By JOHN NWOKOCHA, Abuja

The Nigerian troops have eliminated no fewer than 145 Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP)/Boko Haram terrorists, in all its theatre of operations across the country in three weeks. The troops also rescued about 34 victims of kidnap.

Besides this, the Defence Headquarters stated that 550 children were among terrorists who surrendered to the troops deployed at different locations in the country.

Giving details of the operations in his bi-weekly briefing at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja on Thursday, Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Bernard Onyeuko, said the troops launched the offensives against the terrorists between January 20 and February 10 2022. He said the Nigerian troops recorded significant results in their fight against terrorist.

He noted that under OPERATION HADIN KAI, troops consolidated their operational success against Boko Haram and ISWAP in the last three weeks.

“Some of the areas which the operations were conducted are; Bama, Gwoza, Monguno, Kanduga, Damboa, Damasak, Gudumbali and Nganzi Local Government Area.”

He continued: “Kukawa, Chibok as well as Sambisa Forest, Kirta Wulgo in Marte Local Government of Borno State.”

According to Onyeuko, “Troops also recorded significant results at various locations in Adamawa and Yobe State around Goniri in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State. Notably the air interdiction at eliminated several ISWAP Commanders and their fighters during the encounter. An ISWAP senior commander Mallam Ari, the Amirul Fiya in charge of Kirta Wulgo and some foreign mercenaries fabricating Improvised Explosive Device for the terrorist were killed during the airstrike.

“Relatedly, the Air Component conducted air strikes on ISWAP enclaves at Abbaganaram, Bukar Mairam, Chukum Gudu and Jubilaram in Marte Local Government Area neutralized scores of terrorists including high profile Commanders while about 25 Terrorists got drowned in the lake in an attempt to escape the bombardment.

“The ISWAP armoury and warehouse were also destroyed and arrest of several terrorists recovery of assorted arms, ammunition and captured their gun trucks and other weapons.

“Also, livestock and other items of security concern were recovered as well as rescued abducted civilians.”

Altogether, Onyeuko said, “The troops within the period under review, neutralized 120 fighters, arrested 50 of the terrorists, 5 gun trucks, 50 assorted arms and 200 rounds of different calibers of ammunition were captured from the terrorists.”

He pointed out that troops, in addition to all that, rescued 25 abducted civilians.

Giving further breakdown Onyeuko said: “Similarly, a total of 965 terrorists and their families and 550 children surrendered to our troops deployed at different location including: Gamboru, Tumbumma, Kukawa, Baga, Gwoza, Mallam Fotori, Damboa, Kirta Wulgo, Bun Yadi, Gujiba, Madiya all in Borno and Yobe State.

“It is noteworthy to state that out of the 965 terrorists that surrendered within the period under review 104 are from ISWAP Camp that surrendered to own troops at Marte.

“The surrendered terrorist have been properly documented and handed over to the appropriate authorities for necessary action.”

Regarding OPERATION HADARIN DAJI, the troops, according to him, have within the last three weeks maintained the operational pace by conducting clearance operations on criminal enclaves across the theatre.

“The troops’ operational efforts have yielded notable result in some locations such as; Alawa village along Moroki-Dogo Karfe road, Gidan Algo village under Kotorkoshi district in Bungudu Local Government area, Garaki village, Kpele and Gororo villages in Bakura Local Government Area, Kukamaiskeka village, Farin Ruwa in Maril Local Government Area, Kura and Agama Lafiya villages under Rajiya District in Gusau Local Government Area, Gobirawan Dawan Jiya in Anka Local Government Area, Magazu village all in Zamfara State. other operational locations were Denge Shuni Local Government area, Gaido village, and Dankade village in Kebbi State,” he said.

“Other operational locations were, Tikawa village, Malugo village, Shadadi and Zamfarawa village under Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area. Troops also conducted operational activities in other locations like Golodanchi and Margai village in Sokoto and Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina respectively.

“Consequently, these operations resulted in the recovery of 40 AK-47 rifles, and assorted arms and 340 rounds of different calibres of ammunition, 45 motorcycles and decimations of scores of bandits and 90 rustled livestock were recovered by own troops,” the Director Defence Media Operation stated.

As for OPERATION SAFE HAVEN, the troops within the past three weeks carried out several operational activities at different locations of the theatre that yielded tremendous results.

He said that some of the operations included the ones executed at Gada Biu, Kabong, Rikkos, Bauchi Road in Jos North Local Government Area, Hawankibo in Riyom Local Government, Kuru, Mushuru Tungur and Mushere areas in Bokos Local Government Area, Adu village in Bassa Local Government Area, Kuru Tasha Weren in Riyan Local Government Area all in Plataeu State.

“Other locations are; Kurmin Masara and Bakin Kogi in Zango Kataf Local Government Area, Kafanchan, Kurfi Zarkwai village Maganiya District, Sonje village under Agban District, Tudun Wada in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State,” he added.

“scores of criminal elements including; kidnappers, bandits, fraudsters, armed robbers, illegal arms dealers and their collaborators, drug peddlers as well as rescued kidnapped persons and recovered several security related items.

“Thus, within the period own troops arrested 50 criminal elements and rescued 13 kidnapped victims. Also, troops recovered 33 arms and 150 calibers of ammunitions, 450 rustled livestock among other items of security concern in the course of their operations,” he said.

Also spoke on OPERATION WHIRL STROKE, saying that in the last three weeks the troops carried out operations at Akpanaja, Antie Rukubi Junction in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. He disclosed that other locations included: Tor-Damisah, Takum, Wukari all in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State.

Also, the troops conducted operational activities at Igumale forest in Ado Local Government Area, Konte village in Katsina Ala Local Government Area, North Bank area of Makurdi, and Akpanaja/Anyie general area in Ado Local Government Area of Benue State.

Consequently, a total of 25 criminals were arrested, while large caches of assorted arms and different calibers of ammunition were recovered.

While launching assaults on the criminal elements three, troops rescued 10 kidnapped persons, eight trucks laden with vandalized railway track sleepers, three cars, seven motorcycles with large quantities of Marijuana impounded.

On OPERATION DELTA SAFE, he said: “In this theatre troops conducted operations at different locations, in creeks, villages and towns in Obelle, Rumuekpe, Oduoha, Isiokpo, Ibas in Emohua Local Government Area, Samkiri Community, Idodha/Ozochi Communities in Ahoada West Local Government all in Rivers State.”

Onyeuko said other locations included; Opuama, Warri North Local Government Area, Madangbo Creek in Warri South Local Government Area, Gbene Community, Abalama Community all in Delta State.

He noted that the troops in the last two weeks, discovered and destroyed a total of 45 illegal refining sites, 72 cooking ovens, 127 metal storage tanks, 30 dug out pits, two Cotonou boats, 47 pumping machine, nine tankers.

“Consequently, a total of 2,531,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil and 2,807,000 litres of stolen crude oil were recovered in the course of the operations in addition, 20 coolants, nine tankers were recovered.

“Also, 50 galvanized pipes illegally connected to pipelines were excavated, 12 economic saboteurs associated with pipeline vandalization were arrested within the period. All the apprehended criminals and recovered items have been handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action,” Onyeuko said.

The Military High Command commended the troops in the frontlines of operations in the various theatre for their sacrifices in combating various security challenges confronting the nation.

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