The Nigerian Defence Headquarters has affirmed that its Troops are unshakeable in their resolve to destroy terrorists across Nigeria.
At a press conference held at the Defence Headquarters on Friday, 24th January 2025, Major General Edward Buba, Director Defence Media Operations, made it known that the Nigerian Military is resolute in its commitment to establishing a secure environment that guarantees the safety and security of citizens.
According to him, the military has heightened its ongoing counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations across the nation, with a particular focus on disrupting the terrorists’ network of collaborators, informants, and support base.
He disclosed that troops in the North Central Operational Theatre neutralized a notorious terrorist commander and gunrunner, Abu Mosaje, in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State. He further hinted that the same troops apprehended Babangida Gora Usman, a wanted kidnap kingpin on the security watch list, in Sanga LGA of Kaduna State.
He said “furthermore, troops arrested another notorious gunrunner and his son identified as Timothy Yusuf and Timothy Obadiah. Meanwhile, in the South East, troops arrested 7 IPOB/ESN terrorists including a notorious kidnapper and informants in Enugu North and Ehime Mbano LGAs of Enugu and Imo States.
“Nevertheless, during the week under review, troops neutralised 79 and arrested 224 persons. Troops also arrested 28 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 67 kidnapped hostages”
He said in the South, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of Seven Hundred and Forty Seven Million Secenty Thousand Seven Hundred and Ten Naira (N747,070,710.00) only. Additionally, troops discovered and destroyed 215 crude oil cooking ovens, 26 dugout pits, 29 boats, 62 storage tanks, 20 drums and 42 illegal refining sites.
Other items recovered according to him include one barge, one tug boat, 2 pumping machines, 2 speedboats, 9 outboard engines, 2 vehicles, 21 motorcycles, 11 mobile phones and 8 vehicles among others. Troops recovered 842,685 litres of stolen crude oil, 12,340 litres of illegally refined AGO and 200 litres of DPK.
In his words “Furthermore, across all the theatres of operations, troops recovered 104 assorted weapons and 1,953 assorted ammunition. “The breakdown as follows: 53 AK47 rifles, 25 fabricated rifles, one FN rifle, 11 dane guns, 2 pump action guns, one fabricated SMG, 4 IEDs, 7 RPG bombs, 30 magazines, 4 IEDs and 3 locally made butts.
“Others are: 1,186 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 417 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 49 rounds of 12.7mm ammo, 190 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 12 live cartridges, 3 bandoliers, one baofeng, 35 motorcycles, 22 mobile phones amongst other items”
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