By Victor Akaa.
The Nigerian military has dealt a devastating blow to terrorist organizations across the country, neutralizing 159 terrorists and apprehending 174 others in a series of coordinated operations conducted between September 9 and 17, 2024.
According to a press release by the Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba said, the military’s ongoing efforts to eradicate terrorism and insecurity have yielded significant results, with multiple successes recorded in various regions.
General Buba noted that in the North East, troops of Operation HADIN KAI have neutralized 46 terrorists, arrested 41 suspects, and rescued 48 kidnapped hostages.
The operation also yielded substantial recoveries, including 24 AK47 rifles, 3 fabricated rifles, and over 200 rounds of ammunition.
Meanwhile, in the North Central, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN neutralized 6 violent extremists, arrested 12 suspects, and rescued 28 kidnapped hostages. Troops also recovered 2 AK47 rifles, one FN rifle, and over 5,000 rounds of ammunition.
He stated that Operation WHIRL STROKE troops in the North Central recorded impressive successes, neutralizing 9 terrorists, arresting 6 suspects, and rescuing 36 kidnapped hostages.
The operation also resulted in the recovery of one AK47 rifle, one locally fabricated rifle, and 161 rounds of ammunition.
In the North West, Operation HADARIN DAJI troops neutralized 73 terrorists, arrested 23 suspects, and rescued 54 kidnapped hostages.
The operation yielded significant recoveries, including 3 PKT guns, 12 AK47 rifles, 2 RPG tubes, and over 1,000 rounds of ammunition.
The military’s successes extend to the South-South, where Operation DELTA SAFE troops continued to crack down on crude oil theft. Troops destroyed several illegal refining sites, recovering 788,400 litres of stolen crude oil, 28,995 litres of illegally refined AGO, and 300 litres of DPK.
In another development, General Buba assured that troops have been strategically deployed in Edo State to ensure the upcoming off-cycle governorship election scheduled to be held on 21 September 2024 is violence-free, fair, and credible.
He noted that troops’ deployment “ is to support the police to ensure voters safety and security.
“Troops presence is to thwart the activities of those elements bent on fermenting crisis during the elections,” he noted.
He reiterated that the military’s commitment to eradicating terrorism and insecurity has been unwavering, with ongoing operations demonstrating its resolve to protect citizens and ensure national stability.
