The counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations that are now taking place in the nation’s six geopolitical zones would continue, the Defence Headquarters pledged on Friday, saying that the exercises “are yielding encouraging results and making the country safer each passing day.”
This was said in a statement on the continuing military operations by the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) and other security agencies as of Friday, November 17, 2018, that Director of Defence Media Operations Major General Edward Buba made available to Defence Correspondents in Abuja.
“The military continues to target the leadership and chain of command of the terrorists, insurgents, and extremists undermining the security of citizens in the country,” he clarified, referring to the week under review.
He claimed that “the country is becoming safer every day that these evil forces are decimated through the ongoing counter-insurgency and counterterrorism operations.” The military is proceeding with its operations, and the first signs of improvement are promising.
He went on to say, “During the course of the last week’s operations, 50 terrorists were neutralised and 122 were taken into custody. Additionally, the troops freed 182 hostages who had been kidnapped and arrested 49 people for oil theft.
He went on to say that the troops in the South-South had denied stealing oil worth an estimated N128.066,825.00 (one hundred twenty-eight million sixty-six thousand eight hundred and twenty-five naira).
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He added, “Troops also retrieved 11,474 different types of ammo and 66 different types of firearms. One Conqueror APC, one GPMG, one NSVT gun, one GT3 rifle, twenty-five AK47 rifles, four pump action guns, two locally manufactured AK47 rifles, three locally created firearms, one locally built revolver gun, four locally fabricated pistols, four long dane guns, two locally made hand grenades, and one bandolier are the weapons that make up the breakdown.
“Others include 10,520 live cartridges, five vehicles, twenty-seven cell phones, twelve motorcycles, three Boafeng radios, one Motorolla HHR, three bicycles, one solar panel, one solar charger controller, one radio receiver, and the total of N75,909,290.00 among other items. “Others include 574 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 640 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 150 rounds of 12.7mm ammo, and five rounds of 9mm ammo.
242 dugout pits, 49 boats, 78 storage tanks, one tricycle, 21 cars, 104 cooking ovens, 3 pumping equipment, 7 outboard engines, and 49 illegal refining facilities were destroyed by troops in the Niger Delta region. 10,125 litres of DPK, 48,630 litres of unlawfully refined AGO, and 151,850 litres of stolen crude oil were found by the troops.
The terrorists and their allies would continue to suffer significant casualties, according to General Buba, who gave the assurance that the armed forces would maintain the intense military pressure that has been seen over the past week. He said, “It is in their interest to surrender as is being done in the NE of the country to avoid eventual destruction.”
