The Nigerian troops have recovered 67 assorted weapons and 1,194 assorted ammunitions.
A statement by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba said “during the week in focus, air assets conducted aggressive air flights on confirmed locations active with the movement of terrorist commanders and their foot soldiers. Strikes carried out resulted in over 38 terrorist commanders and their foot soldiers, while 159 of them were arrested”.
According to him, the breakdown are as follows: 20 AK47 rifles, 4 pump action guns, 5 locally fabricated rifles, 2 locally fabricated double barrel guns, one beretta pistol, 4 locally made pistols, 13 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 1,152 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 13 rounds of 9mm ammo, one round of 5.56mm ammo, 15 live cartridges.
Others are: one magazine loaded with 8 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, one LMG magazine, one CZ pistol magazine, 7 empty magazines, one locally made pistol magazine, one damaged magazine, one dane gun butt, 5 vehicles, 14 mobile phones, 32 motorcycles, one laptop and the sum of N1,123,800.00 amongst other items.
General Buba noted that troops in the Niger Delta area destroyed 15 dugout pits, 25 boats, 74 storage tanks, 14 vehicles, 115 cooking ovens, 13 reservoirs, 10 cooling systems, 10 receivers, 3 pumping machines, 64 illegal refining sites.
He said that “troops recovered 357,350 litres of stolen crude oil, 185,300 litres of illegally refined AGO and 20,600 litres of PMS.”
“Recently, the military conducted two major air strikes on a terrorist enclave. One of the strikes neutralized several top terrorist commanders. Namely, one Machika, a top terrorist bomb expert and younger brother of notorious terrorist (Dogo Gide). Other prominent terrorist leaders neutralised include Haro and Dan Muhammadu, both of whom are specialists in kidnapping and assault operations respectively,” he added.
Additionally, through synchronised strike between air and ground forces aimed at the same target, a renowned terrorist leader responsible for the abduction of the students of Federal University Gusau, Zamfara State, Ali Alhaji ALHERI popularly called Kachalla Ali KAWAJE was neutralized in Munya LGA of Niger state along with many of his foot soldiers.
According to him, in the South East, troops in conjunction with other security agencies apprehended a prominent commander of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate the Eastern Security Network (ESN). The commander, one Mr. Uchechukwu Akpa was arrested together with three other sub- commanders, namely Udoka Anthony Ude, Ikechukwu Ulanta, and Ezennaya Udeigewere.
He noted that the trio were arrested after a raid on their hideout at Christ the King Catholic Church, Ameta Mgbowo in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
They gathered to plot a take over the leadership of IPOB/ESN Auto Pilot Command Enugu State Chapter from the apprehended former Commander known as “Chocho”.
“They also planned to attack troop locations”, he said.
During the raid, Mr. Uchechukwu Akpa sustained a gunshot wound while trying to escape, he added.
It could be recalled that Mr. Uchechukwu Akpa was the Second in Command to Chocho, a notorious IPOB/ESN leader currently in custody. Subsequently, another raid connected with the arrest was conducted on 14 Dec 23.
Troops recovered one AK 47 Rifle, Two AK 47 Magazine, 25 rounds of 7.62mm NATO special ammunition and one Pump action rifle.
The operations of the week in focus, equally resulted in the arrest of 66 perpetrators of oil theft and the rescue of 89 kidnapped hostages.
In the SS, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of One Hundred and Sixty-One Million, Two Hundred and Thirty-Two Thousand Five Hundred Naira (N161, 232,500.00) only.
The Armed Forces said they are winning the war, and have the upper hand. Ongoing operations would only be completed, once the terrorists surrender or are totally defeated.
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