The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) have so far killed a total of 2,351 terrorists in the first three months of 2024, Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has disclosed.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, told journalists during the review of first quarter 2024 military offensives against the terrorists, said that assorted arms were also recovered from them while seven Commanders of the group, all bearing the name, Kachallah, a popular Kanuri name in Northeast Nigeria, were among those killed.
According to General Buba: “Troops equally conducted ambushes, raids, fighting patrols and offensive against the terrorists.
“The attacks and offensive actions by troops during the period January-Mar 2024 resulted in 2,351 terrorists neutralized, 2,308 persons arrested and 1,241 kidnapped hostages rescued.
“Furthermore, troops recovered 2,847 weapons, 58,492 ammunitions and denied oil thieves an estimated sum of over N20billion (N20,331,713,910.00) only.”
General Buba further noted that “for the period includes and is not limited to the following: 1,497 AK47 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 litres of stolen crude oil, 2,723,430 litres of illegally refined AGO, 53,300 litres of DPK and 52,730 litres of PMS amongst other item.
“The Armed Forces,” Buba added, was “fighting a vicious enemy in the ongoing operations across the country. Nevertheless, the military is ready, prepared, equipped and focused on what to do with these terrorist and their cohorts.
“Surely, we have been collecting intelligence, hunting them and striking them where they maybe hiding and hibernating. Our aim is to kill this terrorism and the infrastructure that supports them.”
The Director of Defence Media Operations explained how the feat was achieved, pointing out that they “employed significant firepower to neutralize several terrorists and disrupt their activities. Indeed, significant terrorist commanders killed include and is not limited to the following: Abu Bilal Minuki (aka Abubakar Mainok) – Head of Is-Al Furqan Province (ISGS and ISWAP) and Haruna Isiya Boderi.
“He was a notorious terrorists who operated along Birnin Gwari Forest in Kaduna State as well as the Abuja Kaduna Highway. He was killed by troops in 21 February 24.
“Others are: Kachallah Damina (Neutralised in Mar 24, by troops. He was neutralised alongside over 50 combatants), Kachallah Alhaji Dayi, Kachallah Idi (Namaidaro), Kachallah Kabiru (Doka), Kachallah Azarailu (Farin-Ruwa), Kachallah Balejo, Kachallah Ubangida, Alhaji Baldu, among several others.
“The above was achieved through synchronized 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.
“The foregoing demonstrates that ongoing operations are effective and result oriented. Accordingly, the military is raising the bar in the prosecution of the war.
“Consequently, citizens will continue to witness the incremental effectiveness and efficiency of the armed forces”, General Buba assured.
