The Nigerian troops have neutralized many terrorist commanders during the first quarter of the year 2025.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, disclosed this during the weekly briefing of the ongoing military operations across the country in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
General Kangye said, “Many terrorist commanders such as Abba Allai (aka Amirul Khalid of Alafa), Abdullahi (aka Honour), Jagaban, and Dan Danger, amongst others, were neutralized while Abdullahi Ali was captured alive with severe gun wounds. These efforts by the gallant troops created gaps in the command and leadership structures of BHTs as well as ISWAP/JAS terrorists”.
According to him, there was also infighting for supremacy within the ranks of the various terrorist factions, which sparked cracks in their leadership hierarchy, hence the observed confusion in their various camps.
He noted that the gallant troops exploited the situation and dealt decisively with them on various fronts, hence their resort to attacks on soft targets and the use of IEDs and isolated ambushes.
He said that “the sustained operations against the terrorists also led to the arrest of scores of them, rescue of kidnapped hostages as well as surrendering of many to the troops”.
“Some gunrunners and terrorists’ logistics suppliers such as Alhaji Mansur Mohammed, Shehu Babangida, Sagi David, Blessing Paul, Shuaibu Maji were also arrested.”
The Director said that “during the Quarter, Operation DELTA SAFE foiled oil theft worth over Seven Billion, Four Hundred and Twenty-Eight Million, Six Hundred and Forty-Eight Thousand, Two Hundred and Forty-Six Naira (7,428,648,246.00) only”.
The breakdown indicates: 6,290,437 litres of stolen crude oil, 1,319,350 litres of illegally refined AGO, 6,130 litres of DPK, and 4,545 litres of PMS.
Additionally, troops discovered and destroyed 257 crude oil cooking ovens, 128 dugout pits, 192 boats, 138 storage tanks, 236 drums, and 122 illegal refining sites. Other items recovered include: barge, speedboats, pumping machines, drilling machines, and over 90 vehicles.
Relatedly, troops recovered huge quantities of assorted arms, including various kinds of machine guns, RPG tubes, automatic weapons, as well as locally fabricated guns and IEDs.
Additionally, a huge cache of assorted 7.62mm and 9mm ammunition, as well as live cartridges, were also recovered.
He noted that the troops demonstrated uncommon bravery, resilience, determination, and strong will during various encounters throughout the quarter, including fighting and confidence-building patrols, raids, ambushes, and clearance as well as search and rescue operations with remarkable outcomes.
The air component also conducted reconnaissance, close air support, and interdiction missions with high success rates, which degraded the terrorists’ strength and will to fight.
A minute’s silence was observed for officers who lost their lives in defending their fatherland.
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