… Rescue 109 kidnapped victims
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) Thursday said its troops deployed to various theatres of operations across the country neutralised 39 terrorists and arrested 157 others.
The military high command also said troops rescued 109 kidnapped hostages, arrested 16 perpetrators of oil theft and denied them the sum of Seven Hundred and Sixty-Five Million Eight Hundred and Sixty-Three Thousand Naira (N765, 863,000.00) only worth of crude.
Director of Defence Media Operations Major General Edward Buba who stated this while briefing journalists in Abuja, added that troops recovered 55 assorted weapons and 96 assorted ammunition.
According to him, the breakdown of the weapon is as follows: “12 AK47 rifles, one GPMG, one HK21 gun, one FN rifle loaded with 5 rounds of NATO ammo, 2 Dane guns, 3 fabricated rifles, one fabricated pistol, 3 locally made pistols, 11 AK47 magazines, 71 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 22 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 2 rounds of 9mm ammo, one cartridge, one bandolier, 7 rounds 7.62mm special empty cases, 24 motorcycles, 13 mobile phones, 10 bicycles and the sum of Eight Hundred and Eighty One Thousand Seven Hundred Naira (N881,700.00).”
General Buba said the military will continue to pursue aggressive military operations against violent extremist groups seeking to undermine the security of the country and conduct violence against the people.
“Accordingly, the armed forces remains focused on its core mission and would continually make adjustments along the way to better protect citizens, while isolating and annihilating those groups constituting a security nuisance to the country,” he said.
The defence spokesperson also said troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 71 dugout pits, 36 boats, 83 storage tanks, 5 vehicles, 4 motorcycles, 58 cooking ovens, 5 pumping machines, 3 generators, 3 speedboats and 34 illegal refining sites.
“Also, troops recovered 569,400 liters of stolen crude oil, 486,000 liters of illegally refined AGO and 59,500 liters of PMS,” he said.
Speaking further, Buba said troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE operating in the North Central arrested a member of a notorious violent extremist group in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue state.
According to him, the operations resulted in the killing of terrorists and the rescue of kidnapped hostages.
He said: “On 22 August 2023, following a tip-off about a member of a violent extremist group suspected of hibernating in Ukum LGA of Benue state. Troops raided the location and made an arrest. The suspect identified as Lubem Atirga Abagu is a member of a notorious violent extremist group led by one Mr Chen. Detailed investigation is ongoing.
“ On 23 August 2023, following information of suspected kidnappers hibernating in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba state. Troops conducted a raid, arresting 3 suspects.”
