 2 mobile phones amongst others.
"Between 3 and 9 July 2024, troops in separate operations responded to information on activities of terrorists/kidnappers in Sabon Birnin, Anka and Tsafe LGA of Zamfara State as well as Batsari LGA of Katsina State.
"Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 25 terrorists and rescued 7 kidnapped hostages. Troops also recovered 11 AK47 rifles, 5 dane guns, 7 magazines, 171 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 76 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 2 motorcycles, 3 mobile phones.
"On 4 July 2024, troops while on fighting patrol recovered a PKT gun suspected to be abandoned by suspected terrorists in Gusau LGA of Zamfara State.
"Troops of Operation Whirl Punch neutralized 21 terrorists, arrested 23 suspects and rescued 22 kidnapped hostages.
"Troops recovered 9 AK47 rifles, 4 dane guns, 5 magazines, 261 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 91 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 2 mobile phones and the sum of N102,010.00 only amongst others.
"On 1 July 2024, following reports, troops ambushed suspected violent extremists/terrorists and made contact in Kagarko LGA of Kaduna State. Following a firefight, troops neutralized 7 terrorists and recovered 5 AK47 rifle, 3 magazines, 130 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo and 2 motorcycles.
"On 4 July 2024, troops while on fighting patrol intercepted the movement of violent extremists/terrorists in Igabi LGA of Kaduna State. Following a firefight, troops neutralized 8 terrorists and recovered 4 AK47 rifles, 4 dane guns, 2 magazines, 131 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 91 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 2 mobile phones and the sum of N102,010.00 only.
"On 5 July 2024, troops while on an offensive operation raided a violent extremist and arrested 14 suspects in Bwari Area Council of FCT Abuja.
"On 6 July 2024. Troops while on night patrol responded to a distress call on activities of suspected violent/kidnappers in Lokoja LGA of Kogi State. During the operations, troops rescued 12 kidnapped hostages.
"In the Niger Delta, troops of Operation Delta Safe recovered 1,l25,440 litres of stolen crude oil, 213,539 litres of illegally refined AGO and 1,230 litres of PMS.
"Troops apprehended 43 suspected oil thefts and other violent extremists as well as recovered 44 assorted ammo.
"Additionally, troops discovered and destroyed 18 dugout pits, 30 boats and 49 storage tanks, 4 drums, 5 speedboats, 15 vehicles, 2 tricycles, one generator, and 11 mobile phones
"On 8 July 2024, following report, troops intercepted and arrested 3 suspected violent extremists/militants collaborators in Ovia South West LGA of Edo State.
"On 6 July 2024, following a tip-off, troops in separate operations intercepted and arrested 7 suspected violent extremists including notorious kingpin identified as Israel Peter (aka Namonso) in Ikono, Ika and Abak LGAs of Akwa Ibom State.
"During the operations, troops recovered 4 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo and 4 mobile phones.
"In the South East, troops of Operation Udoka neutralized 4 terrorists, arrested 8 violent extremists and rescued 2 kidnapped hostages.
"Troops recovered one AK47 rifle, one pump action gun, one locally fabricated pistol, one locally made double barrel gun, 191 rounds of 5.55m ammo, 4 walkie-talkie radios, 2 mobile phones, 2 primed IEDs and materials amongst other.
"On 2 July 2024, troops while on fighting patrol raided suspected violent extremists/IPOB/ESN member's hideouts in Okigwe LGA of Imo State.
"During the operations, troops recovered one AK47 rifle, one magazine, 2 primed IEDs and IED-making materials, 191 rounds of 5.55mm ammo, 29 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 3 cartridges, 4 Walkie Talkie radios and 2 mobile phones amongst others.
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"On 4 July 2024, troops while on offensive operation intercepted and arrested one violent extremist in Isisioma LGA of Abia State. During the operations, troops recovered one locally made double barrel gun.
"On 6 July 2024, troops while on fighting patrol intercepted and arrested 2 suspected violent extremists/cultists in Ohaozara LGA of Ebonyi State. During the operations, troops recovered one pump action gun and one fabricated barretta pistol.
"Troops of Operation Awatse in the South West neutralized 3 terrorists and arrested 10 violent extremists.
"Troops recovered 5 AK47 rifles, 8 magazines, 160 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, one motorcycl, 4 mobile phones and a pair of woodland camouflage.
"On 1 and 2 July 2024, following reports troops in separate operations arrested 10 cultists and vandals in Eti-Osa LGA of Lagos State.
"On 4 July 2024, following a tip-off, troops intercepted and arrested 4 violent kidnappers members in Akinyele LGA of Oyo State.
"A syndicate led by a notorious leader known as Bello (aka Chikidawoje). Troops also recovered 51 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, one motorcycle, 4 mobile phones and a pair of woodland camouflage uniforms amongst others.
"On 3 July 2024, troops in conjunction with NP personnel conducted offensive operations to a suspected kidnappers' hideout and made contact in Ikenne LGA of Ogun State. Following a firefight, troops neutralized 3 extremists, and kidnappers and recovered 5 AK47 rifles, 8 magazines, and 109 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo.
All recovered items, arrested suspects and rescued hostages were handed over to the relevant authority for further action
Furthermore, Major Gen Buba said, "Troops are confronted by a vicious enemy that is constantly trying to kill citizens or have citizens killed.
"In this fight, citizens must understand that, we must never compromise on security, otherwise everyone's security will be compromised. This is a situation that cannot be over-emphasized for us to live in safety and security.
"The military is doing what is needed at this time. We force the terrorist to pay a price for every act of aggression against citizens of this country. We recognise and have included this as part of our strategy to win the war.
"Overall, we have no choice but to fight for the safety and security of our citizens. We also fight to safeguard our nation and preserve our way of life as a people.
"For us a force, Defence is the essence of what we do as an armed forces. Accordingly, we would defeat the terrorists on the battlefield and help our nation flourish again."
