The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says its troops killed 950 Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) insurgents as well as 537 bandits between May 2021 and January 2022.
The defence spokesman, Benard Onyeuko, disclosed this to journalists in Abuja yesterday.
He said the insurgents and bandits were killed in the ongoing operations Hadin Kai and Hadarin Daji across the northeast and northwest.
He said during the period under review, troops conducted a series of land, maritime and air operations in the various theatres.
He said the operations resulted in the killing of several high-profile terrorists and bandits.
“Within the period under review, own troops operational activities in Operation HADIN KAI theatre resulted in the neutralization of 950 terrorists including their high profile Commanders and Amirs,” he said in a statement issued at the briefing.
“Also, a total of 79 terrorists were arrested and 113 kidnapped civilians were rescued by the troops of Operation HADIN KAI within the period. In the same vein, a total of 195 assorted arms including AK-47 rifles, GPMGs, PKT guns and locally fabricated guns were recovered from terrorist elements in the course of the operations. In addition, a total of 2,385 rounds of different calibres of ammunition and 253 rustled livestock were recovered, while a total of 14 gun trucks of the terrorists were destroyed in the course of the operations, while 16 gun trucks were captured by own troops within the period.
“Furthermore, a total of 24,059 terrorists and their families comprising 5,326 adult males, 7,550 adult females and 11,183 children have so far surrendered to own troops in the North East. All surrendered elements have been properly profiled and handed over to appropriate authorities for necessary actions.
“In Operation HADARIN DAJI, the operational efforts of our gallant troops yielded appreciable results between 20 May 2021 and 6 January 2022. A total of 537 armed bandits and other criminal elements were neutralized in action by own troops, while 374 criminal elements including armed bandits and their collaborators as well as armed herdsman and robbers were arrested. Furthermore, 227 assorted arms, including AK-47 rifles, PKT machine guns and GPMGs as well as 4,443 rounds of different calibres of ammunition and 3,250 rustled livestock among other items and vehicles were recovered within the period.
“Similarly, a total of 238 motorcycles and 118 extra rifle magazines were recovered, while 452 kidnapped civilians were rescued by own troops in the course of the operations. This is in addition to several other feats recorded during air offensives executed on bandits’ enclaves by the Air Component,” he said.
The defence acting spokesman also said recent among prominent air offensives were concurrent airstrikes executed on bandits’ enclaves at Gusami Forest and West Tsamre village in Birnin Magaji local government area of Zamfara State, which led to the killings of scores of armed bandits.
He said the feat was recorded in the early hours of January 3, 2022, on the heels of credible intelligence, which revealed the locations of two key bandits’ leaders, “the notorious Alhaji Auta and Kachalla Ruga”.
“Consequently, a force package of NAF platforms were dispatched to takeout the enclaves, which resulted in the neutralization of the leaders as well as their cohorts,” he said.
He added that hundreds of “criminal elements” were also killed and/or arrested in their operations across other regions of Nigeria.
“In summary, the Armed Forces of Nigeria from 20 May 2021 to 6 January 2022 neutralised 1,910 criminal elements including terrorists, armed bandits and robbers as well as kidnappers across the country.
“This is in addition to scores of other terrorists and armed bandits killed during air strikes within the period. Troops also rescued a total of 729 kidnapped victims across the Country. Furthermore, within the period in focus, troops made a cumulative total recoveries of thirteen million, two hundred and one thousand, three hundred (13,201,300) litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil and three million, nine hundred and sixty-nine thousand (3,969,000) litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene.
Also, 38,582 barrels and six million, four hundred and ninety-one thousand (6,491,000) litres of stolen crude oil as well as eleven million, six hundred and fifty-nine thousand, five hundred (11,659,500) litres of illegally refined Premium Motor Spirit were recovered and handed appropriately. Additionally, a total of 912 criminal elements were arrested, while large cache of arms and ammunition as well as livestock among other items of economic and security concerns were recovered by the troops during the period,” he added.
