Fresh Update From DHQ :Troops Neutralizes Over 140 Terrorists,Arrest 135 One Week. 

By Helen Udo, Outlook Media ABUJA.

The Defence Headquarters said it’s troops neutralized over 140 terrorists ,arrested 135 in the last one week in the country.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba revealed this in bi-weekly report of the operations of the armed forces on Thursday in Abuja.

According to him Troops of Operation HADIN KAI recorded the following activities during the period under review; surrendering of BH/ISWAP/JAS terrorists combatants and families, arrested of terrorists/collaborators, as well as the conduct of offensive operations in Bama, Gwoza, Kukawa, Biu, Ngala, Monguno and Damboa in Borno State. Troops also conducted offensive operations in Madagali LGA of Adamawa State, and in Damaturu, Geidam, Gujba and Bursari LGAs of Yobe State.

• Details as follows:

a. Surrender of BH/ISWAP Terrorists Family Members. Between 16 and 22 Oct 24, a total of 27 terrorists comprised of 2 adult males, 11 adult females and 14 children surrendered to troops in the operational theatre.
b. Arrest of ISWAP/JAS Terrorists Collaborators. Between 15 and 21 October 2024, following credible reports, troops in separate operations intercepted and arrested 12 ISWAP/JAS terrorists collaborators and informants in Monguno, Konduga and Biu LGAs of Borno State as well as Madagali and Geidam LGAs of Adamawa and Yobe States.
c. Offensive Operations. Between 16 and 22 October 2024, troops in separate offensive operations made contact with BH/ISWAP/JAS terrorists in Kukawa, Konduga, Ngala, Kaga, Gwoza and Bama LGAs of Borno State as well as Gujba, Damaturu and Bursari LGAs of Yobe State. Following fire fights, troops neutralized 23 terrorists and arrested 15 suspects. Troops also recovered one PKT gun, 13 AK47 rifles, 2 FN rifles, 210 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 155 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 33 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 34 empty cases of PKT rounds, 10 magazines, 5 motorcycles, 5 mobile phones amongst other items.

SUMMARY

• Overall, troops of Operation HADIN KAI neutralized 43 terrorists, arrested 27 suspects and rescued 25 kidnappers hostages. Troops also recovered 23 AK47 rifles, one PKT gun, 2 FN rifles, 5 fabricated rifles, 7 dane guns, 210 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 33 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 155 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammo, 34 empty cases of PKT ammo, 10 magazines, 5 motorcycles, 5 mobile phones amongst other items.

JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION SAFE HAVEN (NORTH CENTRAL)

4. Troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN recorded the following during the period under review; arrest of violent extremists/kidnappers and conducted offensive operations such as counter/anti kidnapping operations in Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Mangu and Bokkos, Jos South and Wase LGAs of Plateau State as well as Sanga and Kaura LGAs of Kaduna State.
5. Details are as follows: 

a. Arrest Operations. Between 15 and 21 October 2024, following reports, troops in separate operations intercepted and arrested 20 violent extremists/kidnappers including arms dealer in Barkin Ladi, Jos South, Riyom, Bassa and Wase LGAs of Plateau State. During the operations,troops recovered 12 AK47 rifles, 6 dane guns, 2 locally made pistols, 505 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 14 rounds of 9mm ammo and 4 motorcycles amongst others items.
b. Counter/Anti Kidnapping Operations. Between 15 and 20 October 2024, troops in separate counter/anti kidnapping operations responded to report on kidnapping incident in Sanga and Kaura LGAs of Kaduna State. Troops equally responded to similar reports in Pankshin, Barkin Ladi and Jos South LGAs of Plateau State respectively. During the operations, troops arrested 18 suspects and rescued 12 kidnapped hostages.

c. Offensive Operations. Between 15 and 22 October 2024, troops in separate offensive operations made contact with violent extremists/terrorists in Riyom, Mangu and Wase LGAs of Plateau State. Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 14 extremists and arrested 7 suspects as well recovered 3 AK47 rifles, 76 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo and 2 mobile phones amongst others items.

SUMMARY

6. Overall, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN neutralized 14 violent extremists, arrested 45 persons and rescued 12 kidnapped hostages. Troops also recovered 7 AK47 rifles, 581 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 2 mobile phones amongst other items.

OPERATION WHIRL STROKE (NORTH CENTRAL)

7. Troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE recorded the following during the week under review; the troops arrested violent extremists/kidnappers and conducted offensive operations such as counter/anti kidnapping operations in Ukum and Logo LGAs of Benue State. Similar operations were conducted Karu LGA of Nasarawa State. Additionally, troops conducted operations in Lau, Ardo Kola, Jalingo and Gassol LGAs of Taraba State.
8. Details are as follows:

a. Arrests Operations.
(1) Between 15 and 21 October 2024, troops in separate fighting patrols intercepted and arrested 12 violent extremists/kidnappers including an informants in Lau, Ardo Kola, Jalingo and Gassol LGAs of Taraba State. Similar operations were conducted in Keffi LGA of Nasarawa State.
(2) On 19 October 2024, following a tip-off, troops intercepted and arrested 4 violent extremists including drug peddlers in Katsina-Ala LGA of Benue State.
b. Offensive Operations. On 10 and 12 October 2024, troops in separate operations responded to distress calls on activities of violent extremists/kidnappers in Ukum and Logo LGAs of Benue State. During the operations, troops arrested 10 violent extremists and rescued one kidnapped hostage. Troops recovered 6 AK47 rifles, 4 fabricated rifles, 87 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo and 143 rounds of 7.62mm NATO amongst others.
c. Counter/Anti Kidnapping Operations . On 17 October 2024, troops in separate counter/anti kidnapping operations responded to distress calls on activities of suspected violent extremists/kidnappers in Ukum LGA of Benue State. During the operations, troops rescued 12 kidnapped hostages.

SUMMARY

9. Overall, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE neutralized 7 terrorists, arrested 16 violent extremists and rescued 12 kidnapped hostages. Troops recovered 6 AK47 rifles, 4 fabricated rifles, 87 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo and 143 rounds of 7.62mm NATO amongst others.

JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION HADARIN DAJI (NORTH WEST)

10. The troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI recorded the following during the period under review; troops responded to reports on terrorists activities as well as conducted offensive operations such as counter/anti kidnapping operations in Tsafe, Maru and Kaura Namoda LGAs of Zamfara State. Troops also conducted similar offensive operations in Faskari, Mulumfashi, Jibia, Dandume and Kankara LGAs of Katsina State. Additionally, troops conducted same operations in Binji, Sabon Birnin and Kebbe LGAs of Sokoto State as well as Kontagora and Igabi LGAs of Niger and Kaduna States respectively .
11. Details are as follows;
    a. Terrosists Activities. Between 14 and 19 October 2024, troops in separate operations responded to information on terrorists activities and made contact in Maru and Tsafe LGAs of Zamfara State. Troops similarly made contact with terrorists in Binji and Sabon Birnin LGAs of Sokoto State. Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 37 terrorists, arrested 2 suspects and rescued 4 kidnapped hostages. Troops recovered 71 AK47 rifles, 7 fabricated rifles, 11 dane guns, 2 locally fabricated pistols, 641 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 332 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 75 rounds of 9mm ammo, 31 magazines, 4 bayonets, 2 baofeng radios, 17 motorcycles and 11 mobile phones amongst others.
    b. Counter/Anti Kidnapping Operations. Between 15 and 21 October 2024, troops in separate counter/anti kidnapping operations responded to information on activities of suspected violent extremists/kidnappers in Faskari and Mulumfashi LGAs of Katsina State as well as Kontagora and Kebbe LGAs of Niger and Sokoto States respectively. During the operations, troops arrested 23 suspects and rescued 5 kidnapped hostages. Troops recovered 4 locally fabricated guns, 2 dane guns and 81 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo amongst others.
    c. Offensive Operations. Between 16 and 21 October 2024, troops in separate offensive operations made contact with suspected terrorists in Jibia, Kankara and Dandume LGAs of Katsina State as well as Igabi and Kaura Namoda LGAs of Kaduna and Zamfara States. Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 25 terrorists and arrested 4 suspects. Troops also recovered 14 AK47 rifles, 3 locally fabricated guns, 7 magazines, 231 rounds of 7.62mm special, 297 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, and 5 motorcycles amongst other items.

SUMMARY 

12. Overall, troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI neutralized 62 terrorists, arrested 29 persons and rescued 9 kidnapped hostages. Troops also recovered 85 AK47 rifles, 14 fabricated rifles, 13 dane guns, 2 locally fabricated pistols, 953 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 629 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 75 rounds of 9mm ammo, 31 magazines, 4 bayonets, 2 baofeng radios, 22 motorcycles and 11 mobile phones amongst others.

JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION WHIRL PUNCH (NORTH WEST)

13. The troops of Operation WHIRL PUNCH recorded the following during the week under review; arrested suspected violent extremists/terrorists as well as conducted counter/anti kidnapping operations in Lokoja, Kabba/Bunu and Oshokoshoko East LGAs of Kogi State as well as Kuje Area Council of FCT Abuja.
14. Details are as follows;

a. Arrest Operations. On 19 October 2024, following credible reports, troops in separate operations intercepted and arrested 12 violent extremists/kidnappers in Kabba Bunu, Oshokoshoko and Lokoja LGAs of Kogi State. Troops also recovered rifles, 2 fabricated rifles, 43 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, one pistol, 9 rounds of 9mm ammo and one vehicle amongst others.
b. Counter/Anti Kidnapping Operations. On 17 October 2024, troops while conducting counter/anti kidnapping criminality operations responded to information on kidnapping incident in Kuje Area Council of FCT Abuja. During the operations, troops rescued 4 kidnapped hostages.

SUMMARY

15. Overall, troops of Operation WHIRL PUNCH neutralized 3 terrorists, arrested 36 suspects and rescued 12 kidnapped hostages. Troops recovered 3 AK47 rifles, 2 fabricated rifles, one pistol, 43 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 9 rounds of 9mm ammo, one vehicle amongst others items.

JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION DELTA SAFE (SOUTH SOUTH)

16. Troops of Operation DELTA SAFE maintained momentum against the activities of crude oil theft. Troops destroyed several illegal refining sites and recovered stolen products.
17. Troops also arrested violent extremists/kidnappers and conducted counter/anti kidnapping operations in Oredo, Ovia South-West and Owan West LGAs of Edo State as well as Oshimili South LGA of Delta State.

a. Troops Destroy Illegal Refining Sites. Troops recovered 1,122,710 litres of stolen crude oil and 557,210 litres of illegally refined AGO. Additionally, troops discovered and destroyed 33 crude oil cooking ovens, 19 dugout pits, 41 boats, 70 drums, 22 storage tanks and 47 illegal refining sites .Other items recovered include 13 speedboats, one tricycle, 4 motorcycles, 3 vehicles among others.
b. Arrest Operations.
(1) On 15 October 2024, following a tip-off, troops in separate operations intercepted and arrested 4 violent extremists including one kidnapping syndicate leader identified as Adamu Sani in Oredo and Ovia South-West LGAs of Edo State.
(3) On 19 October 2024, following a tip-off, troops intercepted and arrested 4 violent extremists in Oshimili South LGA of Delta State. During the operations, troops recovered one AK47 rifle, one barreta pistol, 32 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, one round of 9mm ammo, 2 live cartridges, one AK47 rifle magazine , amongst others items.
c. Counter/Anti Kidnapping/Criminality Operations. On 17 October 2024, troops while conducting counter/anti kidnapping criminality operations responded to information on kidnapping incident in Owan West LGA of Edo State. During the operations, troops rescued 3 kidnapped hostages and recovered 3 motorcycles and 2 vehicles.

SUMMARY

18. Overall, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE recovered 1,122,710 litres of stolen crude oil and 557,210 litres of illegally refined AGO. Additionally, troops discovered and destroyed 33 crude oil cooking ovens, 19 dugout pits, 41 boats, 70 drums, 22 storage tanks and 47 illegal refining sites .Other items recovered include 13 speedboats, one tricycle, 4 motorcycles, 3 vehicles among others.
19. Troops rescued 4 kidnapped hostages and apprehended 28 suspected oil thefts and other violent extremists. Troops also recovered 22 assorted arms, one magazine and 55 assorted ammunitions.

JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION UDO KA (SOUTH EAST)

20. Troops of Operation UDO KA recorded the following during the week under review; troops conducted offensive operations that led to arrest of IPOB/ESN terrorists in Orsu, Ehime Mbano and Oguta LGAs of Imo State as well as Obubra and Arochukwu LGAs of Cross River and Abia States respectively . Additionally, troops conducted offensive operations that lead to further arrest in Udenu LGA of Enugu State.
21. Details as follows:
    a. Offensive Operations. Between 15 and 18 October 2024, troops in separate offensive operations made contact with IPOB/ESN terrorists in Orsu and Obubra LGAs of Imo and Cross River States respectively. Troops also made contact with IPOB/ESN terrorists in Arochukwu LGA of Abia State. Following the fire fight, troops neutralized 24 terrorists and rescued one kidnapped hostage. Troops also recovered 10 AK47 rifles, 15 pump action guns, 4 locally fabricated guns, 153 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 111 live cartridges, 2 vehicles and 4 mobile phones amongst others.
    b. Arrests Operations. Between 15 and 19 October 2024, troops in separate operations intercepted and arrested 12 IPOB/ESN terrorists in Ehime Mbano, Oguta and Orsu LGAs of Imo State as well as Udenu LGA of Enugu State respectively.

SUMMARY

• Overall, troops of Operation UDO KA neutralized 24 terrorists, arrested 12 violent extremists and rescued one kidnapped hostage. Troops recovered 10 AK47 rifles, 15 pump action guns, 4 locally fabricated guns, 153 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 111 live cartridges, 2 vehicles and 4 mobile phones amongst other items.
• Meanwhile, all recovered items, arrested suspects and rescued hostages were handed over to the relevant authority for further action.

Reasd Below –

Major. General Buba said that the ongoing counter terrorism and counter insurgency operations of the armed forces has dealt significant blows to terrorist capabilities.

He revealed that Troops have denied these terrorists from accomplishing their strategic objectives. As the war wages, troops continue to find innovative solutions to the challenges faced in the conduct of operations and retain operational flexibility.

2. Troops continue to deepen operational successes across the various theatres of operation. For instance in the South East theatre, troops at FOB Orsu conducted a sting operation that culminated in the arrest of an IPOB terrorist leader. The arrested terrorist leader, identified as Pius Iguh, is a founding father of ESN group in Orsu general area of Imo State.3. Similarly, troops at FOB Amaruku conducted a raid that resulted in arrest of another IPOB terrorist commander identified as Emmanuel Onwugu. He was arrested in Mbano LGA of Abia State. 4. Relatedly, troops and security forces in a combined sting operation arrested a notorious cult leader named Ifeanyi Rock. He was arrested with 10 of his combatants in Arochukwu in Abia State.5. Meanwhile, during the week under review, troops neutralised 140 and arrested 135 persons. Troops also arrested 18 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 76 kidnapped hostages. In the SS, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of One Billion Seven Hundred and Fifty One Million Eight Hundred and Eighty Six Thousand Five Hundred and Fifty Naira (N1,751,886,550.00) only.6. Furthermore, troops recovered 241 assorted weapons and 3,254 assorted ammunition. The breakdown as follows: 141 AK47 rifles, one PKT gun, 2 FN rifles, 17 fabricated rifles, 26 dane guns, 13 pump action guns, 4 locally made pistols, one barreta pistol, 2 bayonets and 42 AK47 magazines.7. Others are: 2,016 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 970 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 33 rounds 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 76 rounds of 9mm ammo, 113 live cartridges, 2 baofeng radios, 3 vehicles, 31 motorcycles, 18 mobile phones and the sum of N79,052,150.00 and 19$ only amongst other items.8. Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 33 crude oil cooking ovens, 19 dugout pits, 41 boats, 70 drums, 22 storage tanks and 47 illegal refining sites .Other items recovered include 13 speedboats, one tricycle, 4 motorcycles, 3 vehicles among others. Troops recovered 1,122,710 litres of stolen crude oil and 557,210 litres of illegally refined AGO. 9. Overall, the military assures that it will defeat the terrorist on the battlefield and in their hiding places in order that the country can flourish again.We call on citizens to see themselves as the outstretched arm of the military and never to give terrorism any oxygen to thrive in our nation.