The Nigerian Defence Headquarters says its troops neutralised no less than 2,352 suspected terrorists, arrested 2,308 others, and rescued more than 1,200 kidnap victims in operations conducted nationwide in the first quarter of the year, 2024.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, made these known to newsmen on Thursday, April 4th, 2024 while giving updates on military operations across the country.
“These are commendable results from our ongoing efforts to combat terrorism and ensure the safety of Nigerians,” the defence spokesman said.
General Buba also noted that several terror cell commanders were eliminated, including, Abu Bilal Minuki, aka Abubakar Mainok, the Head of Is-Al Furqan Province of ISGS and ISWAP, and Haruna Isiya Boderi.
He also noted that some terrorists’ commanders who operated in Birnin Gwari forest, Kaduna State, and along Abuja-Kaduna highway were killed by troops on February 21st.
He listed those eliminated to include Kachallah Damina, who was neutralised in March alongside more than 50 combatants, Kachallah Alhaji Dayi, Kachallah Idi (Namaidaro), Kachallah Kabiru (Doka), Kachallah Azarailu (Farin-Ruwa), Kachallah Balejo, Kachallah Ubangida, and Alhaji Baldu, among others.
He said the feat was achieved through synchronised strikes between the ground and air forces on terrorist enclaves.
“For instance, immediately upon acquisition of vital targets, fighter jets are scrambled to carry out major bombarding raids on significant terrorist enclaves”, He said.
General Buba added that troops equally conducted ambushes, raids, fighting patrols and offensive against terrorists.
He said that the attacks and offensive actions by troops between January and March resulted in the recovery of 2,847 weapons and 58,492 ammunitions while oil thieves were denied more than ₦20 billion returns.
The breakdown of the weapons and ammunition seized include 1,497 AK-47 rifles, 33,878 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 12,698 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 948 assorted arms and 5,520 assorted ammo.
“Others are 21,573,310 liters of stolen crude oil, 2,723,430 liters of illegally refined AGO, 53,300 liters of DPK and 52,730 liters of PMS among other items.
“The foregoing demonstrates that ongoing operations are effective and result oriented.”
“Accordingly, the military is raising the bar in the prosecution of the war and citizens will continue to witness the incremental effectiveness and efficiency of the armed forces”, he added.
