The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) Friday assured residents of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) that it is working relentlessly with other security services and stakeholders to address rising waves of kidnapping in Abuja.
This was as he said troops deployed to different theatres of operations across the country neutralised 43 terrorists and arrested 76 others in the last one week.
Director Defence Media Operations Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba who stated this in a statement made available to journalists, noted that troops also arrested 29 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 27 kidnapped hostages.
According to him, the military is working with the police, Department of State Service and other security agencies to investigate and gather more intelligence on these kidnapping gangs, particularly around the FCT.
He said: “The armed forces are not unaware of the terrible impact of kidnappings on the families of those affected. Indeed, our hearts and thoughts go to their families and loved ones. We also recognize the fear that these kidnappings create among the citizenry, following recent events in the FCT.
“Troops have prioritized the areas of these kidnappings, and increased both ground and air surveillance over the areas. Technologies have also been deployed to more easily detect these kidnapping gangs in their hideouts and enclaves.
“Furthermore, troops increased the tempo operations in order to find, degrade and destroy the terrorists and cohorts wherever they were hiding. In the FCT and environs, some of the areas cleared by troops so far include Kawu, Gaba, Deidei, Kubwa Hills, and Ushafa in the FCT, Garam, Jibi, and back of Zuma Rock in Niger State, as well as Gidan Dogo and Kuyeri/Kuyeri Hills in Kaduna State. There have also been intensified night patrols in the Mpape, Kubwa, Lugbe, Pyakasa, Keti, Gbaupe, Gbaukuchi, and Airport Rd among others.”
General further disclosed that troops recovered 81 assorted weapons and 2,150 assorted ammunition.
According to him, the breakdown as follows: “One NSVT AA gun, one GPMG, one PKMG, 36 AK47 rifles, one RPG 7 tube, 2 AGL bombs, 4 pump action guns, 4 locally fabricated guns, 8 dane guns, 3 short guns, one cut-to-short dane gun, 2 berretta pistols, one damaged AK47 rifle, 2 RPG chargers, wooden stock of AK47 rifles, LMG magazine, 8 bandoliers and 42 magazines.”
“Others are 272 belted rounds of 7.62 x 51mm, 268 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm, 557 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm special, 1000 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 3 rounds of 12.7 x 108mm, 6 rounds of 9mm ammo, one AA ammo, 74 live cartridges, empty cases of 7.62mm special ammo, 2 vehicles, 25 motorcycles, 21 mobile phones, 6 baofeng radios and the sum of N1,266,920.00 only amongst other items.”