The Nigerian Defence Headquarters have maintained unequivocally that the Nigerian Troops are prevailing in their bid to rid the nation finally of terrorists, Bandits and other criminals.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami, who made this disclosure recently in Abuja at the bi-weekly news conference on the operations of the armed forces in the various theatres, noted that troops have in the last two weeks eliminated 42 bandits, terrorists and other criminals in various operations in North Central and North West.
Particularly, Danmadami stated that the troops apprehended 13 suspects in Irekpeni community along Lokoja-Kabba-Okene Road in Kogi.
He said the troops recovered a mobile phone containing the numbers of four suspected ISWAP terrorists on the watch list of security agencies.
He added that seven kidnappers informants and collaborators were apprehended in Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area of Nasarawa State following a tip-off.
According to him, troops also arrested 86 suspected criminals and rescued nine kidnapped civilians across the two zones within the period.
In North West, Danmadami said the troops of Operations Hadarin Daji and other operations eliminated 38 bandits, apprehended 10 and rescued 24 kidnapped civilians.
He said the troops also recovered 20 AK47 rifles, 92 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 894 rounds of 7.62mm special, 2 PKT gun, 28 AK47 magazines, eight rounds of 9mm ammunition, 83 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm special, five dane guns, and three IEDs.
“Other items include 19 motorcycles, 10 mobile phones, three boafeng radio and 34 cattle.
“Equally, the air component had between June 2 and June 6, conducted air interdiction operation at a terrorist leader’s enclave in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara observed with terrorist activities.
“Accordingly, the target was attacked with rockets neutralising several terrorists.
“Also, on June 4, a similar operation was carried out within Batsari, Danmusa and Jibia Local Government Areas of Katsina State and Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara following intel on terrorists converging at these locations.
“Consequently, the target areas were engaged with rockets with several terrorists neutralised in the air strikes,” he added.
Defence Headquarters also maintained that the military during the period under review eliminated several Boko Haram and Islamic States of West Africa (ISWAP) terrorists in both land and air operations in North East, in the last two weeks.
Danmadami said the land, air and maritime component of Operation Hadin Kai had sustained intensive efforts to decimate terrorists and other criminals in the North East zone.
He said troops conducted several operations against terrorist enclaves, hideouts, camps and training grounds at villages, mountains and waterside within Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, neutralising several terrorists, capturing some and recovering weapons.
He said the land troops recovered several other items and the sum of N11.04 million, neutralised 20 terrorists, captured seven, and apprehended 40 suspected logistics suppliers and 15 notorious criminal gang members.
According to him, others arrested were four drug peddlers, three kidnappers and three terrorists collaborators.
“Troops equally rescued 15 kidnapped civilians, while a total of 743 terrorists and members of their families, comprising 42 adult males, 251 adult females and 452 children surrendered to troops at different locations within the theatre of operation,” he said.
Danmadami said the air component also conducted air operations at Tagoshe, observed to be active with terrorists moving under the trees with missiles.
He said the information revealed that several terrorists were neutralised and their structure destroyed in the air strike.
Danmadami added that an air interdiction operation was also conducted at Mandara mountain in Borno, over a prominent building in the general area where it was observed with several terrorists’ movement.
“Accordingly, the building was struck, neutralising several terrorists and destroying the building.
” In the same vein on June 6, an air interdiction operation was conducted at Loghpere, a Boko Haram terrorist identified hideout on the Mandara mountains, purportedly being used by terrorists as a logistics base and hideout for their technical equipment.
“Consequently, the location was struck with bombs, and feedback revealed that several terrorists were neutralised and logistics structures destroyed in the air strike,” he said.