By Daily Review Online
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has announced that troops deployed across various military operations nationwide rescued 398 kidnapped victims, arrested 31 suspected terrorists and collaborators, and neutralised 10 terrorists during operations conducted over the past week.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing journalists in Abuja on the military’s ongoing offensive against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities across the country.
According to him, troops recorded significant successes in all six geopolitical zones through intelligence-led operations, fighting patrols, clearance missions and anti-crime operations.
In the North-West, troops of Operation Fansan Yamma achieved notable successes in Kaduna, Katsina and Zamfara states. On June 5, troops at a snap checkpoint along the Gusau-Shinkafi route in Zamfara intercepted a vehicle carrying a locally fabricated 9mm pistol, 1,002 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and other ammunition hidden inside a sack of millet.
The suspect, identified as Mallam Mustapha Abubakar, was arrested and later revealed that the weapons were intended for a contact in Shinkafi Local Government Area, who was subsequently apprehended by troops.
Troops also neutralised a terrorist during fighting patrols in Birnin Magaji Local Government Area and recovered seven motorcycles.
On June 7, troops arrested eight suspected terrorists in Maru Local Government Area and recovered motorcycles, mobile phones, power banks, handheld radios, camouflage uniforms and boots. A shop belonging to the terrorists was also destroyed.
Additional operations in Kanoma District led to the neutralisation of another terrorist and the recovery of an AK-47 rifle and motorcycles.
In the North-East, troops of Operation Hadin Kai sustained pressure on Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents through intensive clearance operations across Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.
Several abductees, including women and children, were rescued after escaping terrorist enclaves due to sustained military bombardments.
The military’s most significant breakthrough occurred on June 6 during a coordinated multi-axis assault on terrorist hideouts in the Mandara Mountains of Borno State.
The operation resulted in the rescue of 360 civilians, mostly women and children, who had been held captive since the March 3 attack on Ngoshe community.
Sadly, two infants died due to the harsh terrain during the evacuation process, while the remaining 358 survivors received medical treatment and were handed over to relevant authorities.
Troops also arrested several terrorist informants and logistics suppliers while recovering motorcycles, heavy weapons and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition.
In the North-Central zone, troops under Operation Savannah Shield and Operation Enduring Peace arrested several terrorist informants and kidnappers across Niger and Plateau states.
In Plateau State, troops rescued eight kidnapped victims in separate operations and arrested two wanted kidnappers identified by one of their previous victims.
Recovered items included mobile phones, communication devices, firearms and cash.
Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke also recovered weapons and disrupted terrorist activities in Benue, Kogi and Taraba states.
In Kogi State, troops rescued 13 passengers after repelling an attack on three commercial vehicles and later rescued two kidnap victims who escaped from their abductors.
They also arrested a suspected IPOB member and recovered IPOB-related documents, charms and communication devices.
In the Niger Delta, troops of Operation Delta Safe sustained the fight against crude oil theft and illegal refining activities across Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Delta and Edo states.
Security personnel dismantled illegal oil bunkering sites, intercepted stolen petroleum products and arrested five suspected kidnappers in Edo State.
Thousands of litres of stolen crude oil and illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) were also recovered.
In the South-East, troops of Operation Udoka, working alongside other security agencies, arrested several suspected IPOB and Eastern Security Network (ESN) members in Abia and Enugu states.
The operations led to the recovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition, including AK-47 rifles, a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), an RPG-7 launcher, hand grenades, tear gas launchers and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
In Imo State, troops raided an illegal crude oil storage facility and destroyed thousands of litres of suspected stolen petroleum products.
In Ebonyi State, security forces recovered a locally made pistol, live cartridges, CFA currency and ₦1.8 million believed to be proceeds of criminal activities.
Major General Onoja said the operations had significantly degraded the capabilities of terrorist groups, kidnappers and other criminal networks across the country.
He added that troops would sustain the offensive until all criminal elements are neutralised and peace is fully restored nationwide.