. . . As troops nab top terrorists’ informant, Bulama Suri, destroy22 illegal oil refining sites

By JOHN NWOKOCHA, Abuja

Due to the ongoing sustained onslaught by Nigerian troops against terrorists in Borno state, some active terrorist fighters have surrendered and claimed they have lost interest in their terrorist ideology, Nigerian defence authorities have said.

Disclosing this during his media briefing on military operations in the nine theatres of troop operations across Nigeria, Director of Defence Media Operations (DMO), Major-General Edwards Buba, on Thursday in Abuja, said that troops also arrested a high-profile terrorists’ collaborator identified as Bulama Suri. “He is a terrorists' spy and collaborator, residing at Gaulawa and Gwazari villages at Kukawa in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State,” Buba said.

“Items recovered from the terrorists were generally food items and cows,” he disclosed.

Buba who said troops conducted fighting patrol to Awada in Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State and made contact with Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province terrorist, informed that following a fire fight, troops neutralized two terrorists, captured two others and rescued one victim.

According to Buba: “The Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI conducted several air operations against terrorist enclaves and their logistics bases in order to degrade them. Notably, the air component conducted air reconnaissance and intelligence at terrorists’ hideouts in Hyawa in Borno State. The location was active with terrorists' activities, acquired and subsequently attacked with bombs. After action review revealed that many of the terrorists were neutralized and their structures destroyed.”

“Troops rescued10 kidnapped civilians during these operations,” Buba added.

Speaking further, he said within the period in reference, troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI sustained their offensives against bandits in Zamfara and its environs as well as states in the North West.

Troops recovered two motorcycles and one Dane gun, as well as destroyed terrorists camp and storage facilities, while responding to information on terrorist attack at Nahuta village in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State and made contact with the terrorists.

Similarly, in the course of operations, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE recovered 367,200 litres of crude oil, 27,150 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, 550 assorted rounds of ammunition, 12 calibers of weapons, 7 empty magazines, 17 cutlasses, 3 vehicles, 19 motorcycles and 1 dagger. Troops equally destroyed 22 illegal refining sites, 15 wooden boats, 34 storage tanks, 96 ovens and 16 dugout pits. While a total of 60 suspected criminals were apprehended within the period.

“It is noteworthy to state that an estimated sum of N202,788,300.00 was denied the oil thefts during the period in focus,” he stated.