By SUMAILA OGBAJE

The Defence Headquarters said troops eliminated 125 terrorists, apprehended 200 others and rescued 140 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 Friday in Abuja, while giving update on the operations of the military across the country.

Buba said the troops recovered 120 assorted weapons and 1,793 assorted ammunition, comprising 56 AK47 rifles, 26 locally fabricated gun, 22 dane guns, one SMG rifle and seven pump action guns.

He said others are one fabricated barretta pistol, 5x60mm mortar bomb and Unexploded Ordinances, 1,244 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 383 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 88 rounds of 7.62x54mm, 78 live cartridges and 24 empty case of 7.62mm ammo.

He added that 21 AK47 magazines, one baofeng radio, six vehicles, 11 motorcycles, five bicycles, 38 mobile phones and the sum of N2.7 million amongst other items, were also recovered.

In the North East, Buba said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai, neutralised 52 terrorists, arrested 40 suspects and rescued 14 kidnapped hostages within the week.

He said the troops recovered 23 AK47 rifles, seven fabricated rifles, five dane guns, one SMG gun, 16 magazines, 408 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 112 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 88 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo and 5x60mm mortal bombs amongst others.

In the North Central, Buba said the troops of Operations Safe Haven and Whirl Stroke neutralised 22 insurgents, arrested 38 violent extremists and rescued 27 kidnapped hostages.

In the North West, he said the troops of Hadarin Daji, neutralised 31 terrorists, arrested 21 terrorists and rescued 30 kidnapped hostages, as well as recovered cache of arms.

According to him, the air component conducted an air interdiction on July 12, following intelligence and confirmatory ISR on converging of suspected terrorists around Bukuru in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State.

“Battle Damage Assessment revealed that several terrorists were eliminated and their logistics destroyed.

“The troops of Operation Whirl Punch conducted offensive operations to Kwali Area Council of FCT Abuja, as well as Lokoja and Adavi LGA of Kogi State during the week.

“On July 8 and July 12, the air component of Operation conducted air interdiction on terrorists’ kingpins enclaves.

“The air strikes were on enclaving belonging to terrorist commander Alhaji Layi’s in Giwa LGA of Kaduna State.

“Battle Damage Assessment revealed that several terrorists were neutralised and their structures destroyed,” he added.

Buba also said that the air interdiction conducted at terrorists camps located in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killed several terrorists and destroyed their structures as well as logistics.

He said the troops, neutralised 18 terrorists, arrested 13 suspects and rescued 53 kidnapped hostages during the week. (NAN)

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