The Defence Headquarters said the military eliminated no fewer than 6,880 terrorists and other criminals and apprehended 6,970 others from January till date.
The director, defence media operations, Maj Gen Edward Buba, said this while giving an update on the operations of the military in 2023 yesterday in Abuja.
Buba said the troops also rescued 4,488 kidnapped hostages as well as recovered 3,320 assorted weapons and 39,075 assorted ammunition during the year.
He added that troops recovered 100.3 million litres of crude oil, 60.3 million litres of kerosene, 3.4 million litres of diesel and 3.5 million litres of petrol within the year.
In the northeast, Buba said, the troops of Operation Hadin Kai neutralised 1,759 terrorists, apprehended 953 suspects and rescued 826 hostages while 11,015 BH/ISWAP terrorists and their families surrendered.
According to him, 259 AK47 rifles, mine FN rifles, 681 assorted arms, 7,097 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 5,773 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 495,336 assorted ammunitions and 2,059 livestock were recovered.
In the northwest he said, the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji killed 1,522 terrorists, apprehended 645 suspects and rescued 1,101 hostages.
Items recovered, according to him, are 53 AK47 rifles, 426 assorted arms, 2,342 rounds of 7.62mm special, 6,900 assorted ammunition and 5,084 livestock.
Buba added that troops of Operation Whirl Punch in the North-west also neutralised 992 terrorists, apprehended 345 suspects and rescued 538 hostages during the year.
He said the troops also recovered 34 AK47 rifles, 346 assorted arms, 4,792 rounds of 7.62mm special, 5,127 assorted ammunition and 830 livestock.
“Some of the features recorded by troops in the North Central in Operation Safe Haven are 2,094 terrorists neutralised, 2,316 arrested and 630 hostages rescued.
“Items recovered are 78 AK47 rifles, 666 assorted arms, 4,772 rounds of 7.62mm special, 7357 assorted ammunitions and 4,734 livestock.
“Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke neutralised 977 terrorists, arrested 722 and rescued 571 hostages during the year.
“Items recovered were 45 AK47 rifles, 198 assorted arms, 952 rounds of 7.62mm special, 1,666 assorted ammunitions and 338 livestock,” he said.
In the south-south, the defence spokesman said the troops of Operation Delta Safe neutralised 448 criminals, apprehended 1,090 oil thieves and other criminals and rescued 309 hostages.
“Also, oil thieves were denied 100.3 million litres of crude oil, 60.3 million litres of AGO, 3.4 million litres of DPK and 3.5 million litres of PMS.
“Additionally, troops recovered 321 assorted weapons and destroyed 1,016 wooden boats, 16 barges/vessels and destroyed 1,374 illegal refining sites,” he added.
In the southeast, Buba said, the troops of Operation UDO KA neutralised 464 terrorists, apprehended 907 suspects and rescued 518 hostages.
He added that the troops recovered 65 AK47 rifles, 150 pump action guns, 53 Dane guns, 85 pistols, 684 assorted arms, 1,082 rounds of 7.62mm special, 4,371 live cartridges, 5,825 assorted ammunition and 630 other equipment.
According to him, the security situation in the year 2023 has remained fluid, complex and dynamic with the threat morphing in form and scale.
“This unpredictable nature of the threat and the attendant demands for stability have continued to pose significant challenges for security forces.
“Consequently, various forces have continued to evolve tactics, techniques and procedures to professionally respond to these threats.
“The armed forces has been developing the desired enablers to overcome the country’s numerous threats.
“Notably, the application of kinetic and non-kinetic efforts in collaboration with other Services and security agencies has continued to shape the operating environment, in which we are in a dominant position,” he said.
On why the troops could not repel the attack on residents in Plateau State, Buba explained that the Bokkos and Barkin Ladi areas of Plateau State span about 2,315 square kilometres with over 350 villages, mostly dispersed.
“The distance between some of these villages and troops’ locations is over 90 kilometres and sometimes difficult to access because of the rugged terrain which is mostly inaccessible to vehicles. Thus, affecting the reaction time to incidents, except when there is credible intelligence before the attack.
“On the night of 23 December 2023, over 100 marauding armed militant herders suspected to be mercenaries, carried out a series of unprovoked attacks from multiple fronts on Kambarpeli village in the Bokkos LGA of Plateau State while the locals were asleep. The militants unleashed mayhem on the villagers before the arrival of troops to the location.
“Similarly, on 24 December 2023, at about 1900 hrs, troops received a total of 36 distress calls from diverse locations simultaneously. The distress calls reported a series of coordinated attacks by armed militant herders on isolated villages in Bokkos and part of Barkin Ladi LGAs of Plateau State.
“Troops responded to the calls and were able to intervene in 19 villages forcing the militants to withdraw. Unfortunately, the havoc had been committed before troops arrived at the other villages, “he noted.
In response to the letters notifying residents of a potential attack, Buba vowed that such an incident would never occur again in the state.
“Attacks on Plateau will never repeat itself. We have put modalities in place to ensure that whatever limited us the last time that did not allow us to get to some of these locations on time has been eliminated. We are aware of the letters and we are doing something. We are seriously going after those who perpetrated the crime,” he said.
With NAN and Punch reports
