Defence Headquarters on Thursday said troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have eliminated 858 Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP0 terrorists, arrested 2,318 and rescued 554 kidnapped victims in different operations across Northwest and Northcentral regions of Nigeria between May 2021 and Jan. 2022.
Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Bernard Onyeuko, said while reviewing Armed Forces of Nigeria operations on Thursday in Abuja that troops eliminated several high-profile commanders and Amirs (leaders) of the terrorist groups during the period.
General Onyeuko said that 24,059 terrorists and their families comprising 5,326 adult males, 7,550 adult females and 11,183 children have so far surrendered to the troops in the region.
Onyeuko said that all surrendered elements had been properly profiled and handed over to appropriate authorities for necessary actions.
Onyeuko further revealed that 79 terrorists were arrested while 113 kidnapped civilians were rescued by the troops within the period.
“In the same vein, a total of 195 assorted arms including AK-47 rifles, GPMGs, PKT guns and locally fabricated guns were recovered from terrorists in the course of the operations.
“In addition, a total of 2,385 rounds of different calibers of ammunition and 253 rustled livestock were recovered.
“Also, total of 14 gun trucks of the terrorists were destroyed in the course of the operations, while 16 gun trucks were captured by troops within the period,” he said.
Onyeuko added that the Air Component recorded another feat on January 3 when it executed air offensives on bandits’ enclaves at Gusami Forest and West Tsamre village in Birnin Magaji Local Government Area of Zamfara, which led to the neutralisation of scores of bandits.
He said the locations were the operational base of two key bandits’ leaders, Alhaji Auta and Kachalla Ruga, who were killed alongside over 100 of their followers.
Under Operation Safe Haven, Onyeuko disclosed that troops arrested a total of 1,771 criminal elements including bandits, armed herdsmen and livestock rustlers; while 109 bandits were killed in action within the period.
According to him, troops carried out various non-kinetic activities in different locations within the theatre to contain security challenges in its area of responsibility.
“Some of these include; peace and security meetings with critical security stakeholders to discuss and proffer actionable solutions to security concerns as well as organized sporting activities for youths with a view to dissuade them from criminal activities,” he said.
In Operation Whirl Stroke, Onyeuko said the troops eliminated a total of 168 criminal elements and arrested 127, including migrant bandits as well as recovered 118 different types of arms and 381 different calibres of ammunition.
He further disclosed that 391 livestock were recovered, while 33 kidnapped victims were rescued within the period in the North Central.
The Defence Spokesperson also disclosed that troops of Operation Thunder Stroke/Whirl Punch, eliminated a total of 44 criminals and arrested 46 within the period.
According to him, the operations also led to the recovery of 59 assorted arms, 12 extra AK-47 rifles magazines, 113 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and 16 motorcycles among other items in the course of the operations.
“Additionally, a total of 14 kidnapped civilians were rescued and reunited with their families within the period under review,” he said.
