According to the Defence Headquarters, the Armed Forces of Nigeria have killed over 180 terrorists, arrested 204 more, and freed 234 victims who were kidnapped during the course of the previous week’s operations.
In a statement released on Friday, Maj Gen Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, stated that interdictions by air and land were implemented throughout the operation’s theatres.
According to Buba, the soldiers also found 46 different types of firearms and 148 rounds of ammunition. The weaponry included two pump-action Josef Magnum rifles, one double barrel gun, two single barrel guns, and thirty AK-47 rifles.
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He lists twelve handguns created in the country, thirteen Dane guns, one hand grenade, nine rifles made in the country, three RPG chargers, two hand grenades made in the country, and one hundred and sixty rounds of 7.62mm NATO as other items.
Among the other things found were 34 cars, 64 cell phones, 47 motorcycles, N1.5 million, 32 magazines, 54 live rounds, 11 rounds of empty cases of 7.62mm special ammunition, and 364 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.
According to Buba, within a week, the soldiers of Operation Hadin Kai in the Northeast had neutralised 19 terrorists, apprehended 52, and freed 134 victims who had been kidnapped.
Six AK-47 weapons, 58 rounds of special 7.62mm ammunition, seven live cartridges, three cars, eight cell phones, three motorcycles, one bicycle, and two jackets with camouflage magazine carriers were among the items that the forces found, according to him.
He said that in the Borno local government areas of Kukawa, Bama, and Gwoza, troops carried out combat patrols and detained suspected ISWAP/Boko Haram terrorists in Chibok.
He stated that in the Gulani Local Government Area of Yobe, the military also carried out combat patrols and apprehended illegal miners and kidnappers.
According to Buba, the forces also neutralised suspected ISWAP/JAS terrorists in Madagali, Adamawa, and Maiduguri municipal council area in Borno, as well as found and exploded IEDs in Monguno, Mafa, and Gwoza local government areas.
He said that between November 22 and November 28, 91 terrorists—13 adult males, 35 adult females, and 43 children—turned themselves in to the authorities.
He said that from Nov. 24 to Nov. 25, the air component of Operations Hadin Kai had carried out air interdiction over Borno’s Tagoshe and Chongolo Kura.
The battle damage assessment showed that nearly 130 terrorists were eliminated, and those who were injured had little chance of survival.
According to Buba, the troops of Operations Safe Haven and Whirl Stroke in the North Central region eliminated several terrorists through air and ground attacks, demolishing their strongholds in the states of Niger, Benue, Taraba, and Plateau.
According to him, numerous terrorists were killed and numerous buildings were destroyed when air power was applied to terrorist mastermind Ali Kawaje’s enclave in Dagam, Shiroro Local Government Area, Niger, on November 26.
He claimed that while the troops of Operation Whirl Stroke neutralised five terrorists, detained ten, and freed one hostage, the troops of Operation Safe Haven neutralised two terrorists, arrested 37, and freed three kidnapped hostages.
According to a defence official, operations Hadarin Daji and Whirl Punch forces in the North West exterminated a number of terrorists throughout the course of a week-long land and air offensive in the states of Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
He claimed that on November 25, the air component carried out air interdiction of a bandit’s encampment in Zamfara’s Tsafe Local Government Area, neutralising many terrorists.
In total, Operation Hadarin Daji forces killed 14 terrorists, detained 20 others, and freed 88 captives during land operations.
Operation Whirl Punch forces also captured offenders in the Abaji Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja and a gunrunner in Kaduna.
In addition, troops launched offensive operations in the areas councils of Abaji and Kuje and searched criminal hideouts in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
“Together, the soldiers of Operation Whirl Punch eliminated four terrorists, apprehended four individuals suspected of being terrorists, and freed two hostages,” he declared.
