The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) on Thursday said they have killed over 65 notable terrorist leaders and 1,872 terrorist fighters, arrested 2,782 and freed 1,854 kidnapped hostages in the various theatres of operations against the insurgents since January this year.
Director of Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Major General Edward Buba, told journalists at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja while reviewing the successes recorded by the military in the first, second and third quarters of 2024 that the military also saved the nation a total of crude oil worth about N13b, which were seized from economic saboteurs during the same period.
According to General Buba: “Overall, in the third quarter of this year, troops neutralized 1,937 terrorists, arrested 2,782 suspected terrorists and other criminal elements as well as rescued 1,854 kidnapped hostages. Furthermore, troops recovered 1,304 weapons, 43,347 ammunitions and denied the oil theft of an estimated sum over N13 Bn (N13,081,605,534.00) only.
“Breakdown for the period includes and is not limited to the following: 688 AK47 rifles, 32,945 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 9,677 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 191 assorted arms and 8,292 assorted ammo.
“Others are 12,143,870 litres of stolen crude oil, 2,623,216 litres of illegally refined AGO, 6,970 litres of DPK and 31,450 litres of PMS amongst other item. Accordingly , the nations daily crude oil production output is at an all time high with the nations daily target in sight.
“On the whole, troops are keeping the pressure on the terrorist until they are totally defeated. The military is focussed on dismantling the terror infrastructure of these terror groups as well as destroying their will to fight.
“The armed forces prioritised the killing of terrorist leadership and destruction of terrorist network in its ongoing counter terrorism and counter insurgency operations across the country.
“Accordingly, troops are effectively attacking the terrorist leaders, commanders, combatants, as well as their rank and file operatives.
“All through the stretch of the third quarter of the year, troops conducted synchronised bombardments by the Air Force and ground forces, that significantly diminished terror military capabilities and cohesion.”
The whole war against terrorism objective, he restated, “is to destroy these groups, decapitate them, and erode their ability to rage terror attacks against citizens.
“Troops offensive actions culminated in the neutralization of over 65 notable terrorist leaders, commanders and combatants across all theatres of operations. Significant terrorist leaders were eliminated from the battlefield.
“These include: Munzir Arika, Sani Dilla (Dan Hausawan Jubillaram), Ameer Modu, Matawal Bitrus, Thomas Benedict, Mohammed Sani, Rimamy (aka Omo), Terkimbi Injoko, Jacob Uzege, Ibn Kasir, Kachalla Ɗan Baleri, Kachallah Halilu Jimmare (Buzu), Kachalla Dan Ali Garin Fadama, Kachalla Dan Mani Na Inna, Kachalla Basiru Zakarriya and ofem Emmanuel Igwe among others.”