The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) announced on Thursday that its troops fighting non-State actors across the country killed156 terrorists and arrested 464 others in the last one week.
Outgoing Director of Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Major General Edward Buba, told Defence journalists in Abuja that the troops also successfully rescued 181 hostages from kidnappers in the past one week.
General Buba, who was addressing journalists in his last outing as DDMO, reiterated the commitment of the Nigerian military to win the war against terrorism and banditry.
According to him: ”During the period under review, the military neutralized 156 terrorists, arrested 464 individuals, and successfully rescued 181 hostages from kidnappers.
“In the Southern region, efforts to combat oil theft also yielded impressive results, with troops denying criminal groups an estimated N623.4 million worth of stolen oil.
“The military’s operations have led to the recovery of a wide array of weapons and ammunition, including 219 assorted weapons such as AK-47 rifles, grenade launchers, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Additionally, 2,871 rounds of various ammunition types were seized in the course of these operations.”
General Buba said efforts to curb illegal activities extended to the Niger Delta region, where the military discovered and destroyed 48 crude oil cooking ovens, 10 dugout pits, and 46 illegal refining sites.
“Over 700,000 liters of stolen crude oil, along with large quantities of illegally refined products, were recovered,” he said.
Emphasizing the unwavering determination of the military to eliminate terrorism in all its forms, the DDMO lamented the challenges posed by the influx of foreign fighters from the Sahelian region but reaffirmed that the strategic objective of weakening the terrorists’ resolve remains unyielding.
“The military is committed to breaking the will of the terrorists and insurgents. While setbacks may occur, as is common in any theater of war, our resolve to ensure the safety and security of all Nigerians remains strong,” said Major General Buba.
General Buba then called on citizens to actively participate in the collective responsibility of ensuring security, urging them to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities.
