On Friday, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) reported that troops have killed 152 terrorists and arrested 109 others, while rescuing 91 kidnapped hostages over the past week.
DHQ spokesman Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba provided the update on the armed forces’ operations in Abuja.
He noted that the troops conducted targeted operations against two key terrorist commanders, Sadiku and Alhaji Yusuf, successfully dismantling their strongholds. Sadiku’s base was located at Tsora Hill in Katsina State’s Safana Local Government Area, while Yusuf’s was in Yadi Forest in Kaduna State’s Giwa Local Government Area.
Additionally, two female collaborators involved in negotiating ransoms with victims’ families were apprehended.
The operations also led to the recovery of 183 weapons and 4,443 rounds of ammunition, including 95 AK47 rifles, 35 locally made guns, 76 Dane guns, one GPMG, and two PKT guns. Other recovered items include 4,131 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 165 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 115 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 28 cartridges, 53 assorted arms, and 197 pieces of assorted ammunition.
“On the whole, the gallant men and women of the armed forces continued to take pride in putting themselves in harms way to ensure the safety and security of citizens.
“Citizens, on the other hand, must constantly see the need to show support for troops to win the war,” he said.
In the North-East, Maj.-Gen. Buba reported that troops from Operation Hadin Kai neutralized 63 terrorists, apprehended 38 suspects, rescued 35 kidnapped hostages, and seized a significant amount of arms and ammunition.
Between August 28 and September 4, 196 terrorists—19 adult males, 70 adult females, and 107 children—surrendered to the troops. On August 31, the air component conducted a successful strike, killing an ISWAP spiritual leader, Goni Sanda, and several other terrorists in Borno.
In the North-Central region, troops from Operations Safe Haven and Whirl Stroke neutralized three extremists, apprehended 40 suspects, and rescued 28 hostages.
In the North-West, Operation Hadarin Daji forces killed 105 terrorists, arrested 21, and rescued 36 hostages, along with recovering a significant cache of weapons. Operation Whirl Punch also reported neutralizing 16 terrorists, apprehending nine suspects, and rescuing two hostages.
In the Niger Delta, Operation Delta Safe troops dismantled 58 illegal refining sites, 36 dugout pits, 40 boats, 22 drums, and 27 storage tanks. They also destroyed 32 cooking ovens, six speedboats, three vehicles, three motorcycles, one pumping machine, and one generator.
Additionally, they recovered 725,920 liters of stolen crude oil and 475,250 liters of illegally refined diesel, apprehending 36 suspected oil thieves and recovering vehicles. Air interdiction missions targeted Bugama, Idama, Cawthorne Channel, and Krakrama, destroying over 17 illegal refining sites and several canoes.
In the South-East, Operation UDO KA troops arrested two violent extremists and rescued two hostages. All seized items, detained suspects, and rescued hostages have been handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action.