Nigerian forces defeat 84 terrorists in the North East and North West

According to the Defense Headquarters, in the past two weeks, the military has killed more than 84 terrorists and freed 122 kidnapped people in Nigeria’s north-eastern and north-eastern regions. 

This information was provided on Thursday in Abuja at a biweekly news briefing on the nation’s ongoing military operations by Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami, Director of Defense Media Operations. 

According to Danmadami, the Operation Hadin Kai soldiers neutralised 42 Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants in the north-east zone during that time while also apprehending 14. 

He said that in addition to freeing six kidnapped citizens, troops also captured 267 terrorists and their families, including 22 adult males, 128 adult females, and 117 children, at various points throughout the theater. 

During that time, 12 AK-47 weapons, two locally made guns, one FN rifle, one G3 rifle, three QJC guns, and two 60mm mortar bombs were also found, according to Danmadami. 

He claims that soldiers also found 36 belted 7.62mm NATO rounds, seven 60mm mortar chargers, four RPGs, seven explosives, one fake MRAP, and two PKGM. 

Other goods found, according to him, included a gun truck, 21 rounds of 7.62mm special reloaded ammo, 56 rounds of 7.62 rimmed ammunition, and 332 rounds of 12.7mm AP ammunition.

 Two automobiles, nine bicycles, four motorcycles, one mobile phone, N15,000, and other miscellaneous stuff were also collected. 7.62mm ammunition was also found. 

The proper authority received all recovered items, captured offenders, and rescued citizens for future action. 

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He stated that “terrorists who have been apprehended, turned themselves in, and members of their families are being profiled for subsequent action.” 

According to Danmadami, the air component of Operation Hadin Kai carried out a number of air interdiction operations at terrorist hideouts, enclaves, and camps in Dogon Chuku, which lies on the outskirts of Northern Tumbums. 

The air interdiction campaign, he continued, had also been carried out in Borno’s Arina Kasa in the southern Tumbums of the Lake Chad Basin, Chidike in the Mandara Mountains, and the Gezuwa region. 

He claimed that the battle damage assessment showed that some terrorists had been neutralised while the airstrikes had crippled their infrastructure and supply lines. 

Danmadami claimed that throughout a number of ground and air operations in the North West, Operation Hadarin Daji forces killed 42 terrorists, detained four, and freed 26 kidnapped hostages. 

He added that in addition, 18 AK-47 rifles, one sub-machine gun, 126 7.62mm special ammunition rounds, six magazines, 13 motorcycles, two Boafeng radios, ten mobile phones, and two laptops were found by the military. 

He continued by saying that on January 15, the air component of Operation Hadarin Daji carried out a carefully thought-out and coordinated air interdiction operation at known terrorist hideouts in Rara Forest, Rabah Local Government Area, in Sokoto State. 

He said that reports from the army showed that the airstrike destroyed 17 motorcycles and many Boafeng radios while neutralising 20 outlaws. 

Danmadami claimed that the soldiers of Operation Safe Haven, the Guards Brigades, and the Whirl Stroke with Civilians Joint Task Force neutralised seven terrorists in the North Central region. 

He added that throughout several operations, the army had captured 19 terrorists, two gun runners, and 36 kidnapped victims. 

During the time, troops discovered various calibres of weapons and ammo, according to the defence spokesman.