In one week, troops capture 114 terrorists and kill 50

According to the Defence Headquarters, in one week of operations across the North-East, North-Central, and North-West, troops had captured 114 people and neutralised 50 terrorists.

Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, director of defence media operations, announced this Thursday in Abuja while addressing reporters on military activities.

49 kidnapped captives were also freed within a week, according to Buba.

The terrorist groups Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) had been attacked by Operation Hadin Kai forces in the North East, he claimed, and some of their fighters in Borno and Yobe had been forced to surrender.

According to Buba, the soldiers also found four cellphones, one hand grenade, 137 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, one hand grenade filled with 21 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, and 17 AK47 rifles.

He said that the military in the area also killed 12 terrorists, detained 26, and freed six prisoners who had been taken hostage.

He continued by saying that during air interdiction operations undertaken by Operation Hadin Kai’s air component in the Damboa-Maiduguri and Gwoza-Madagali regions, some terrorists were seen and destroyed with rockets.

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According to Buba, during a fighting patrol, troops of Operation Safe Haven in North Central detained suspected kidnappers in the Kanam and Sanga Local Government Areas of Plateau and Kaduna States.

One AK-47 rifle, four handguns, a Dane gun, 15 rounds of special ammo chambered in 7.62mm, two cellphones, and two terrorists were killed, 12 were captured, and three captives who had been taken hostage were freed, according to him.

According to the defence spokesman, Operation Whirl Stroke troops also carried out raids and detained suspected terrorists in the Federal Capital Territory and Tathe Kum Local Government Area of Benue.

Buba added that throughout the last week, the army had detained 26 suspected criminals and illegal oil bunkerers in the FCT’s Gwagwalada and Abuja Municipal Councils.

Overall, he continued, “troops neutralised four terrorists, detained 28 terrorists, and freed one hostage who had been kidnapped.”