Troops knock out several terrorists, bandits in ground, air operations

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says Nigerian troops in various operations, eliminated several terrorists and bandits across the various theatres of operation in North East, North Central and North West.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Edward Buba, stated this while briefing newsmen on the operations of the Armed Forces of Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja.

Buba said the operational successes were achieved in the last two weeks in various land and air operations.

In the North East, he said troops of Operation Hadin Kai neutralised some terrorists and arrested high-profile terrorist collaborators in Mafa, Kukawa and Konduga local government areas of Borno.

According to him, active terrorists and fighters also surrendered to troops owing to the sustained onslaught against them, although they claimed that they had lost interest in the terrorist ideology.

He also disclosed that the air component of Operation Hadin Kai conducted air reconnaissance and bombed terrorists’ hideouts in Hyawa in Borno.

“After, action review revealed that many of the terrorists were neutralised and their structures destroyed. In the course of operations, troops recovered seven AK-47 rifles, two FN rifles, one 36 hand grenade, 100 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammo, two mobile phones, foodstuff, condiment, one cart and the sum of N2.1 million.

“Troops equally neutralised six terrorists and arrested eight suspected terrorist collaborators as well as rescued 10 kidnapped civilians during these operations,” he said.

In North Central, Buba said the troops of Operation Safe Haven raided criminal hideouts and recovered weapons in Mangu and Jos South Local Government Areas of Plateau State.

Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke, according to him, had in separate operations raided kidnappers’ hideouts at Duduguru village in Obi Local Government of Nasarawa State and Chinkai Forest in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba and rescued kidnapped victims.

He added that nine bandits were neutralised with 10 suspects arrested and nine kidnapped victims rescued.

In North West, the defence spokesman said troops of Operation Hadarin Daji raided bandit hideouts in five separate operations around villages, towns and mountains at Batsari, Tangaza and Maru local government areas of Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara states during the period.

The operations led to the killing of scores of terrorists, and the arrest of six Nigeriens, among others in different locations.