Nigerian troops kill 50 terrorists, rescue 182 hostages in one week

By Sumaila Ogbaje

In an update on the ongoing counter insurgency and counter terrorism operations across the country, Nigeria Defence headquarters said its troops had in the last one week killed no fewer than 50 terrorists and rescued 182 kidnapped hostages with the sum of N75 million recovered from some of the kidnappers.

The troops also arrested 49 perpetrators of oil theft and also recovered 66 assorted weapons and 11,474 assorted ammunition, comprising one conqueror APC, one GPMG, one NSVT gun, one GT3 rifle, 25 AK47 rifles, four pump action gun and two locally made AK47 rifles, Director Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba said in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

He listed the items recovered to also include three locally made gun, one locally made revolver gun, four locally fabricated pistols and four long dane gun, two locally made hand grenades, one bandolier.

“Others are 574 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 640 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 150 rounds of 12.7mm ammo, five rounds of 9mm ammo, 10,520 live cartridges and five vehicles, 27 mobile phones.

“Others are 12 motorcycle, three boafeng radios, one Motorolla HHR, three bicycles, one solar panel, one solar charger controller, one radio receiver and the sum of N75.9 million amongst other items.

Giving details of the operations, Buba said in the North East, the troops of Operation Hadin Kai neutralised 33 terrorists, apprehended 13 and rescued 132 kidnapped hostages as well as recover cache of arms within the week.

In the North Central, he said the troops of Operation Safe Haven neutralised 20 terrorists , apprehended 34 and rescued 10 kidnapped hostages with recovery of a different calibre and arms and ammunition.

Buba said the troops of Operation Whirl Stroke neutralised a terrorists, arrested nine terrorists and rescued 8 kidnapped hostages during the week.

In the North West, the defence spokesman said the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji neutralised 20 terrorists, arrested 48 terrorists and rescued 56 kidnapped hostages as well as recovery of several weapons.

According to him, the air component, on Nov. 11, acquired and subsequently conducted air interdiction on enclave of a terrorist leader identified as ‘Damina’ in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara.

“Also, troops of Operation Whirl Punch neutralised four terrorists, arrested eight suspected terrorists and rescued nine kidnapped hostages as well as recovered arms and the sum of N75 million,” he said.

In the Niger Delta region, Buba said the troops of Operation Delta Safe destroyed 242 dugout pits, 49 boats, 78 storage tanks, one tricycle, 21 vehicles, 104 cooking ovens, three pumping machine, seven outboard engine and 49 illegal refining sites.

He added that the troops recovered 151,850 litres of stolen crude oil, 48,630 litres of illegally refined AGO and 10,125 litres of DPK.

“The armed forces will continue to apply strong military pressure such as has been witnessed in the week.

“The terrorist and their cohorts would continue to suffer heavy casualities and it is in their interest to surrender as being done in the North East of the country to avoid eventual destruction,” he added.

(NAN)