The Defence Headquarters (DHQ)has warned that no one will strike at the Nigerian military without injurious consequences.

Addressing newsmen atthe bi-weekly media briefing on troops operational successes across the six geopolitical regions, the Director, Defence Media Operation (DMO), Major General Edward Buba said troops also neutralized 28 terrorists, arrested 92, six gunrunners, three kidnappers, six collaborators and seven perpetrators of oil theft.

Major General Buba who was speaking on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa noted that the military is strategically deployed across the country to conduct operations aimed at curtailing the activities of violent extremist groups fomenting insecurity in the country.

According to him, “Troops will continue to use superior military force to eliminate any group or groups that constitutes a threat to the safety of citizens and own forces alike. Again, no group will strike the military with injurious consequences.

“To this end, troops will continue to respond with overwhelming military force against any group that threatens the safety of citizens and own forces. The menand women of the armed forces will continue to put themselves in harms ways, time and time again, to protect our great nation,: he added.

During the week leading to 17 August 2023, General Buba disclosed that, “The military neutralized 28 terrorists, arrested 92 terrorists, 6 gun runners, 3 kidnappers, 6 collaborators, 7 perpetrators of oil theft.

Troops also rescued 82 kidnapped hostages and denied oil theft the sum of N876, 451,800.00 only. “Overall, troops recovered 108 weapons and 564 ammunitions.

The breakdown as follows: 22 AK47 rifles, one PKT gun, 6 pump action guns, 4 dane guns, one fabricated rifle, one galil ace rifle, one RGP bomb, one RPG tube, 44 hand grenades, 322 rounds of 7.62mm special, 63 rounds of 12.7mm ammo, 12 rounds of 5.6mm ammo, 33 AK47 magazines, one empty case of 7.62mm special and 3 empty magazines.

Other items include; 14 motorcycles, 16 mobile phones, 3 motorolla radio, one boafeng radio, 2 motorcycle tyres, 5 touch lights, 2 solar panels, 104 livestock and the sum of N2,896,400.00.

“Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 36 dugout pits, 62 wooden boats, 73 storage tanks, one vehicle and 75 cooking ovens. Others include; 4 pumping machine, 5 outboard engine and 33 illegal refining sites. Furthermore, troopsrecovered 1,166,900 litres of stolen crude oil, 1,491,250 litres of illegally refined AGO, 54,750 litres of DPK and 800 litres of PMS.

“No doubt, the armed forces possess the power and the will to hunt down those that wish to bring harm upon our citizens. The ongoing operation is a message to those that question the resolve of the military.

“It is also a message to members of these violent extremist groups that think they can hide. They can be rest assured that others shall raise their sons and daughters, as no one will strike at the military without injurious consequences.”(Daily Independent)