The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) Thursday says troops deployed to different theatres of operations neutralised over 65 notable terrorist leaders, commanders and combatants across all theatres of operations in the third quarter of 2024.
It said those eliminated include Munzir Arika, Sani Dilla (Dan Hausawan Jubillaram), Ameer Modu, Matawal Bitrus, Thomas Benedict, Mohammed Sani, Rimamy (aka Omo), Terkimbi Injoko, Jacob Uzege, Ibn Kasir, Kachalla Ɗan Baleri, Kachallah Halilu Jimmare (Buzu), Kachalla Dan Ali Garin Fadama, Kachalla Dan Mani Na Inna, Kachalla Basiru Zakarriya and ofem Emmanuel Igwe among others.
Director Defence Media Operations Maj-Gen Edward Buba who disclosed this while briefing journalists in Abuja, said in the third quarter of this year, troops neutralized 1,937 terrorists, arrested 2,782 suspected terrorists and other criminal elements.
General Buba also disclosed that troops rescued 1,854 kidnapped hostages from different parts of the country in thperiod under review.
The defence spokesperson said the armed forces will continue to prioritised the killing of terrorist leadership and destruction of terrorist network in its ongoing counter terrorism and counter insurgency operations across the country.
“Accordingly, troops are effectively attacking the terrorist leaders, commanders, combatants, as well as their rank and file operatives, ” he said.
Speaking further, the defence spokesperson said troops recovered 1,304 weapons, 43,347 ammunitions and denied the oil thieves crude estimated to worth the sum over N13 Bn (N13,081,605,534.00) only.
According to him, breakdown for the period includes: “688 AK47 rifles, 32,945 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 9,677 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 191 assorted arms and 8,292 assorted ammo.
“Others are 12,143,870 litres of stolen crude oil, 2,623,216 litres of illegally refined AGO, 6,970 litres of DPK and 31,450 litres of PMS amongst other item.
” Accordingly , the nations daily crude oil production output is at an all time high with the nations daily target in sight. ”
He said on the whole, troops are keeping the pressure on the terrorist until they are totally defeated.
“The military is focussed on dismantling the terror infrastructure of these terror groups as well as destroying their will to fight.
” Accordingly, we are attacking any threat we identify, and removing it. The war objective is to destroy these groups, decapitate them, and erode their ability to rage terror attacks against citizens,” he said.
