Troops kill 159 terrorists, rescue 188 kidnap victims

The Defence Headquarters has said troops killed no fewer than 159 terrorists and arrested 174 suspects during the operations conducted in the last one week.

The operations also led to the rescue of 188 persons kidnapped by non-state actors across the country.

The Director, Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Buba Edward, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

He added that troops recovered 151 assorted weapons and 12,401 assorted ammunition during the period under review.

Buba said, “During the week under review, troops neutralised 159 and arrested 174 persons. Troops also arrested 45 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 188 kidnapped hostages.

“Furthermore, troops recovered 151 assorted weapons and 12,401 assorted ammunition. The breakdown is as follows: three PKT guns, one SLR, 92 AK47 rifles, 25 fabricated rifles, 15 Dane guns, four pump action guns, four locally made pistols, one pistol, two RPG tubes, one RPG bomb, 66 AK47 magazines, one FN magazine, two locally fabricated hand grenades.

“Others are 10,346 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 1,094 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 92 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammo, 479 rounds of PKT ammo, 182 rounds of MG ammo, 43 rounds of 9.5mm ammo, 12 rounds of 9mm ammo, 35 live cartridges, 35 empty cases of 7.62mm ammo, 2 baofeng radios, 15 vehicles, 39 motorcycles, 28 mobile phones and the sum of N5,386,200.00 only amongst other items.”

During the operations conducted in the South-South region of the country, Buba said troops recovered stolen crude oil worth N736m.

He said, “In the SS, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated N736,971,450.00 only. Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 9 dugout pits, 35 boats, four speedboats, 32 drums and 57 storage tanks. Other items recovered include 20 cooking ovens, one pumping machine, 14 vehicles, one motorcycle, one tricycle, 10 mobile phones and 71 illegal refining sites.

“Troops recovered 788,400 litres of stolen crude oil, 28,995 litres of illegally refined AGO, 300 litres of DPK and 3,000 litres of PMS.”

He also said the military had strategically deployed troops in Edo State to ensure a violence-free and fair election.

Buba said, “Furthermore, troops are strategically deployed to ensure that the off-cycle governorship election scheduled for September 21, 2024, (today) in Edo State is violence-free, fair and credible.

“Troops’ role is to support the police to ensure voters’ safety and security. Accordingly, troops’ presence is to thwart the activities of those elements bent on fomenting crisis during the elections.”