In a week, troops killed 50 terrorists and arrested 122.
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The Nigerian military troops on the frontlines have killed no fewer than 50 terrorists and arrested 122 others in the last week. Defence Media Operations (DMO) spokesman, Major General Edward Buba, who made the disclosure, noted that the military continued to target the terrorists’ leadership and chain of command, insurgents as well as extremists that undermine the security of citizens in the country.
NewsReport indicate that according to Buba, the ongoing counter-insurgency and counter- terrorism operations ‘’is making the country safer each passing day that these evil forces are decimated.
‘’The Armed Forces is on course with its operations, which are yielding encouraging results.
“The operations of the last week resulted in 50 neutralized terrorists, while 122 of them were arrested. Troops also arrested 49 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 182 kidnapped hostages. In the South, troops denied oil theft, estimated at N128,066,825.00.
In a related development, troops in Kaduna also neutralized six bandits during clearance operations in Birnin Gwari and Giwa local councils. The soldiers, after successful military operations against the bandits’, recovered arms, ammunition, and motorcycles.
According to a statement by the Overseeing Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, “the troops of the Nigerian Army have neutralized six bandits during extensive clearance patrols spanning Birnin Gwari and Giwa local councils.”
He said that “operational feedback to the Kaduna State Government revealed that the troops began their advance along the Kaduna-Sabon Birni-Dogon Dawa Road, clearing Maidaro and Ngede Allah, before proceeding to Saulawa and Kidandan general areas.
“In the course of these operations, the forces made contact with bandits at Maidaro, Ngade Allah and Kidandan. The troops engaged swiftly, subduing the bandits at each point. Six bandits were confirmed neutralized in total.”
Aruwan explained further, “the troops exploited the areas and recovered two AK-47 rifles, four AK-47 magazines, 14 rounds of ammunition, along with 40 pairs of bandits’ uniforms. Nine motorcycles belonging to the bandits were captured.”
The Governor, Uba Sani expressed his satisfaction at the breakthrough achieved by the security forces, and commended the leadership of the GOC One Division and Force Commander of the Operation Whirl Punch, Major General VO Okoro. He lauded the troops for their fine efforts and urged them to sustain the tempo and focus of operations.”
Meanwhile, the state government has urged the citizens to report suspicious persons or activities to the Security Operations Room for prompt action by security agencies, as ‘’any person found secretly seeking medical attention for gunshot wounds around these locations must not be aided but should equally be reported”.
Buba continued: “Furthermore, troops recovered 66 assorted weapons and 11,474 assorted ammunition. They include: one conqueror APC, one GPMG, one NSVT gun, one GT3 rifle, 25 AK47 rifles, 4 pump action gun, 2 locally made AK47 rifles, 3 locally made gun, one locally made revolver gun, 4 locally fabricated pistols and 4 long dane gun, 2 locally made hand grenades, one bandolier.
“Others are: 574 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 640 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 150 rounds of 12.7mm ammo, 5 rounds of 9mm ammo, 10,520 live cartridges, 5 vehicles, 27 mobile phones, 12 motorcycle, 3 boafeng radios, one Motorolla HHR, 3 bicycles, one solar panel, one solar charger controller, one radio receiver and the sum of N75,909,290.00 among other items.
“Troops in the Niger Delta area destroyed 242 dugout pits, 49 boats, 78 storage tanks, one tricycle, 21 vehicles, 104 cooking ovens, 3 pumping machine, 7 outboard engine and 49 illegal refining sites. Troops recovered 151,850 litres of stolen crude oil, 48,630 litres of illegally refined AGO and 10,125 litres of DPK.
“The armed forces will continue to apply strong military pressure such as has been witnessed in the week. The terrorist and their cohorts would continue to suffer heavy casualities. It is in their interest to surrender as being done in the NE of the country to avoid eventual destruction.”