The combined Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force have conducted intense operations over the past two weeks to restrict terrorists’ freedom of movement, according to the Defense Headquarters.
Major-General Musa Danmadami, the director of defence media operations, stated in a statement on Thursday.
He pointed out that Operation Hadin Kai theater forces have been conducting robust operations in the region of the North East to limit the freedom of action of terrorists.
He added that the force conducted fighting patrols, ambushes and clearance operations at communities, villages and towns in Kukawa, Monguno, Kaga, Dikwa, Biu, Damboa, Gwoza, Mafa, Konguda, Bama and Guzamala Local Government Areas in Borno State.
Danmadami added that two key Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province commanders, Abu Asiya and Abu Ubaida also known as, A Qaid, were neutralized on September 12 and 15, 2022, at Parisu and Sheruri general area in Sambisa forest respectively.
Within the period in review, Danmadami added that troops neutralized 36 terrorists, rescued 130 civilians, and arrested 46 suspected Boko Haram terrorists as well as 12 suspected logistic suppliers to the terrorists.
According to the Defense Headquarters mentioned that 21 AK47 rifles, 163 rounds of 7.62mm special, two RPG bombs, 25 dane guns, four unexplosive ordinance store, two bandoliers, 10 solar panels, 23 bicycles, 10 motorcycles, one tricycle, 19 cell phones, 28 torch lights, bags of assorted grains, 122 rustled sheep, and the sum of N203,125, were recovered from the operation.
Additionally, 368 suspected ISWAP and Boko Haram terrorists and criminals, including their families, 53 adult males, 116 adult females, and 214 children, surrendered to the military at various points. While surrendered Boko Haram militants and their families were being profiled for further action, all seized items, rescued civilians, and detained suspected terrorists were given to the appropriate authorities for further action.
In a related event, he said, the air component of Operation Hadin Kai conducted an air interdiction operation in Somalia’s Sambisa Forest on September 9, 2022, acting on reliable intelligence, and blasted a terrorist stronghold.
“The air strike inflicted deadly casualty on the terrorists as feedback revealed that several of the terrorists were neutralized while several structures were destroyed after the strike.
“Similar operation was carried out on terrorist enclaves at Abdallari, Mafa, Zanari and Tumbun Baba, between September 10th and 14th. The airstrikes led to the neutralization of several terrorists with many of their structures destroyed in the strikes,” Danmadami said.
He further noted that on September 16, 2022, following reports on activities of an outlawed cultist group known as Sara Suka boys, troops in conjunction with vigilantes carried out raid operation on their hideout at Rikkos and Nassarawa in Jos Local Government Area of Plateau State, and arrested six suspects.
He added that three locally fabricated rifles, five mobile phones, four hammers, five cutlasses, six knives, and one fragmental jacket, among others, were recovered, as arrested suspects and recovered items were handed over to the relevant authorities for further action.
He further stated that air components of Operation Whirl Punch, carried out onslaught against terrorists on September 8, during an air interdiction operation at an identified terrorists hideout at Gaude in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
On September 15, 2022, troops also arrested two suspected terrorists collaborators at Access Bank, PZ Branch, in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State ,while trying to withdraw the sum of N14 million deposited into the account of a suspected terrorist financier, Alhaji Abubakar.
16 suspected terrorists were also neutralized, while 10 notorious terrorists were arrested at different locations in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Also, five AK47 rifles, 10 rounds of 7.62mm special, 17 mobile phones, two motorcycles, three locally made rifles, three pairs of woodland camouflage, 118 rustled sheep, four boafeng radio and N29,250.00 cash among other items were recovered, while 21 civilians were rescued.
All recovered items, arrested terrorists and rescued civilians were handed over to relevant authorities for further action.
The director concluded by pointing out that on September 13, air elements of Operation Hadarin Daji carried out an air interdiction operation targeting a known terrorist stronghold in Dutse Babare, in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.
He stated that a terrorist leader named Ibrahim Dangawo and other members of his gang were neutralized as a result of the airstrike. Similar operations were conducted at Gidan Guga in the Faskari Local Government Area, also in Katsina State, at a terrorist enclave that had been found, and they resulted in the neutralization of a terrorist kingpin by the name of Babaru who had been on the security agents’ wanted list.
He continued by saying that a sizable number of terrorists were also eliminated at Kawari in Katsina State’s Dan Musa Local Government Area.
