By SUMAILA OGBAJE

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says troops eliminated 187 terrorists, apprehended 183 others and rescued 109 kidnapped hostages in different operations across the country in the last one week.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, made this known on Thursday in Abuja, while briefing newsmen on the operations of the military across the country.

Buba said the troops recovered 128 assorted weapons and 3,300 assorted ammunition comprising 80 AK-47 rifles and 15 locally fabricated guns.

He said the troops also covered 1,941 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo and 729 rounds of 7.62mm NATO among others.

Buba said that in the North East, the troops of Operation Hadin Kai, conducted successful offensive operations in Dikwa, Gwoza, Bama, Kukawa, Chibok, Damboa, Kaga, Gamboru-Ngala and Konduga area of Borno.

He said troops neutralised 97 terrorists, arrested 45 suspects and rescued 21 kidnapped hostages as well as recovered 47 AK-47 rifles and 15 fabricated rifles among others.

According to him, a total of 832 terrorist comprising 88 adult males 256 adult females and 488 children surrendered between July 3 and July 9 within the theatre of operations.

“In the North Central, the troops of Operation Safe Haven conducted successful fighting patrols, raids, counter/anti-kidnapping operations in Plateau and Kaduna States.

“Troops neutralised 11 insurgents, arrested 29 violent extremists and rescued 20 kidnapped hostages as well as recovered cache of arms and ammunition”, he said.

He also said that troops of Operation Whirl Stroke conducted successful offensive operations, arrested suspected violent extremists in Karu Local Government Areas of Nasarawa State and AMAC Abuja.

He said the troops conducted operations in Wukari, Lau, Ussa and Sardauna Local Government Areas of Taraba as well as Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue.

“Overall, troops of Operation Whirl Stroke neutralised four terrorists, arrested 21 violent extremists and rescued 11 kidnapped hostages.

“Troops recovered one AK-47 rifle, one dane gun, one locally made pistol, 62 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 12 rounds of 9mm ammo, nine empty cases of 7.62mm special, 26 empty cases of cartridges, one motorcycle amongst others,’’ he said.

In the North West, Buba said the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji neutralised 47 terrorists, arrested 17 terrorists and rescued 33 kidnapped hostages,

He said the troops recovered one PKT gun, 14 AK-47 rifles, five dane guns, 429 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 195 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 12 magazines, and 24 motorcycles among others.

Under Operation Whirl Punch, Buba said the troops neutralised 21 terrorists, arrested 23 suspects and rescued 22 kidnapped hostages in one week.

According to him, troops recovered nine AK-47 rifles, four dane guns, five magazines, 261 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 91 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, amongst others.

He added that In the South-South, troops of Operation Delta Safe, had maintained momentum against the activities of crude oil thieves, destroying several illegal refining sites and recovering stolen products.

He said the troops conducted offensive operations and arrested violent extremists in Ovia South-West Local Government Area in Edo as well as Ikono, Ika and Abak Local Government Areas in Akwa Ibom.

He said the troops recovered 1.1 million litres of stolen crude oil, 213,539 litres of illegally refined AGO and 1,230 litres of PMS.

According to him, troops discovered and destroyed 18 dugout pits, 30 boats, 49 storage tanks, 66 cooking ovens, four drums, five speedboats, 15 vehicles and 57 illegal refining sites.

”Troops apprehended 43 suspected oil thieves and other violent extremists as well as recovered 44 assorted ammo’’, he said.

In the South East, Buba said the troops of Operation UDO KA, neutralised four terrorists, arrested eight violent extremists and rescued two kidnapped hostages.

According to him, troops recovered one AK-47 rifle, one pump action gun, one locally fabricated pistol, one locally made double barrel gun, 191 rounds of 5.55m ammo and two primed IEDs materials.

In the South West, he said troops of Operation AWATSE neutralised three terrorists and arrested 10 violent extremists as well as recovered cache of arms and ammunition.

According to him, all recovered items, arrested suspects and rescued hostages were handed over to the relevant authority for further action. (NAN)

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