The Nigerian troops have killed several terrorists’ kingpins and their foot soldiers, arrested over 1,191 of them and rescued 543 kidnapped victims.
The Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye disclosed this during the Quarterly briefing of the ongoing military operations by the Armed Forces of Nigeria from April to June, 2025 across the country in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
General Kangye said that “during the Quarter, about 682 terrorists and their families surrendered to troops”.
According to him, among the terrorists eliminated were Amir Abu Fatimah, kinging Auta, Abdul Jamilu, Salisu, Mallam Jidda, Maiwada, Mai Dada and Nwachi Eze otherwise known as Onowu.
He noted just 2 days ago, bandit kingpin Yellow Danbokkolo succumbed to injuries sustained during an encounter with troops the previous week where many of his lieutenants were also eliminated.
Additionally, some notorious gunrunners and kidnappers on the troops’ watch list were arrested and taking into custody for interrogation including Buhari Umar, Hassam Mohammed, Saleh Sani, Adamu Dan Mai, Idi Yusuf, Hassan Bello, Muhammed Isah, Shimu Ilu Adamu, Ismaila Ilu Hassan, Michael and Shittu Muazu Bakassi.
Similarly, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE foiled oil theft worth over Three Billion Five Hundred Million Four Hundred and Thirty Five Thousand Two Hundred and Thirty Four Naira (N3, 500,435,234.00) only.
The breakdown indicates: 2,381,239 litres of stolen crude oil, 605,393 litres of illegally refined AGO, 41,465 litres of DPK and 26,905 litres of PMS were recovered. In addition, troops discovered and destroyed about 174 illegal refining sites, while 45 vehicles were seized from them.
Relatedly, troops recovered some automatic weapons, RPG tubes, machine guns, locally fabricated guns, and improvised explosive devices which were prepared by the terrorists and ready for detonation. Also, some cache of assorted ammunition were recovered from the sites.
Meanwhile, despite some minor setbacks caused by Improvised Explosive Devices, troops across all theatres demonstrated uncommon courage, resilience and high level of professional competence during all encounters with non-stake actors.
Lateefah Ibrahim