Troops Eliminate 5 Terrorists, Seize Arms, Rescue 11 Kidnap Victims
Troops of the Nigerian Army have eliminated five terrorists, rescued 11 kidnapped victims, and arrested 21 criminal suspects during a series of coordinated and intelligence-driven operations across various theatres of operation.
A credible military source disclosed the development to PRNigeria on Wednesday, noting that the operations, conducted between July 12 and July 14, also led to the recovery of arms, ammunition, and other logistics.
According to the source, troops of the 82 Division Task Force Battalion, working in collaboration with the Civilian Joint Task Force and local hunters, neutralised one terrorist in an ambush at Ngoshe–Agapalwa, located in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
Similarly, troops of 1 Brigade on patrol in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State engaged and killed a terrorist, recovering a motorcycle used by the criminal.
In another operation, personnel of Operation Safe Haven neutralised two extremists in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State. Arms, ammunition, and a motorcycle were recovered at the scene.
Troops under Operation Whirl Stroke also rescued 10 kidnapped victims during a successful raid in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State, while another victim was rescued by troops of the Defence Headquarters Special Operations Battalion and the Chief of Army Staff Intervention Battalion in Gudu Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
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The source further revealed that troops apprehended 21 suspects involved in various criminal activities, including terrorism, kidnapping, arms dealing, illegal oil bunkering, and cultism.
Those arrested include three suspected terrorist collaborators in Kwara State, two suspected kidnappers in Edo State, one arms dealer in Kaduna State, and 11 suspected cultists in Rivers State. Additional arrests linked to illegal oil refining and logistics supply were made in Yobe, Rivers, and Bayelsa States.
Recovered items from these operations include three AK-47 rifles, multiple magazines, 108 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, a Baofeng radio, several mobile phones, motorcycles, and materials suspected to be used for insurgent logistics.
In further operations targeting economic sabotage, troops of the 34 Artillery Brigade and 197 Special Forces Battalion uncovered and dismantled several illegal refining sites in Rivers, Bayelsa, and Imo States. Over 370,000 litres of stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products were recovered, along with cooking drums, reservoirs, and other equipment.
“These operations underscore the Nigerian Army’s steadfast commitment to dismantling terrorist networks, protecting civilians, and safeguarding the nation’s territorial integrity,” the source stated.
He added that the Army continues to urge members of the public to provide credible information that can aid ongoing security operations aimed at flushing out criminal elements across the country.
By PRNigeria
