The Nigerian military troops have neutralised 28 terrorists and recovered 108 weapons and 564 ammunition in strategically deployed operations across the country.
The Director of Defence, Media Operations, (DDMO), Major General Edward Buba, on Thursday in a media briefing in Abuja, said the troops would continue to respond with overwhelming military force against any group that threatens the safety of citizens and its forces.
He said the conducted operations were aimed at curtailing the activities of violent extremist groups fomenting insecurity in the country.
According to him, the men and women of the Armed Forces would continue to put themselves in harm’s way, time and time again, to protect the great nation of Nigeria.
“During the week leading to 17 August 2023, the Military neutralized 28 terrorists, arrested 92 terrorists, six gunrunners, three kidnappers, six collaborators, and seven perpetrators of oil theft.
“Troops also rescued 82 kidnapped hostages and denied oil theft the sum of Eight Hundred and Seventy-Six Million, Four Hundred and Fifty-One Thousand, Eight Hundred Naira (N876,451,800.00) only.
“In all, the troops recovered 108 weapons and 564 ammunition, which include 22 AK47 rifles, one PKT gun, six pump action guns, four Dane guns, one fabricated rifle, one galil ace rifle, one RGP bomb, one RPG tube, 44 hand grenades, 322 rounds of 7.62mm special, 63 rounds of 12.7mm ammo, 12 rounds of 5.6mm ammo, 33 AK47 magazines, one empty case of 7.62mm special and 3 empty magazines.
“Other items include 14 motorcycles, 16 mobile phones, three Motorolla Radio, one boafeng radio, two motorcycle tyres, five touch lights, two solar panels, 104 livestock and the sum of Two Million Eight Hundred and Ninety-Six Thousand Four Hundred Naira (N2,896,400.00).
“The Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 36 dugout pits, 62 wooden boats, 73 storage tanks, one vehicle and 75 cooking ovens. Others include; four pumping machines, five outboard engines and 33 illegal refining sites.
“Also, the Troops recovered 1,166,900 litres of stolen crude oil, 1,491,250 litres of illegally refined AGO, 54,750 litres of DPK and 800 litres of PMS.” He said.
Major General Buba, disclosed that the Armed Forces, possess the power and the will to hunt down those that wish to bring harm to Nigerian citizens adding that the ongoing operations are a message to those that question the resolve of the Military.
He added that it was also a message to members of the violent extremist groups that think they could hide stressing that they could be rest assured that others shall raise their sons and daughters, as no one would strike at the military without injurious consequences.
Speaking on the NAF Aircraft crash, he explained that three officers and 22 soldiers were killed in the Niger State ambush.
According to the Military High Command, three officers and 22 soldiers were killed during the ambush on troops in Chukuba Village at Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
He further explained that seven soldiers were wounded during the ambush, adding that the incident necessitated the deployment of the crashed Air Force evacuation helicopter.
According to Buba, onboard the crashed helicopter were 14 previously killed soldiers, seven wounded soldiers, two pilots, and two crew members.
He said, “Our troops entered into an ambush in the general of Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger state. The ambush led to a firefight which resulted in the death of three officers, and 22 soldiers while seven were wounded in action.
“As a result of this, there was a need for us to embark on a casualty operation whereby the Air Force Helicopter was dispatched
”While that process was on and inbound to Kaduna the Helicopter crashed. In the crash were 14 of the previously killed in action personnel in that ambush, seven of the previously wounded in action personnel, two pilots of the Helicopter and two crew members
“However, injurious consequences on the bandits were decimated for attacking the troops
“One thing is for sure. No one or group would strike at own troops without injurious consequences.” He explained.
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