Troops of the Nigerian military have eliminated 38 terrorists and arrested 242 others including gunmen/robbers, kidnappers, terrorists/bandits collaborators and oil pipeline vandals.
The director of defence media operations, Major Gen Edward Buba who disclosed this in a statement yesterday (Friday) also said the apprehended suspects comprised 175 gunmen/criminals, 20 kidnappers, 30 collaborators and 17 pipeline vandals.
He further disclosed that the military rescued 89 kidnapped hostages and recovered a cache of arms and ammunition made up of 38 assorted weapons and 186 ammunition.
They include14 AK 47 rifles, one G3 rifle, one PKT, 3 AK47 rifle loaded with 23 rounds of 7.62mm special, one SMG, 10 Dane guns, 5 locally fabricated pistols, 2 fabricated weapon, 2 double barrel guns, 3 locally fabricated pistols, 151 rounds of 7.62mm special, 5 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 16 rounds of 9mm ammo, 16 rounds 5.56 by 45mm ammo, 12 AK47 magazines, one G3 rifle magazine, one magazine containing 30 rounds of 7.62mm special and 7 empty cases of 7.62mm special.
He said the troops denied the oil theft saboteurs N607 million being value of seizures as well as recovery of 38 assorted weapons and 186 ammunition.
“Miscellaneous items recovered include 33 motorcycles, 30 mobile phones, four tricycles, four Motorola HH radios, four vehicles, 10 bags of fertilizers and 73 livestock.
“Also recovered are seven cutlasses, one magazine pouch, two solar panels, 10 litres of PMS, Nigeria Police uniform, two gas cylinders, one power bank, one pair of woodland and desert camouflages each. Troops also recovered the sum of N2.59 million,” he added.
In the northeast, Buba said the troops of ‘Operation Hadin Kai’ neutralised 16 terrorists, arrested 53 terrorists and rescued 34 hostages as well as recovered a large cache of arms during the period.
In the north central, the defence spokesman said troops of ‘Operations Safe Haven’ remained relentless in offensive posture against kidnappers and other criminal elements within the operational area.
He said the troops had within the week neutralised three terrorists, arrested 13 suspected criminals, five kidnappers and rescued three kidnapped hostages.
Buba also said troops of ‘Operation Whirl Stroke’ also neutralised seven terrorists, arrested three suspects and rescued three kidnapped hostages.
In the northwest, Buba said troops of ‘Operation Hadarin Daji’ neutralised five terrorists, arrested eight suspects and rescued nine kidnapped hostages while several terrorists’ camps were destroyed.
He said the troops of ‘Operation Whirl Punch’ neutralised five terrorists, arrested 44 collaborators and rescued 15 kidnapped civilians while several weapons with four trucks and four motorcycles amongst other items were recovered.
In the south-south, Buba said troops of ‘Operation Delta Safe’ destroyed 39 illegal refining sites, 72 dugout pits, 65 wooden boats, 70 storage tanks and 119 cooking ovens with sundry equipment such as two speedboats, five outboard engines, and four pumping machines.
He added that the troops recovered 1,247,700 litres of stolen crude oil, 132,500 litres of illegally refined automotive gas oil, 57,450 litres of dual purpose kerosine and 800 litres of premium motor spirit.
In the southeast, Buba said troops of ‘Operation UDO KA’ eliminated two members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network, arrested two, apprehended two trucks loaded with illegally refined AGO and rescued four kidnapped hostages.
