DEADLY: Military Kills 102 Terrorists, Arrests 345, Rescues 393 In July
The Armed Forces of Nigeria neutralised over 102 terrorists and other criminals, arrested 345 suspects and rescued 393 kidnap victims across the country in July, the Defence Headquarters has said.
The military also recovered 59 arms and 1,811 rounds of ammunition while 57 terrorists and their family members surrendered to troops during operations conducted across the country’s six geopolitical zones.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed this on Friday during the monthly press briefing on ongoing military operations at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.
Onoja said the successes were recorded through sustained offensive operations, intelligence-led raids, search-and-rescue missions and collaboration with other security agencies and local groups.
He said troops also continued to protect strategic national corridors, interstate roads and rail networks to facilitate the safe movement of Nigerians, goods and services.
In the North-East, troops of Operation HADIN KAI neutralised 54 terrorists, arrested 102 and rescued 102 kidnapped victims, while 57 insurgents and their family members surrendered.
The operation also recorded a major blow to the leadership structure of Boko Haram/ISWAP following the reported neutralisation of Abu Salim al-Barnawi, a senior terrorist commander and propaganda chief, during an attack in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.
Troops also recorded the surrender of a senior ISWAP finance operative along the Gamboru-Wulgo Main Supply Route, who reportedly handed over an AK-47 rifle, four magazines, 101 rounds of ammunition, a motorcycle and cash.
In the North-West, troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA rescued 191 kidnap victims, neutralised 33 terrorists and arrested 66 others across Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
The troops also recovered weapons and ammunition during several operations and rescued scores of civilians from terrorist and kidnappers’ camps.
Among those rescued were the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda, Dr Aminu Yusuf, and members of his family, as well as other victims abducted during attacks across Zamfara and Sokoto states.
In the North-Central, troops operating under Operations SAVANNAH SHIELD, ENDURING PEACE and WHIRL STROKE also recorded significant successes against kidnappers, terrorists, arms traffickers and militia groups.
Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD recorded eight terrorists neutralised, 18 arrested and 11 kidnap victims rescued, while Operation ENDURING PEACE neutralised two terrorists, arrested 60 suspects and rescued 18 victims.
Similarly, Operation WHIRL STROKE neutralised five terrorists, arrested 70 and rescued 24 kidnap victims across Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Taraba states.
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The operation also neutralised a notorious terrorist kingpin identified as Puuga in Benue State and rescued several victims, including a school principal, a National Examinations Council official and two students abducted during an attack on an examination centre in Kogi State.
In the South-South, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE arrested three terrorists, rescued 37 civilians and dismantled 18 illegal refining sites while recovering over 250,500 litres of petroleum products.
The troops also disrupted kidnapping and piracy operations while intensifying the military’s campaign against crude oil theft, illegal refining and other forms of economic sabotage in the Niger Delta.
In the South-East, troops of Operation UDO KA arrested 26 criminals and rescued 10 civilians during operations against secessionist agitators, gunrunners, kidnappers and economic saboteurs across Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Imo and Rivers states.
The troops also recovered several rifles, ammunition and other weapons from criminal hideouts.
The Air Component of the Armed Forces equally supported ground operations with precision air strikes and armed reconnaissance missions.
Onoja said air strikes conducted in Niger State on July 25 successfully neutralised terrorists advancing along the Kontagora axis after intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions confirmed their hostile intent.
He added that an earlier air intervention on July 6 enabled about nine kidnap victims abducted by terrorists in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State to escape.
Beyond kinetic operations, the Armed Forces also intensified civil-military cooperation activities across the country, including community peace meetings, infrastructure projects, health interventions and mediation between oil companies and host communities.
In Borno State, troops responded to a cholera outbreak in Cross Kauwa, Kukawa Local Government Area, by supporting temporary treatment and quarantine measures in collaboration with health authorities.
Onoja said the Armed Forces also facilitated the construction of community facilities, solar-powered boreholes, town halls, schools and other infrastructure in communities across several states.
The Defence Media Operations director said the military’s July operations demonstrated the Armed Forces’ resolve to degrade the capabilities of terrorists and criminal groups while creating a secure environment for socio-economic development.
He also commended troops and other security agencies for their role in the safe rescue of 44 pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15.
According to him, the rescue was achieved without conceding to the demands of the abductors.
“The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede, commends the professionalism of troops across all theatres of operation for the successes recorded during the month of July,” Onoja said.
He said the CDS reaffirmed the military’s commitment to protecting lives and property and eliminating terrorism, kidnapping, secessionist agitation and other forms of criminality across the country.
Onoja urged Nigerians to regard national security as a shared responsibility and provide timely and accurate information to security agencies to support ongoing operations.
By PRNigeria
