Defence Headquarter says that troops of Operation Safe Haven have rescued sixty displaced persons and taken them to shelter in Plateau State.
The Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Bernard Onyeuko disclosed this to Journalists during bi-weekly briefing of operational activities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in Abuja Nigeria’s capital.
General Onyeuko said that “troops of Operation Safe Haven sustained their Kinetic and non – Kinetic operations in different locations of the theatre which yielded notable results.”
Appropriate authorities
According to him, all recovered items and rescued persons have been handed over to the appropriate authorities for further actions.
He noted that troops of Operation Safe Haven also held peace submit which was a prelude to the implementation of a peace plan by a committee that worked out modalities towards achieving lasting peace in the area.
Accordingly, a total of 1 AK 47 rifle, 2 locally made guns, 4 rustled cows, 1Toyota Camry car and I Mikano generating set were recovered, while 3 Cattle rustlers and 2 Kidnappers were arrested.
Operation Hadin Kai
According to him, during the period under review, troops conducted operations along all the Local Government Areas in Borno State with successes which led to the Surrendering of 466 Boko Haram and ISWAP Terrorists and their families, comprising of 120 Adult Males, 137 Adult Females and 209 Children with the claimed to have lost interest in the BHT ideology.
Relatedly, the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai carried out air interdiction at Bukar mairam village in Marte Local Government Area, in the process Mohammed Yusuf the leader of Rijal Amn Special Forces was neutralized.
Cumulatively, the troops within the last 2 weeks, neutralised 63 fighters, arrested 86 members of the terrorists, recovered 4 gun trucks, 25 AK47 rifles, 56 magazines with 6.2mm special ammunitions, 78 rounds of different calibers of ammunitions, 67 packets of rounds on links, 3 FN grenades and 3 bandoliers.
Additionally, 20 abducted civilians were rescued by troops.
He said that “the surrendered terrorists have been properly documented and handed over to the appropriate authorities for necessary actions.”
Operation Hadarin Daji
According to him, troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI within the period under review conducted several operational at different locations in Katsina State.
The air component of Operation Haadarin Daji conducted air strikes on Boko Haram enclaves at Magama Village, Tsaunin Babare Village and Tsamben Babare Village in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State where a notorious bandit leader, One Mallam Dogo Umaru and scores of his foot soldier were neutralised.
Cummulatively, these operations resulted in the recovery of 10 AK 47 rifles, 100 rounds of 6.2mm ammunitions, 20 motorcycles, 40 herds of rustled cows, 50 rams.
General Onyeuko said that troops also rescued 10 kidnapped civilians, arrested 10 bandits and neutralized 10 bandits. All arrested criminals and recovered items have been handed over to the appropriate authorities.
Operation Delta Safe
He noted that in the last 2 weeks troops of Operation DELTA SAFE conducted clearance operations in different locations in creeks, villages, towns and communities in River State.
Consequently, troops within the period under review, recovered a total of One million, One hundred and eighteen thousand, One hundred and Seventy-Five litres (1,118,175 litres) of illegal AGO and Two Million and Eight Six Thousand litres (2,086.000 litres) of stolen crude oil.
Similarly, troops discovered 38 refining sites, 100 metal storage tanks, 25 dugout pits, 75 cooking ovens, 20 cotonou boats, 35 Yamaha pumping machines, 15 coolants as well as 10 tankers were recovered.
He said also that “35 galvanised pipes illegally connected were destroyed.”
Furthermore, 13 economic saboteurs associated with pipeline vandalization were arrested. All recovered items and apprehended criminals have been handed over to the appropriate authorities for further actions.
Operation Thunder Strike/Whirl Punch
Onyeuko said “the air component carried out air interdiction on terrorist/ bandits enclaves in South of Damari in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State after a painstaking air reconnaissance missions on terrorist/bandits enclaves.”
According to him, the air interdiction neutralised several armed terrorists close to the Nigerian Defence Academy. The armed bandits numbering about 75 engaged ground troops in a fierce battle around Labi general area along the Kaduna – Birnin Gwari road.
Onyeuko said that “the bandits came under heavy airstrikes which aided the ground forces to effectively engaged the bandits and neutralised bandits.”
Consequently, the operation resulted in the neutralisation of a total of 55 bandits.
Similarly, own troops in Agasha in Guma Local government area of Benue State in an encounter with criminals at the Gbekyor general area rescued 10 kidnapped civilians and arrested 3 of the criminal elements.
Troops on clearance operations in Mbayongo area in Katsina Ala local government area came in a contact with bandits terrorizing the area and neutralized 1 bandit, arrested and recovered 2 locally made guns, 1 pistol, 69mm rounds, 7.62mm special.
The rescued civilians and arrested criminals have been handed to the appropriate authorities for further actions.
The Military High Command has appreciated the troops in the frontlines of the various theatre of operations for their zeal and commitment in containing the various securities challenges across the country.
Lateefah Ibrahim
