…Apprehend wanted kidnap kingpin Babangida Gora Usman
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) weekend said troops deployed to different theatres of operations across the country nuetralised 79 and arrested 224 persons.
The military high command also said troops troops in North Central Operational Theatre neutralised a notorious terrorist commander, and gun runner identified as Abu Mosaje in Barkin Ladi local government area of Plateau state.
Director Defence Media Operations Maj-Gen Edward Buba who disclosed this in a statement, added that troops also apprehended a wanted kidnap kingpin that was on security watch list identified as Babangida Gora Usman.
He said he was was arrested in Sanga local government area of Kaduna state.
“The military intensified ongoing counter terrorism and counter insurgency operations across the nation.
“The operations particularly targeted not just the terrorist but their network of collaborators, informants and support base,” he said.
The defence spokesperson further disclosed that the troops also arrested 28 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 67 kidnapped hostages across the country.
He said: “In the South South, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of Seven Hundred and Forty Seven Million Secenty Thousand Seven Hundred and Ten Naira (N747,070,710.00) only.
“Additionally, troops discovered and destroyed 215 crude oil cooking ovens, 26 dugout pits, 29 boats, 62 storage tanks, 20 drums and 42 illegal refining sites.
“Other items recovered include one barge, one tug boat, 2 pumping machines, 2 speedboats, 9 outboard engines, 2 vehicles, 21 motorcycles, 11 mobile phones and 8 vehicles among others. Troops recovered 842,685 litres of stolen crude oil, 12,340 litres of illegally refined AGO and 200 litres of DPK.”
He further disclosed that across all the theatres of operations, troops recovered 104 assorted weapons and 1,953 assorted ammunition.
According to him, “the breakdown as follows: “53 AK47 rifles, 25 fabricated rifles, one FN rifle, 11 dane guns, 2 pump action guns, one fabricated SMG, 4 IEDs, 7 RPG bombs, 30 magazines, 4 IEDs and 3 locally made butts.
“Others are 1,186 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 417 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 49 rounds of 12.7mm ammo, 190 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 12 live cartridges, 3 bandoliers, one baofeng, 35 motorcycles, 22 mobile phones amongst other items.”
He said troops remain steadfast in destruction of terrorists across the country, “Even as the armed forces remains committed to creating conditions in which the safety and security of citizens is guaranteed,” he said.