DHQ: Troops Kill 324 Terrorists, Rescues 610 Victims in August
The Defence Headquarters says troops of neutralised over 324 terrorists and criminals, arrested 373 others and rescued 610 kidnap victims across the country in August.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists on ongoing military operations at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
Onoja said the operations were conducted across the various geopolitical zones through coordinated land, air and maritime operations aimed at degrading terrorist and criminal networks, rescuing abducted citizens, disrupting arms trafficking and protecting critical national assets.
He added that 201 insurgents surrendered to troops during the month, while security forces recovered 88 arms and 2,077 rounds of ammunition.
In the North-East, troops of Operation HADIN KAI neutralised 114 terrorists, arrested 146 and rescued 60 kidnap victims, while 201 terrorists surrendered during the reporting period.
The theatre also recorded several major rescue operations, including the recovery of abducted women and children from terrorist enclaves in Borno State.
In the North-West, troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA rescued 126 kidnap victims, neutralised 190 terrorists and arrested 47 others.
Troops also disrupted terrorist logistics and arms supply networks, including the arrest of suspected gunrunners and recovery of explosives and firearms.
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In the North-Central, Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD rescued 329 kidnap victims and neutralised seven terrorists, while Operation ENDURING PEACE rescued 15 victims and arrested 82 suspected terrorists.
Similarly, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE rescued 38 kidnap victims, neutralised three terrorists and arrested 31 others across Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Taraba states.
In the South-South, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE arrested 43 criminals, rescued 38 civilians and dismantled 21 illegal refining sites. The operation also led to the recovery of hundreds of thousands of litres of suspected stolen and illegally refined petroleum products.
In the South-East, troops of Operation UDO KA arrested 20 criminals, neutralised five terrorists and rescued four civilians while conducting operations against secessionist elements, armed criminal gangs and kidnapping networks.
The Defence Headquarters said the Air Component also sustained precision strikes, armed reconnaissance and surveillance missions across the theatres.
In one of the operations, air strikes in Niger State targeted terrorists and disrupted their movements, with one operation resulting in the neutralisation of 46 terrorists.
Onoja said the operational gains reflected the military’s sustained pressure on terrorist and criminal networks, enhanced intelligence gathering, inter-agency cooperation and continued support from local communities.
He said the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, remained resolute in ensuring the rescue of all kidnap victims, protection of civilians and creation of a secure environment for uninterrupted socio-economic activities.
The CDS also urged Nigerians to continue supporting security agencies with credible information, stressing that the fight against terrorism and criminality remains a collective national responsibility.
