By SUMAILA OGBAJE

The Defence Headquarters says troops have eliminated no fewer than 358 terrorists, apprehended 431 suspects and rescued 249 kidnapped hostages between Jan. 1 and 31.

This is contained in a statement by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, on Friday in Abuja.

Buba said the troops had continued to sustain the tempo in defeating terrorists and their cohorts in ongoing counter terrorist and insurgency operations across the country.

He said the troops recovered 370 weapons and 4,972 ammunitions, comprising 105 AK47 rifles, 25 locally fabricated guns, and 32 dane guns.

Buba added that 23 pump action guns, 3,066 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 758 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 980 cartridges, 72 assorted arms and 500 assorted ammunitions were also recovered.

In the North East, Buba said that troops of Operation Hadin Kai had sustained the tempo against terrorists and their cohorts across the theatre during the month.

He said the troops launched both ground and air offensives on terrorists, neutralising 193 terrorists, apprehended 89 suspects and rescued 39 kidnapped hostages.

According to him, troops recorded 95 surrendered Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists? combatants and their families.

In the North Central, Buba said the troops of Operations Safe Haven and Whirl Stroke, neutralised 22 violent extremists, nabbed 149 and rescued 73 kidnap hostages.

He said that the troops also recovered a cache of arms and ammunition.

In the North West, he said the troops of Operation Fasan Yamma, neutralised 102 terrorists, arrested 134 suspects and rescued 100 kidnapped hostages with a large cache of arms and ammunition.

In the South-South, Buba said the troops of Operation Delta Safe, apprehended 59 perpetrators of oil theft and denied them of an estimated sum of over N2 billion.

He said the troops also recovered 2.7 million litres of stolen crude oil, 42,515 litres of illegally refined AGO, 200 litres of DPK and 2,250 litres of PMS amongst other items.

In the South East, he said the troops of Operation UDO KA neutralised 41 terrorists, arrested 57 suspects and rescued 37 kidnap hostages.

?Overall, the armed forces continue to fight admirably in defeating terrorists and their cohorts across the country.

?Troops remain focused on creating conditions in which the safety and security of citizens is assured,? he added. (NAN)

Update news