The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) on Tuesday said that its troops killed a total of 10,937 terrorists in 2024 in various theatres of operation across the country.
Director of Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Major General Edward Bubah also told Defence journalists in Abuja that a total of 12,538 terrorists were arrested within the same period.
According to General Buba: “During the year, troops significantly degraded the military capabilities as well as the fighting capabilities of terrorist by neutralizing 10,937 terrorists, arresting 12,538 and rescuing 7,063 hostages.
“Furthermore, troops recovered 8,815 weapons, 228,004 ammunitions and denied the oil theft of an estimated sum over #68 bn (N68,453,376,040.00) only.
“The breakdown of the recoveries are as follows: 4,332 AK47 rifles, 1,244 locally fabricated guns, 838 dane guns, 259 pump action guns, 128,496 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 45,445 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 5,103 cartridges, 2,131 assorted arms and 29,176 assorted ammunitions.
“Others are: 56,223,002 litres of stolen crude oil, 9,735,836 litres of illegally refined AGO, 95,595 litres of DPK and 156,527 litres of PMS amongst other item.
The DDMO also said that over the last 12 months, “troops were confronted by several threats across the country ranging from armed banditry, kidnapping for ransom, crude oil theft, violent extremism, insurgency as well as terrorism among others. Several of these threats adversely affected innocent citizens and disrupted peace and security in the country.
“Troops war effort was therefore designed and crafted to defeat and destroy the terrorist as well as dismantle their terror infrastructure across the country. Accordingly, troops continued, relentless, and painful pressure on the terrorist enclaves, hideouts and strongholds as an incentive to defeating the terrorist.
“During the course of the year, troops eliminated over a thousand notable terrorist leaders, commanders and combatants among others. Some of those eliminated in the course of the year include: Dutse Mainasara Idda, Mallam Saleh Umaru, Mohammed Amadu, Chinemerem (aka Bam Bam), Jeremiah Uzuoma (aka Escoba), Tochukwu Awo (aka Ojoto) and Egwuatu amongst others.”
General Buba insisted that Bello Turji and other terrorist leaders currently alive are walking corpses who would sooner than later be eliminated by soldiers.
Troops, he went on, “are focused on increasingly deliver tangible benefits of their operations for the benefits of citizens. Additionally, troops seek to continue to heighten collaboration with neighbouring countries and regional bodies in order to tackle the menace of terrorism.
“Meanwhile, the armed forces assures that, many of what was witnessed in the outgoing outgoing year, are indicative of a major defeat of the terrorist in 2025. Importantly, troops in the battlefield are in high spirits, fully committed, devoted and believe in the justness of the cause.
“Troops will be going the extra mile in the new year to get the job done”, but cautioned that “the war is not for the armed forces alone, but for all citizens. The military therefore urges for more citizens support in order to win the war.”