By Linus Aleke, Abuja
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), has reiterated its pledge to not only banish, but also defeat terrorism, and other emerging security threats across the federation, adding that troops of Armed Forces of Nigeria, will compel terrorist commanders and their fighters to bow to the sovereignty of Nigeria.
The military high command also noted that troops killed no fewer than 216 outlaws and arrested 332 others across all theatres of operations in one week.
Director Defence Media Operation, Major General Edward Buba, in a statement said that troops also recovered 533,127 litres of stolen crude oil and 24,520 litres of illegally refined AGO within the period.
Troops, he also said, arrested 24 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 161 kidnapped hostages.
According to him: ‘The military is going to continue to be very kinetic and strong against the terrorist in ongoing counter terrorism and counter insurgency operations across the country. In the SS, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of Four Hundred and Forty Eight Million Five Hundred and Fifty Seven Thousand, Five Hundred and Ninty Naira (N448,557,590.00) only.
“Furthermore, troops recovered 234 assorted weapons and 5,994 assorted ammunition. The breakdown as follows: 131 AK47 rifles, three PKT guns, one M16 rifle, 43 locally fabricated gun, 21 dane guns, one 105mm gun, two automatic pump action guns, 18 locally fabricated pistols, eight single barrel guns, two automatic pump action guns, one LG4 bomb, one MG skeleton, three explosive IED case, one MOWAG APC, one 81mm mortar tripod stand. Others are: 3,120 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 2,195 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 211 rounds of 9mm ammo, 99 rounds of 7.62 x 25mm ammo, 467 live cartridges, one rifle butt, 15 magazines, two baofeng radios, 10 vehicles, 38 motorcycles, 43 mobile phones and the sum of N871,500.00 amongst other items. Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 97 dugout pits, 6 boats, 20 storage tanks, two receivers, 16 drums and seven vehicles. Other items recovered incl 174 cooking ovens, one pumping machine and 8 illegal refining sites”.
Gen Buba noted that troops are maintaining the momentum in neutralizing the terrorist leaders and commanders.
‘Indeed, we remain focused in fighting for the basic safety and security of citizens of this country,” he concluded.
