Troops Neutralize 181 Bandits, Arrest 253 Suspects, Rescue 161 Kidnap Victims

In a major operation, troops have neutralized 181 bandits, arrested 253 suspects, and successfully rescued 161 kidnap victims across affected regions.

The Nigerian military has reported notable achievements in its ongoing operations aimed at addressing national security threats over the past week. These accomplishments include the neutralization of 181 terrorists, the apprehension of 253 suspects, and the rescue of 161 individuals who had been kidnapped.

Major General Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, made this announcement in a statement released on Friday.

He highlighted that among those detained is a well-known arms dealer named Mohammed Musa, also referred to as Mamman, who was captured in Plateau State.

In the South-South region, military personnel successfully thwarted oil theft operations, preventing losses estimated at Seven Hundred and Twenty-Eight Million Two Hundred and Ninety-Seven Thousand Six Hundred and Fifty Naira (N728,297,650.00).

The statement further detailed that troops recovered a total of 228 various weapons and 6,749 rounds of ammunition. The inventory includes: 4 General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), 3 G3 rifles, 85 AK47 rifles, 38 fabricated rifles, 36 dane guns, 12 FN rifles, 3 fabricated revolver pistols, 24 locally manufactured pistols, 16 pump-action shotguns, 2 single-barrel guns, one Beretta pistol, 4 hand grenades, 3 improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and 63 magazines.

Additionally, the breakdown of ammunition recovered includes: 2,891 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 1,354 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 586 rounds of 7.62 x 51mm, 821 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm, 12 rounds of 5.56mm, 409 rounds of 7.62mm PKT, 32 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm PKT, 21 rounds of 9mm, 618 live cartridges, 1,146 assorted empty ammunition cases, 3 bandoliers, 4 Baofeng radios, 15 vehicles, 33 motorcycles, 42 mobile phones, and a cash sum of N577,800.00, among other items.

In the Niger Delta region, troops discovered and dismantled 25 crude oil cooking ovens, 10 dugout pits, 38 boats, 44 storage tanks, and 47 illegal refining sites. Additional recoveries included 6 speedboats, 3 receivers, 48 drums, 3 motorcycles, one mobile phone, and 12 vehicles. Troops

Military forces will persist in employing significant strength to ensure the total eradication of terrorists and their associates. Additionally, they will strive to foster an environment where citizens can live in tranquility, free from the threat of terrorism.

Major General Buba emphasized that all military operations are focused on dismantling terrorist networks, regardless of their locations or concealment.