Nigerian troops arrest 81 militants while killing 31 of them

According to the Defence Headquarters, military personnel have deactivated 31 terrorists and detained 81 others in recent operations across the North East, North Central, and North West.

This was said in a statement made on Sunday in Abuja by Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations.

Buba said that 63 Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists and members of their families surrendered to the military across all theatres of action. The forces also freed 10 hostages who had been taken prisoner.

He claimed that in the North East, soldiers from Operation Hadin Kai carried out battle patrols in the Borno local governments of Bama and Chibok as well as Yobe’s Gujba local government area.

Buba reported that in addition to the things listed above, the forces also found 12 AK-47 weapons, two locally made rifles, three dane guns, 181 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, four magazines, and three motorcycles.

He stated that the troops captured 12 suspects, killed 13 terrorists, and freed five hostages.

He claimed that during the course of the week, the soldiers of Operation Safe Haven in the North Central region apprehended five suspects, found weapons and ammo, and rescued 145 rustled cows.

He said that on October 1 while on patrol in the Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue, Operation Whirl Stroke troops detained two IPOB/ESN criminals.

He claimed that when the senior herbalist fled, the criminals were apprehended in his home.

“Troops recovered one body armour and bulletproof vests,” he continued.

“Overall, troops detained three suspects and found two locally made rifles, 10 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, five cutlasses, one body armour, one bulletproof vest, and a jack-knife,” according to the report.

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According to Buba, Operation Hadarin Daji forces in the North West killed six terrorists, detained twelve, and freed 33 hostages.

He added that in addition, the forces found three motorcycles, five mobile phones, one cutlass, five solar panels, two dane guns, 35 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, and four AK-47 weapons.

One terrorist was also killed by Operation Whirl Punch’s troops, who also found three AK-47 rifles, one cutlass, 32 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition, 10 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm warhead ammunition, and one AK-47 magazine loaded with five rounds of 7.62 mm special ammo.

He said that in the fight against terrorism and violent extremist groups, the government and the people are allies.

The military, he continued, “thus continues to prevail against the effects of insurgency and terrorism through its operations with the ultimate goal of securing the country against perpetrators of insecurity for national progress.”