The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) have rescued more than 60 kidnapped victims and apprehended 44 suspects in operations conducted across the country.
The Director, Defence Media Operations (DMO), Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed this on Saturday while briefing defence correspondents on military activities carried out between September 18 and 24.
Onoja said the operations targeted terrorism, kidnapping, arms trafficking, oil theft and other security challenges across different parts of the country.
Providing details of the operations, he said a Nigerian Air Force jet disrupted the movement of terrorists transporting a large number of kidnapped victims around Bazama in Sakaba Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
He explained that the air operation forced the terrorists to abandon the captives, allowing more than 60 victims to escape.
Ground troops also rescued several victims in separate operations in Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara states.
According to Onoja, those rescued included 17 victims along the Isa-Kwanar Isa axis in Sokoto and seven university students along the Daye-Malumfashi road in Katsina.
“Troops also rescued five victims, including the Executive Chairman of the Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara, from terrorist captivity at Sekpore village in Kaura Namoda.”
The defence spokesman said troops in the Northeast also intercepted 44 members of terrorist families, comprising 13 women and 31 children, in Konduga, Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.
He explained that the individuals had fled terrorist camps amid clashes between rival factions.
Onoja further disclosed that more than 20 terrorist fighters and their family members surrendered to troops in Gwoza, Dikwa and Ngala Local Government Areas of Borno.
He said the terrorists attributed their decision to leave the groups to hardship and shortages of basic necessities in terrorist enclaves on the Mandara Mountains.
The military also arrested suspected terrorist informants, collaborators and logistics suppliers during the period under review.
“Troops arrested a suspected terrorist collaborator and a spy at Geidam market in Yobe, as well as a suspected kidnapper at Gubio, Borno.
“The suspected kidnapper led troops to Ardimini village, where they recovered an AK-47 rifle and a magazine containing 12 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition,” he said.
In the Northwest, Onoja said troops arrested four suspected members of a terrorist group while they were allegedly transporting rustled cattle near Illela in Sokoto State.
He added that three suspects were arrested in Faskari, Katsina State, while allegedly conveying N2.7 million intended for a notorious terrorist kingpin.
In Kaduna State, troops engaged terrorists around the Abuja-Kaduna rail line and recovered a rifle and ammunition. Another suspect was apprehended in Awon community with a locally fabricated pistol and seven rounds of 9mm ammunition.
In the North-Central, Onoja said troops operating under Operation Whirl Stroke arrested several suspects linked to kidnapping and arms trafficking across Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Taraba states.
He said two suspected kidnappers were arrested along the Otukpo-Makurdi road in Benue, with troops recovering a rifle and ammunition.
“The troops also arrested a suspected gunrunner at Kwande, Benue, who had earlier been convicted for the same offence.
“In Bauchi, troops and Forest Guards ambushed suspected kidnappers at Kudu Yamma, Ningi Local Government Area, neutralising three while others fled with suspected gunshot wounds,” he said.
According to him, troops recovered a rifle and ammunition while rescuing six kidnap victims during the operation.
Onoja added that troops of Operation Enduring Peace arrested 11 suspects during raids on suspected kidnapping syndicate hideouts in Shere, Gwafan and Maza Hills in Plateau State.
He said four of the suspects were identified by victims as members of the syndicate allegedly responsible for their abductions.
In the South-South, troops of Operation Delta Safe discovered about 182,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil at Bethel Creeks in Rivers State.
The troops also uncovered eight dugout pits, five of which contained suspected stolen crude oil, as well as hoses allegedly used to transport the product illegally.
Onoja said the operation followed the discovery of about 87,000 litres of suspected stolen crude at illegal refining sites around Aworkiri, Rivers State, on September 8.
In the Southeast, troops of Operation Udo Ka engaged suspected secessionist terrorists at Obibi Forest in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State.
He said the fleeing suspects abandoned a general-purpose machine gun, a rifle, ammunition, a motorcycle and other items.
The troops also arrested a suspected informant and rescued a woman who had allegedly been kidnapped about two months earlier from her hairdressing salon in Orsu.
Onoja said the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, commended the troops for their gallantry and sacrifices in sustaining military operations across the country.
Oluyede also acknowledged the contributions of other security agencies, local security groups, traditional rulers and community leaders to the country’s security efforts.
The CDS urged members of the public to continue providing credible and timely information to security agencies to support ongoing operations.
