The Nigerian Military on Friday, July 5, said 158 kidnapped hostages have been rescued within the space of one week following different operations across the country.
News Agency of Nigeria reports that Major General Edward Buba, the director, Defence Media Operations, in a statement said 177 terrorists were eliminated while 263 others were apprehended during the operations.
Terrorists’ activities metamorphosed in Nigeria after the death of Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Yusuf in 2009. The group was founded in 2002 with an initial focus of rejecting Western education and promoting strict Sharia law but escalated to violent insurgency and has been responsible for various atrocities including the abduction of school children in the North.
Recoveries made from the terrorists
Reeling out some of the onslaught against the terrorists, Buba noted that the troops recovered 170 assorted weapons and 4,692 rounds of various ammunition. Others include six PKT guns, 63 AK-47 rifles, three FN rifles, one SMG rifle, 29 locally fabricated guns, 37 Dane guns, and 20 pump-action guns, among others.
In addition, the troops recovered a total of 2,100 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 1,239 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, 419 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammunition, 212 rounds of 5.56 x 54mm ammunition, and 722 live cartridges.
Buba also mentioned that 13 empty cases of 7.62mm ammunition, 74 AK-47 magazines, two FN magazines, six Baofeng radios, 17 vehicles, 43 motorcycles, 31 mobile phones, and N2.1 million in cash, among other items were seized from the terrorists.
Details of the military operations
Hightling some of the operations carried out by the military, Buba stated that troops of Operation Hadin Kai – operating in the North East region of the country – neutralized a total of 64 terrorists, arrested 55 suspects, and rescued 29 kidnapped hostages within the week.
Several caches of arms and ammunition were recovered in the region while a total of 751 BH/ISWAP/JAS terrorist fighters and their family members surrendered to the troops.
In the North Central region, he said the troops of Operations Safe Haven and Whirl Stroke neutralized 25 insurgents, arrested 64 violent extremists, and rescued 42 kidnapped hostages.
For the North West, troops of Operation Hadarin Daji neutralized 52 terrorists, arrested 41 terrorists, and rescued 49 kidnapped hostages, a cache of arms was also recovered.
Subsequently, troops operating under Operation Whirl Punch neutralised 19 terrorists, arrested 20 suspects and rescued 10 kidnapped hostages.
In the South-South, troops of Operation Delta Safe sustained efforts against the activities of crude oil thieves. They apprehended 41 perpetrators and denied the oil thieves of estimated sum of N501.08 million by discovering and destroying 49 illegal refining sites with 20 dugout pits, 32 boats and 32 storage tanks.
For the South East region, the director of defense media operation said troops of Operation UDOKA eliminated 17 terrorists, arrested 42 violent extremists and rescued 10 kidnapped hostages.
With the feats recorded so far, Buba said, “Much is being done, however, we are focused on doing much more to address the security situation and safeguard citizens.”
