DHQ Update: Victory Against Terrorists In 2025 Is Non-Negotiable As Troops Neutralises Over 10,937, Arrests About 12,538 And Rescues 7,063 Hostages In 2024.

By Helen Udo,Outlook Media ABUJA.

The Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters said
victory against terrorists in 2025 is non-negotiable as troops
neutralised over 10,937, arrested about 12,538 and rescued 7,063 hostages over the year in 2024.

Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations made this known to newsmen on thursday in Abuja.

According to Maj.  Gen.  Buba said Over the last 12 months, troops were confronted by several threats across the country ranging from armed banditry, kidnapping for ransom, crude oil theft, violent extremism, insurgency as well as terrorism among others. Several of these threats adversely affected innocent citizens and disrupted peace and security in the country.

He revealed that Troops war effort was therefore designed and crafted to defeat and destroy the terrorist as well as dismantle their terror infrastructure across the country. Accordingly, troops continued, relentless, and painful pressure on the terrorist enclaves, hideouts and strongholds as an incentive to defeating the terrorist.

Maj. Gen. Buba said “During the course of the year, troops eliminated over a thousand notable  terrorist leaders,   commanders and combatants among others.
Some of those eliminated in the course of the year include: Dutse Mainasara Idda, Mallam Saleh Umaru,
Mohammed Amadu, Chinemerem (aka Bam Bam), Jeremiah Uzuoma (aka Escoba), Tochukwu Awo (aka Ojoto) and Egwuatu amongst others.

During the year, troops
significantly  degraded the military capabilities as well as the fighting capabilities of  terrorist by neutralizing 10,937 terrorists, arresting 12,538  and rescuing 7,063  hostages. Furthermore, troops recovered 8,815 weapons, 228,004 ammunitions and denied the oil theft of an estimated sum over #68 bn (N68,453,376,040.00) only.

    The breakdown of the recoveries are as follows: 4,332 AK47 rifles, 1,244 locally fabricated guns, 838 dane guns, 259 pump action guns, 128,496 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 45,445 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 5,103 cartridges, 2,131 assorted arms and 29,176 assorted ammunitions. Others are: 56,223,002 litres of stolen crude oil, 9,735,836 litres of illegally refined AGO, 95,595 litres of DPK and 156,527 litres of PMS amongst other item.

Troops  are focussed on increasingly deliver tangible benefits of their operations  for the benefits of citizens. Additionally,troops seek to continue to heighten collaboration with  neighbouring countries and regional bodies in order to tackle the menace of terrorism.

Meanwhile, the armed forces assures that, many of what was witnessed in the outgoing outgoing year, are indicative of a major defeat of the terrorist in 2025. Importantly, troops in the battlefield are in high spirits, fully committed, devoted and believe in the justness of the cause.Troops will be going the extra mile in the new year to get the job done.

  On the whole, the war is not for the armed forces alone, but for all citizens. The military therefore urges for  more citizens support  in order to win the war.

Troops of OP HADIN KAI fought intensely against the terrorist all through the year 2024. Troops invaded terrorist hideouts, strongholds and enclaves to flush out terrorist and destroy them wherever they were hibernating.

• Indeed, offensive operations were conducted to known terrorist safe haven such as the Sambisa Forest, Timbuktu Triangle as well as the Tunbums along the Lake Chad Basin. Several terrorist leaders, combatants and the families surrendered as a result of the intensity of troops operations.
• The operations saw to the neutralisation of several BH/ISWAP/JAS terrorists commanders including: Amir Garin Manzo, Hussaini Ardo, Abu Mhammed, Buba Kachalla Bukar, Abu Rijab, Ali Modu, Munzur Ya Audu, Abdullahi Maishayi, Abba Tukur, Abu Sule, Ari Gana, Mallam Mohamadu, Jibrila Ahmadu and Saidu Hassan Yellow amongst others. Additionally, troops rescued kidnapped hostages and arrested suspected BH/ISWAP terrorists collaborators.
• Overall, from January till date, troops of Operations HADIN KAI neutralized 3,151 terrorists, arrested 2,503 suspects and rescued 1,605 kidnapped hostages. Additionally, troops recorded 16,171 surrendered BH/ISWAP terrorists combatants and their families.
• The summary of recovered items include: 1,802 AK47 rifles, 446 fabricated rifles, 438 dane guns, 378 assorted arms, 42,439 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 16,336 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 12,429 assorted ammunitions.

Troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN significantly restored peace in the Plateau through their operations. The operations resulted in the neutralisation of several terrorist and violent extremist leaders, commanders and combatants. 7. Additionally , troops in fierce contact with violent extremists/terrorists neutralized several terrorists including: Adamu Usman, Mohammed Sani, Kawu Hamman, Mallam Abubakar Mohd, Mallam Yau Adamu, Emmanuel Pam Dung, Isah Ishiyaku, Abubakar Maijaki, Mohammed Yuro, Mohammed Ardo, Auwal Baba, Allama Bibah Umma, Wetti Alhaji Ibrahim, Dahiru Idi (AKA Yellow), Usman Abdulkadir and Maikudi Danweri amongst others.8. Troops also rescued several kidnapped hostages and arrested suspected violent extremists as well as gunrunners. The offensive posture of troops secured the release of several kidnapped hostages and significantly curtailed the activities of terrorist and violent extremist operating in the threatre of operation. 8. Overall, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN neutralized 447 violent extremist, arrested 1,995 and rescued 1,094 kidnap hostages. Troops also recovered 254 AK47 rifles, 321 fabricated guns, 314 assorted arms, 19,577 rounds of 7.62mm special, 2,962 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 1,805 assorted ammunitions.

Troops of Op WHIRL STROKE sustained their operations all through the year in Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa States. The operations significantly delivered damages to the terrorist fighting capabilities.

• Troops hunted the terrorist and destroyed them in areas in which they were hibernating. Troops also arrested several notorious gunner runners, kidnappers and terrorist collaborators. Accordingly, the terrorist were denied the ability to carry out major offensive to harm citizens.
• However, troops onslaught largely degraded the potency of violent extremists and neutralized several of their notable leaders including: Rimamy (aka Omo), Terkimbi Injoko, Jacob Uzege, Abdulkadir Yaya, Kingsley, Mathew Tersee, Ali Ibrahim, Yusuf Musa, Usman Umar and Isiah Ioraa. Additionally, troops arrested suspected gunrunners kingpins like: Paul Hammeza, Aondowase Tyoue, Salisu Nasiru, Lomina Bisala, Manuka Sunday, Bulus Ibrahim, Tisen Markus, Markus Grace, Ali Tambaya as well as rescued kidnapped hostages.
• Overall, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE neutralized 600 terrorists, arrested 1,006 suspects and rescued 688 kidnapped hostages. Troops also recovered 295 AK47 rifles, 315 assorted arms, 13,055 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 2,849 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 2,279 rounds of assorted ammunition.
• Troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI continued all through the year to create a conducive and stable security environment for agricultural activities and other forms of socio-economic activities in KADUNA, KATSINA, KEBBI, SOKOTO and ZAMFARA State in the NW as well as NIGER State in the NC Zone.
• 15. Troops activities instigated rival clash among the terrorist groups leading to the death of several terrorist commander in battle for supremacy of rival groups. Also, the synergy between the security agencies and intelligence agencies further resulted to the neutralisation of several terrorists kingpins including: Isiya Boderi, Alhaji Mubale, Baban Yara, Alhaji Kabiru, Lawali Gudau AKA Damina, Buhari Alhaji Halidu AKA Buharin Yadi, Nagala Jabbi, Audu Kalwa, Muhammad Sani AKA Peter, Dan Hajiya, Ga’aye, Akwanga, Bala Gurgu, Yellow, Kucheri and Babban Mutum amongst others.
• 16. Overall, troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI in the course of the year neutralized 2,906 terrorists, arrested 1,826 suspects and rescued 2,616 kidnap hostages.
• 17. Additionally, troops recovered 1,450 AK47 rifles, 477 fabricated guns, 576 assorted arms, 31,999 rounds of 7.62mm special, 14,960 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 6,564 assorted ammunitions.
• Troops of Operation WHIRL PUNCH delivered significant damage to the terrorist military capabilities all through the year. Indeed, troops onslaught resulted in surrendering of terrorist in the NC theatre of operation.
• 25. The troops tenacity and operations intensity led to the elimination of several violent extremists and terrorists kingpins including: Boderi Isiya, Buhari Yadi, Mr Rilwanu Ahmad, Mr Jamilu Samaila, Tukur Sharme, Kachalla Dan Mani Na Inna, Kachalla Basiru Zakarriya, Sani Baka Tsine, Inusa Zagon Kuzi, Ibrahim, Tukur and Mr Aminu Hassan AKA Ja’e amongst others
• 20. Overall, troops of Operation WHIRL PUNCH neutralized 742 terrorists, arrested 1,877 suspects and rescued 595 kidnap hostages.
• 21. Troops equally recovered 364 AK47 rifles, 302 assorted arms, 12,422 rounds of 7.62mm special, 5,991 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 2,818 assorted ammunitions.

Troops of Op DELTA SAFE maintained the momentum against the activities of crude oil theft. Troops continued to find and destroyed illegal refining sites as well as arrest the perpetrators of oil theft. Indeed, troops operations spiked the nation’s daily crude oil production to close to 2 million barrels per day. 23. During the course of the year, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE neutralized 78 terrorists, arrested 2,357 persons involved in crude oil theft and rescued 93 kidnapped hostages. 24. Troops also denied the oil theft of 56,223,002 litres of crude oil, 9,735,836 litres of AGO, 95,595 litres of DPK and 156,527 litres of PMS. Furthermore, troops recovered 538 assorted weapons, 13,198 assorted ammunition and destroyed 2,019 wooden boats as well as 2,612 illegal refining sites.

Troops of Operation UDO KA sustained the momentum in finding, flushing out and destroying IPOB /ESN terrorists at locations in which they hibernate. Additionally, the troops also worked assiduously to curb crude oil theft in the region. 28. Troops operations intercepted and arrested several IPOB/ESN terrorist. Several terrorist collaborators, gun runners and informants were also arrested. 29. Overall, during the course of the year, troops of Op UDO KA neutralized 734 terrorists, arrested 974 suspects and rescued 372 kidnap hostages. 30. Additionally, troops recovered 167 AK47 rifles, 259 pump action guns, 9,004 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 2,347 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammo, 6,103 live cartridges, 246 assorted arms and 3,281 assorted ammunition.

Troops of OP HADIN KAI remained focussed on fighting terrorist and their cohorts across the NE theatre of operation. The troops conducted offensives striking at terrorist enclaves with air attacks. The ground forces on the other hand exerted significant military pressure on terrorist hibernating in their hide out and enclaves.

2. Overall, during the month of December 2024, troops of Operations HADIN KAI neutralized 233 terrorists, arrested 218 suspects and rescued 109 kidnapped hostages. Additionally, troops recorded 221 surrendered BH/ISWAP terrorists combatants and their families.
3. The summary of recovered items include: 120 AK47 rifles, 48 fabricated rifles, 35 dane guns, 15 assorted arms, 2,827 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 1,083 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 498 assorted ammunitions.
4. Details as follows:

Serial
Op Activity
Wk1
Wk2
Wk3
Wk4
Total
Rmks

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)

1.
Neutralized Terrorists
34
53
79
67
233

2.
Surrendered BHT/Families
53
11
83
74
221

3.
Arrested Terrorists
44
55
55
64
218

4.
Rescued Hostages
12
17
35
45
109

5.
Recovered Weapons
2
45
83
85
215

6.
Recovered Ammunition
243
870
2,087
1,208
4,408

7.

Equipment Recovered

25
81
55
161

JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION SAFE HAVEN (NORTH CENTRAL)

5. Troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN conducted offensive operations to dominate the theatre of Operation during the month of December 2024. Significantly, several operations were conducted violent extremist hideouts, strongholds and enclaves.
6. Overall, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN neutralized 36 violent extremist, arrested 136 and rescued 167 kidnap hostages. Troops also recovered 16 AK47 rifles, 14 fabricated guns, 19 assorted arms, 1,253 rounds of 7.62mm special, 252 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 116 assorted ammunitions.
7. Details are as follows:

Serial
Op Activity
Wk1
Wk2
Wk3
Wk4
Total
Rmks

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)

1.
Neutralized Terrorists
9
10
13
4
36

2.
Arrested Suspects
25
26
42
43
136

3.
Rescued Hostages
36
60
27
44
167

4.
Weapons Recovered
1
15
24
9
49

5.
Ammunitions Recovered
11
645
640
424
1,720

6.

Equipment

4
28
20
52

OPERATION WHIRL STROKE (NORTH CENTRAL)

8. Troops of Op WHIRL STROKE conducted several operations during the month of December 2024 ranging from search and rescue, raids, fighting patrols as well as cordon and search among others. These operations spanned Benue, Taraba, and Nasarawa States aimed at defeating terrorist and creating conditions whereby the terrorist is denied the ability to carry out terror or harm citizens.
9. Overall, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE neutralized 17 terrorists, arrested 90 suspects and rescued 39 kidnapped hostages. Troops also recovered 4 AK47 rifles, 13 assorted arms, 130 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 391 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammo and 52 rounds of assorted ammunition.
10. Details are as follows:

Serial
Op Activity
Wk1
Wk2
Wk3
Wk4
Total
Rmks

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)

1.
Neutralized Terrorists
4
1
5
7
17

2.
Arrested terrorists
20
26
31
13
90

3.
Rescued Hostages
8
6
11
14
39

4.

Weapons Recovered

3
6
8
17

5.

Ammunition recovered

5
440
128
573

6.

Equipment Recovered

2
24
9
35

JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION HADARIN DAJI (NORTH WEST)

11. During the month of December 2024, troop of Operation HADARIN DAJI neutralized 260 terrorists, arrested 172 suspects and rescued 277 kidnap hostages. Additionally, troops recovered 109 AK47 rifles, 53 fabricated guns, 90 assorted arms, 2,931 rounds of 7.62mm special, 1,201 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 2,437 assorted ammunitions.
12. Details are as follows;

Serial
Op Activity
Wk1
Wk2
Wk3
Wk4
Total
Rmks

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)

1.
Neutralized Terrorists
28
93
81
58
260

2.
Arrested Terrorists
32
33
40
67
172

3.
Rescued Hostages
19
67
51
140
277

4.
Weapon Recovered
6
124
87
35
252

5.
Ammunition Recovered
486
3,596
1,634
648
6,364

6.
Equipment Recovered
9
89
65
26
189

JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION WHIRL PUNCH (NORTH WEST)

13. Troops of Operation WHIRL PUNCH recorded the following in the month of December 2024. Troops neutralized 10 terrorists, arrested 35 suspects and rescued 26 kidnap hostages.
14. Troops equally recovered 7 AK47 rifles, 13 assorted arms, 110 rounds of 7.62mm special, 333 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 11 assorted ammunitions.
15. Details are as follows;

Serial
Op Activity
Wk1
Wk2
Wk3
Wk4
Total
Rmks

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)

1.

Neutralized Terrorists

–

10

10

2.
Arrested Terrorists
5
3

27

35

3.

Rescued Hostages

2
16
8
26

4.

Weapon Recovered

–

20

20

5.

Ammunition Recovered

–

454

454

6.

Equipment Recovered

–

15

15

JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION DELTA SAFE (SOUTH SOUTH)

16. Troops of Op DELTA SAFE maintained the momentum against the activities of crude oil theft. Troops continued to find and destroyed illegal refining sites as well as arrest the perpetrators of oil theft. Indeed, troops operations spiked the nation’s daily crude oil production to close to 2 million barrels per day.
17. During the month of December 2024, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE arrested 181 persons involved in crude oil theft and rescued 20 kidnapped hostages. Troops also denied the oil theft of 3,121,572 litres of crude oil, 556,655 litres of AGO, 5,000 litres of DPK and 432 litres of PMS.
18. Furthermore, troops recovered 429 assorted ammunition and destroyed 195 wooden boats as well as 216 illegal refining sites.

19. Details as follows:

Serial
Op Activity
Wk1
Wk2
Wk3
Wk4
Total
Rmks

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)

1.

Neutralized Terrorists

–

–

2.
Arrested Terrorists
35
50
45
51
181

3.

Rescued Hostages

–

20
20

4.
Weapons recovered

5

7
2
14

5.
Boats destroyed
25
38
35
41
139

6.
Ammunitions Recovered

90

93
41
224

8.
Illegal refining sites
29
47
61
66
199

9.
Vehicles
3
12
8
5
28

JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION UDO KA (SOUTH EAST)

20. Troops of Operation UDO KA conducted offensive operations against IPOB/ESN terror group in several SE states killing terrorist, making arrest and recoveries of weapons. Accordingly, IPOB /ESN incidents were recorded in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo and Enugu States.
21. Troops in course of the month intercepted and arrested IPOB/ESN terrorist on several encounters such as in Ohafia and Aguata LGAs of Abia and Anambra States respectively. Similarly, troops intercepted and arrested IPOB/ESN terrorists collaborator in Orlu LGA of Imo State, as well as others state in the SE.
22. Overall, troops of Op UDO KA in the month of December 2024, neutralized 68 terrorists, arrested 81 suspects and rescued 49 kidnap hostages.
23. Additionally, troops recovered 23 AK47 rifles, 19 pump action guns 41 assorted arms, 1,004 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 670 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammo, 730 live cartridges and 398 assorted ammunition.
24. Details are as follows:

Serial
Op Activity
Wk1
Wk2
Wk3
Wk4
Total
Rmks

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)

1.
Neutralized Terrorists
8
24
24
12
68

2.
Arrested Terrorists
16
13
32
20
81

3.
Rescued Hostages
11
7
11
20
49

4.
Weapons Recovered
1
49
23
9
82

5.

Ammunitions Recovered

1,633
926
243
2,802

6.
Equipment Recovered
10
29
19
9
67