By SUMAILA OGBAJE

The Strategic Communication Interagency Policy Committee (SCIPC) said the armed forces of Nigeria in June, neutralised 857 terrorists, arrested 1,638 suspected terrorists and other criminal elements, and rescued 921 kidnapped hostages.

SCIPC is a committee of the spokespersons of the military, police, intelligence and response agencies set up by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

The update was presented at the news conference by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Thursday in Abuja.

Adejobi said the troops recovered 894 weapons, 21,538 ammunition and denied the oil thieves of an estimated sum over N5 billion during the month.

He gave the breakdown of recovered arms and ammunition to include 313 AK47 rifles, 76 locally fabricated guns, 92 dane guns, and 14,243 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo.

According to him, 4,209 rounds of 7.62mm NΑΤΟ, 222 assorted arms and 3,369 assorted ammunition were also recovered.

“Others are 3,994,080 litres of stolen crude oil, 1,879,630 litres of illegally refined AGO, 29,275 litres of DPK and 26,900 litres of PMS amongst other items,’’ he said.

Adejobi said that the security agencies had demonstrated unwavering dedication to maintaining and preserving Nigeria’s territorial integrity and ensuring the safety of its citizens.

He said the resolve and fighting spirit of armed forces remained unshaken, leading to numerous successes across various theatres of operation.

According to him, the Nigerian military reportedly eliminated 2,245 terrorists and apprehended 3,682 others in the past three months, showcasing the sustained and effective operations against insurgent elements.

“In a notable victory, a notorious terrorist was captured in Yobe on June 13.

“Further demonstrating the proactive stance of the security agencies, the army announced on June 15 the deployment of 5,937 new soldiers to combat banditry, secessionist agitation, and other threats.

“The MNJTF also eliminated 70 terrorists in on-going Operation Lake Sanity 2 in the Lake Chad Basin in recent airstrikes targeting terrorist camps in Cameroon and Nigeria.

“The operation resulted in the killing of many terrorists and forcing others to flee into Chad.

“The operation also destroyed eight vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs) near Arinna Ciki and ammunition bunkers northeast of Malam Fatori,’’ he added.

The force spokesman said the military also recorded several operational breakthroughs in Kogi with the rescue of abducted Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH) students.

He said that the maritime security had been a focal point, with the Nigerian Navy taking significant steps to combat oil theft, destroying illegal refining sites and interception of N10 billion worth of stolen crude oil.

This according to him highlighted the scale of the issue and the navy’s determination to safeguard national assets.

“During the time under review, the Nigerian Army also took delivery of two Bell UH-1″Huey” helicopters to strengthen its ability to provide air cover for troops battling insecurity across the country.

“The first batch of those two Bell UH-1 “Huey” helicopters, each equipped with advanced sensors to conduct various missions including reconnaissance, rescue, and medical evacuations, was received in June.

“The unwavering dedication to safeguarding lives and maintaining national security is evident in the successes achieved in recent operations, reaffirming our resolve to protect the nation,” he added. (NAN)

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