The Nigerian Defence Headquarters says a total number of 1,158 terrorists and their families have surrendered to the troops of Operation Hadin Kai.
They comprise 164 men, 367 women and 627 children in Borno State, North East, Nigeria..
The Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Bernard Onyeuko disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja.
General Onyeuko also said that “troops neutralised 23 terrorists, rescued 619 civilians and arrested 19 terrorists”.
According to him, all surrendered Boko Haram Terrorists, recovered items, rescued civilians and captured terrorists have been handed over to appropriate authorities for further actions.
In another development, the Islamic State of West Africa Province fighters on 5GTs attempted to attack Nigerian Petroleum Product Company Depot in Diffa near Nigeria/Niger border. The attack was repelled and unspecified number of terrorists were killed.
Subsequently, the Joint Security Forces of Nigeria and Niger Republic successfully destroyed the 5GTs.
Also, the troops arrested Abdurrazaq Hudu, a logistics supplier of Islamic State of West Africa Province at Mutum Biyu village in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State, North East Nigeria.
The troops recovered of 49 AK 47 rifles, 728 rounds of 7.62mm, 4 MG’s, 1 G3 rfiles, 360mm mortar, 1 AA gun, 1 SMG, 6 Magazines, 1 hand grenade, 1 UXO anti tank RPG bomb, 11dane guns, 1 gun tripod, 1 binocular, 5 bandoliers, 8crowbas.
Other items recovered includes; Seven motorcycles, 31 bicycles, 4 heavy duty generators, 3 Canoes, 3 tri-cycles, 4 motorcycles, 22 sewing machines, 1video camera, 4 grinding machines, 8 mobile phones, 4 cars, 4 trucks, 1 Toyota buffalo vehicle, 8 drums of grains, medical syringes and 43,000:00Naira cash.
General Onyeuko noted that as part of the non kinetic operations measure to bring lasting peace to the troubled parts of Kaduna State under the OPERATION SAFE HAVEN theatre of operations, the Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor conducted an operational visit to Kaduna State.
During the visit, General Irabor met critical stakeholders drawn from 5 local government areas of the troubled parts of Southern Kaduna.
He also interacted with retired military senior officers of Southern Kaduna extraction to chart ways towards bringing an end to the incessant attacks in the area.
According to him, the visit has impacted positively to the peace efforts in the area.
In a related development, troops while on patrol received a distress call on the activities of criminal elements in Heipang in BarkinLadi Local Government Area of Plateau State, North Central Nigeria.
General Onyeuko noted that “troops quickly moved into swift action and on sighting their own troops the criminal fled in disarray.”
He said that “the exploit led to the recovery of 178 rustled cows, stressing that the recovered cows were handed over to the appropriate authority for further handing over to the owner.
He noted that troops also carried out series of community engagements, sensitisation programme and civil military cooperation’s activities to engage relevant civil society in a non-kinetic approach in resolving lingering security challenges which has recorded a huge successes in curtailing banditry and other criminal’s related activities in the theatre of operation.
Secessionist Activities
According to him, the proscribed Independent People of Biafra attacked the South East Security outfit EBUBE AGU at Echara/Agubia in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi in the process one of the assailants was killed and 5 others were arrested.
In a related development troops of 82 Division arrested 4, criminal’s elements of the Independent People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network and recovered some AK 47 rifles, one pistol, 5 magazines, 30 rounds of 7.62mm (special) and some rounds of 9mm in Abakaliki, South East Nigeria.
Operation Delta Safe
Troops in OPERATION DELTA SAFE theatre of operation have continued to clamp down on the activities of oil thieves and other criminal elements in the Area of Operation in Asari Toru Local Government Area of River State, South South Nigeria.
He said; “troops discovered several illegal refining sites with133 ovens, 194 metal tanks storages, 127 dugout pits, 5 wooden boats, 12 receivers, 2 ovens, 2 engines, 2 pumping machines, 1 oxygen cylinder, 1motorcycle, 1jetta vehicle, 4,000 polythene bags of illegal refined black oil and5 trucks.
“Cumulatively, 7,732,000 litres of crude oil and 10,821,605 litres of AGO were recovered. All recovered items have been handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action.”
Similarly, troops of Operation DAKATAR DA BARAWO conducted operations in Asugbo, Egwa, Lelema, Jones creeks in Delta State.
Other operational activities that were conducted were by NNS LUGARD at location off Akili Ozizor community in Ogbaru Local Government Area Anambra State, NNS Victory at Harbour road in the city of Calabar, while NNS SOROH conducted operational activities within Ereweibio creek in Brass Local Government Area, Otuokpot area along Kolo creek, Ogbia waterside Saint Nicholas Axis from Akasa area of Bayelsa State respectfully.
Furthermore, during the operation, troops discovered and destroyed several illegal refinery sites, 145 ovens, 201 storage metal tanks, 9 pumping machines, 1 Yamaha 40HP outboard engines, 55 dugout pits, 58 drums of AGO, 2 wooden boats, 100 polythene bags illegally refined AGO, I tanker loaded with illegal refined AGO.
Within the week under review a total of 1,718,000 litres of AGO, 3,800,000 litres of crude oil, 350,000 litres of sludge, 20,000 litres of PMS and 100,000 litres of DPK. All arrested criminals and recovered items were handed over to the appropriate authorities for further actions.
Operation Hadarin Daji
General Onyeuko noted that troops in OPERATION HADARIN DAJI theatre sustained aggressive operations to deny terrorists and bandits further freedom of action.
He said that “troops responded to a distress call of terrorist attack at Wanzamai in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State and the troops mobilised to the village and engaged the terrorist where scores of the terrorists were killed.”
According to him, in the course of the operation troops rescued 32 women and 18 children.
Similarly, troops successfully foiled terrorist attack in Bakura village in Bakura Local Government Area of Zamfara and in the process unconfirmed numbers of terrorist were neutralised while 200 rustled cattle were recovered.
Cumulatively, within the 3 weeks period under review, troops recovered 592 rustled cattle, 45 different assorted weapons, 80 rounds of different caliber ammunition, 50 motorcycles.
Troops also rescued 179 civilians, neutralised 62 terrorists and apprehended 100 terrorists. All recovered items, rescued and apprehended terrorists were handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action.
Operation While Stroke
General Onyeuko stated that troops of OPERATION WHIRL STROKE continued aggressive fighting patrols and clearance operations across the general area in the theatre of operation.
According to him, the efforts of troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE to get rid of unscrupulous elements and restore peace and normalcy to the general area led to the arrest of Leggi Jobrin. Jobrin is a notorious gun runner and kidnapper who has been terrorising the people of Gidan Bawa village of Nasarawa Local Government Area and he is also on the wanted list of operation WHIRL STROKE.
Consequently, troops recovered 5 AK 47 rifles, 6 AK7 magazines, 110 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 5 mobile phones, 8 motorcycles and 7cutlasses, while 6 bandits were arrested.
All recovered items and apprehended bandits have been handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action.
The Military High Command has appreciated the general populace for the cooperation with the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Nigeria Police and other security agencies in their fight against all forms of criminalities in the country.
Mercy Chukeudiebere
