The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said troops rescued at least 59 kidnapped victims and neutralised 11 terrorists during nationwide operations conducted between August 14 and August 20.
Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday detailing military activities across the country during the period. In the North-East, troops of Operation HADIN KAI rescued eight kidnapped victims. They also rescued three victims from Gwamnare Forest in Bauchi and a 63-year-old Cameroonian national abducted along the Gwoza-Cameroon axis.
Onoja said troops neutralised three terrorists, recovered weapons and other war materiel, while 47 family members of terrorists and six fighters surrendered to the military in Borno. In the North-West, troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA rescued 28 abducted persons across Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto states between August 17 and August 19.
The operation also resulted in the neutralisation of four terrorists and the arrest of an explosives courier and other suspected terrorist collaborators. Weapons, ammunition, motorcycles and cash were recovered during the operations. Six suspected informants linked to the abduction of an immigration officer’s family and staff and students of Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda, were also arrested.
In the North-Central, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE compelled kidnappers to release 13 victims comprising two men, five women and six children in Kogi State.
The troops also neutralised two suspected criminals and arrested an arms courier during separate operations in Taraba and Benue. An AK-47 rifle, ammunition and other weapons were recovered. Similarly, troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE recovered firearms, fabricated rifles, Dane guns and ammunition during a raid on suspected criminals in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
In Kwara, troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD neutralised one terrorist and recovered an AK-47 rifle. Seven kidnap victims were also rescued during a night patrol in Patigi Local Government Area. In the South-South, Operation DELTA SAFE troops arrested suspected kidnappers and an arms trafficker, recovering seven locally made pistols, ammunition and a camouflage vest.
The troops also disrupted three illegal refining sites in Rivers State and recovered about 85,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil. In the South-East, Operation UDO KA troops dismantled suspected secessionist camps, recovered weapons and cleared multiple improvised explosive devices across Imo, Anambra and Abia states.
“On Aug. 20, troops conducting clearance operations towards “Mother Valley” in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra cleared 11 IEDs.”
The troops also dismantled an illegal bunkering site in Abia, arrested suspects and recovered suspected stolen Automotive Gas Oil, motorcycles and a vehicle.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Navy commissioned a solar-powered water project for residents of Ward F2 in Surulere, Lagos, as part of the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s civil-military cooperation initiatives. Onoja said Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, commended the troops for their sustained successes in rescuing abducted citizens, neutralising terrorists and degrading criminal networks.
Oluyede also praised cooperation between the military, other security agencies and local security groups, while urging Nigerians and community leaders to continue providing useful information. The Defence Headquarters said the military would sustain its operations as efforts continue towards restoring peace and security across the country.
