The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says troops have been ?strategically deployed? to ensure that the off-cycle governorship election scheduled for Saturday in Edo State is violence-free, fair, and credible.

It said the troops? role was to support the police to ensure voters? safety and security.

The military high command, which spoke through the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen Edward Buba, said troops? presence is to thwart the activities of criminal elements bent on fermenting the crisis during the elections.

Giving an update on troops operations in other parts of the country, the defence spokesman said troops killed 159 terrorists, arrested 174 criminals, and rescued 188 kidnap victims.

He said troops In the Niger Delta region troops recovered 788,400 litres of stolen crude oil, 28,995 litres of illegally refined disiel, 300 litres of kerosene and 3,000 litres of petrol.

Gen. Buba said troops also destroyed 71 illegal refining sites and arrested 45 oil thieves.

He said: ?Furthermore, troops recovered 151 assorted weapons and 12,401 assorted ammunition. The breakdown is as follows: three PKT guns, one SLR, 92 AK47 rifles, 25 fabricated rifles, 15 dane guns, four pump action guns, four locally made pistols, one pistol, two RPG tubes, one RPG bomb, 66 AK47 magazines, one FN magazine, two locally fabricated hand grenades.

?Others are 10,346 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 1,094 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 92 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammo, 479 rounds of PKT ammo, 182 rounds of MG ammo, 43 rounds of 9.5mm ammo, 12 rounds of 9mm ammo, 35 live cartridges, 35 empty cases of 7.62mm ammo, two baofeng radios, 15 vehicles, 39 motorcycles, 28 mobile phones and the sum of N5,386,200.00, amongst other items.?

The defence spokesman said troops have taken resolute steps in ending terrorism and insecurity in the country, through ongoing operations.

He said: ?Accordingly, the operations are yielding desired results as troops dismantle terrorist networks and decimate their leadership and combatants. Indeed, several of the terrorist leaders and commanders have been eliminated from the battlefield.

?Our operations against the terrorist and violent extremists remain aimed at providing security and stability for the nation and citizens. Troops will therefore continue to be relentless in pursuit of ending all forms of insecurity across the country.? (The Nation)

Update news