The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has announced that 6,260 terrorists were eliminated and 14,138 terrorists and other criminals apprehended during joint military operations across the country over the past two years.
This was disclosed by the Deputy Director of Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Ibrahim Abu-Mawashi, during an Expanded Parley with Media Executives held on Thursday in Abuja.
The event was organized to commemorate the two-year tenure of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, along with other service chiefs.
Abu-Mawashi further stated that troops rescued 5,365 kidnapped victims and recovered a significant cache of arms and ammunition during various operations carried out within the period.
Giving details of military successes in each of the regions, he said the troops of Operation Delta Safe in the Niger Delta region recovered N83 billion worth of stolen crude oil.
Abu-Mawashi said the troops also killed 103 criminals, apprehended 2,760 others and rescued 266 civilians from the kidnappers’ den.
In the North East, he said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai intensified operations resulting in the killing of 1,246 Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, terrorists, while 2,467 of them were arrested within the period.
According to him, the troops rescued 1,920 civilians, recovered 982 arms and 2,153 ammunition in the Northeast.
In the North West, Abu-Mawashi said the troops of Operation Fasan Yamma killed 1,374 bandits, including their top commanders in Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi and Sokoto State.
“They also arrested 2,160 bandits and rescued 3,288 hostages from bandits enclaves.
“The arms and ammunition recovered are 947 weapons and 25,802 rounds, respectively,” he added.
The defence spokesman said troops on operations in the North-Central, killed 730 terrorists, bandits and violent extremists, and arrested 7,153 violent extremists.
He said a total of 1,510 civilians were rescued while 1,065 weapons and 19,709 rounds were recovered.
In the South East, Abu-Mawashi said the troops of operation UDO KA had in the past two years eliminated 440 terrorists while 1,677 criminals were arrested.
According to him, the troops also rescued 294 civilians and recovered 683 weapons and 21,300 rounds of ammunition.
“Finally, Joint Task Force South West killed 80 criminals and arrested 1,763 others, while they rescued 89 kidnap victims.
“Troops recovered 143 weapons, and 177,904 rounds of ammunition,” he added.
In his remarks, the Director Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, said the event marked a significant milestone in their collective efforts to address and mitigate the complex security challenges confronting the nation.
Gusau said the programme was conceived in alignment with one of the leadership philosophies of the CDS, which is “leading a people-centric armed forces”.
He pledged the commitment of the military to ensure that the Nigerian public remains accurately and adequately informed about the activities, achievements and sacrifices of the armed forces.
