… Neutralised 86 terrorists, arrest 101 in one week
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) Thursday says military operations are currently ongoing to flush terrorists out of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The military high command also said troops have arrested several criminals and their collaborators in FCT and they are helping troops with valuable intelligence.
Director Defence Media Operations Maj.- Gen Edward Buba who stated this while answering questions from journalists on rising insecurity in some parts of the FCT, also said troops deployed to other parts of the country neutralised 86 terrorists and arrested 101 others in the last one week.
Blueprint reports that terrorists have kidnapped several persons in last few weeks in Dei-Dei, Dutse, Garam and adjoining communities in Bwari Area Council creating fears among residents.
“About reports of insecurity in the Federal Capital Territory and its environs, as I speak with you operations are ongoing in those locations.
“We have arrested several of them in the last one week and they are providing intelligence to support our operations,” he said.
He said on January 5 2024, troops with hybrid forces in separate operations conducted fighting patrols in Bwari Area Council of FCT and Kagarko LGA of Kaduna State respectively.
According to him, “During the operations, troops arrested 2 suspected extremists’ informants and recovered one mobile phone.
“On 6 January 2024, troops in conjunction with hybrid forces conducted fighting patrols to Bwari Area Council of FCT Abuja and Rijau LGA of Niger State respectively. During the operations, troops arrested 3 suspected violent extremists sympathizers.
“Following reports, troops in separate operations raided a suspected violent extremists hideouts in Bwari Area Council of FCT Abuja and Tafa LGA of Niger State respectively. During the operations, troops arrested 10 suspects including one violent extremists informant/collaborator and 2 kidnappers. The suspects are providing valuable intelligence which is supporting ongoing operation to make the FCT much safer. “
The defence spokesperson also said roops also arrested 30 perpetrators of oil theft in the Niger Delta and rescued 21 kidnapped hostages in different theatres of operations across the country.
General Buba disclosed that troops denied oil thieves crude estimated to worth the sum of Seven Hundred and Thirty Six Million One Hundred and Fifteen Thousand Four Hundred and Seventy Naira (N736,115,470.00) only.
“Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 37 dugout pits, 65 boats, 71 storage tanks, 14 vehicles. Other items recovered incl 108 cooking ovens, 4 pump machines, one speedboat and 60 illegal refining sites.
“Troops recovered 1,013,530 litres of stolen crude oil, 299,169 litres of illegally refined AGO and 3,158 litres of DPK,” he said.
Speaking further, he said troops recovered 111 assorted weapons and 1,124 assorted ammunition.
According to him, the breakdown as follows: “65 AK47 rifles, one HK G3 dun, one G3 rifle, 8 locally fabricated guns, 15 dane guns, 2 fabricated rifle, one locally made pistol, one english pistol, one pump action gun, 2 auto pump action gun, 2 single barrel guns.
” Others are: 14 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 993 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 5 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammo, 5 rounds of 7.62mm x 39mm, 99 live cartridges, one round of 9mm ammo, one of short gun cartridge, 2 bandoliers, 2 fabricated swords, 13 magazines, 5 vehicles, 29 motorcycles, 6 bicycles, mobile phones and one GTA radio amongst other items. “
He said the aim military operations remains unchanged and clear even in the new year 2024.
“Our aim is to find and destroy the terrorist wherever they maybe hiding in order to ensure their enduring defeat. This would deny the terrorist the ability to terrorize or hurt citizens across country.
“Our operations clearly indicate that we are hunting the terrorist commanders and their seniors leadership. Indeed, from their topmost leadership to the lowest commanders are dead men walking and we will stop at nothing until they are dead or surrender,” he said.
