ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has announced that soldiers fighting the counter-insurgency war and other security operations across the country killed 227 terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, oil thieves, and other criminals in the past week. Additionally, they arrested 529 criminals, rescued 253 kidnapped hostages, and recovered numerous weapons.
Major General Edward Buba, Director Defence Media Operation (DMO), disclosed this information at a bi-weekly media briefing on military operations conducted in the country during the past week.
Buba stated that during the period under review, troops discovered and destroyed 18 dugout pits, 34 boats, 5 drums, 4 receivers, 4 reservoirs, and 97 storage tanks. Other items recovered include 198 cooking ovens, 9 vehicles, 3 pumping machines, 2 speedboats, one outboard engine, and 57 illegal refining sites. He added that troops also recovered 1,442,700 litres of stolen crude oil and 154,650 litres of illegally refined AGO.
Buba provided a breakdown of the recovered weapons, stating that they included 89 AK47 rifles, 40 locally fabricated guns, 59 dane guns, 2 pump action guns, 8 locally fabricated pistols, 6 x 36 hand grenades, 3 IEDs, one RPG 7 tube, one RPG 7 charger, 4 AGL rounds, one barrel of QJC Gun, one barrel of PKT with receiver, one barrel of Dushka Gun, 250kg bombs used by NATO and Eastern Bloc aircraft, and one MRAP.
He further reported that troops prevented oil theft amounting to over N1.3 billion in the Niger Delta region. Additionally, they recovered 231 assorted weapons and 6,441 assorted ammunition.
Buba emphasized that troops are actively fighting in various theatres of operation across the country and are focused on destroying both the military capability and the will to fight terrorists and their cohorts. He highlighted that troops are hunting senior terrorist leaders who are of operational importance and symbolic value, including those declared wanted.
One such individual is Halilu Buzu, a terrorist leader from Buzu in the Republic of Niger who resides in Shinkafi LGA of Zamfara State. He operates an illegal gold mine and is a prominent cattle rustler and arms supplier. Buba declared Buzu a High-Value Target and called on Nigerian authorities to apprehend him.
Buba concluded by stating that troops are relentless in their pursuit of terrorists and criminals, determined to take them off the battlefield and bring an end to their atrocities. He commended the troops for their dedication and sacrifice in ensuring the safety and security of the nation.
