By Joy Odor
The Director, Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Major General Edward Buba has affirmed the eliminations of terrorist commanders, their leaders, strongholds and rescued 386 hostages, most of whom had been in captivity for over 10years by Joint Task Force (JTF) Operational across the North East, North Central, North West, South South, South East of the Federation.
This is even as the rescued hostages have been handed over to the Borno State Government by the troops.
According to the DDMO in his address during the review of JTF Operational activities for the month of MAY 2024, the troops of Operation HADIN KAI in the North East conducted operations deep in terrorist enclaves in Sambisa Forest and the Tumbuns of the Lake Chad Region targeted operations where to terrorist Commanders and leaders strongholds.
Troops made contact in Sambisa Forest at NGOROMARI Village, ALAFA Village, UKUBA, GARIN GULUKOS, SHABABUL UMMA, GARIN PANEL BEATER , LAGARA ANGUWAN GWAIGWAI andGARIN ABU AMIR.
Others locations where troops made contact include: GARIN FALLUJAH in UKUBA, FULATARI, KAGO, SABIL HUDA, IRAQI, ALAFA CROSS and LAWANTI amongst others. Troops neutralised one Mallam MOHAMMED, the leader of IED cell in Sambisa Forest.
The operations denied the terrorist the ability to carry out major offensive. It also significantly diminished the terrorist offensive capability, limiting the terrorist to low level skirmishes and attacks that are more prevalent on soft targets.
Overall, troops neutralised 306 terrorist, arrested 199 suspects and rescued 219 kidnapped hostages. Meanwhile, troops recorded 1,099 surrendered BH/ISWAP terrorists combatants and their families.
The summary of recovered items include 200 AK47 rifles, 34 fabricated, 53 fabricated rifles, 95 dane guns, 50 assorted arms, 4,852 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 1,497 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 2,710 assorted ammunition.
Details as follows:
Serial
Op Activity
Wk1
Wk2
Wk3
Wk4
Total
Rmks
Neutralized Terrorists
43
47
83
133
306
Surrendered BHT/Families
73
205
271
550
1,099
Arrested Terrorists
52
53
59
35
199
Rescued Hostages
39
40
58
82
219
Recovered Weapons
49
39
142
175
405
Recovered Ammunition
994
1,217
4,088
2,888
9,187
Equipment Recovered
30
32
15
117
194
Air Interdiction. The air component of Operation HADIN KAI conducted air interdiction to terrorists locations in Maradun, Southern Tumbun Fulani and Dogon in Zamfara and Lake Chad Basin destroying acquired terrorist, the logistics and infrastructure.
JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION SAFE HAVEN (NORTH CENTRAL)
Troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN conducted several offensive and raids operations to hideouts of terrorist and violent extremist. The operations yielded significant successes including: recovery of arms and ammunition as well as arrest of suspected violent extremists including kidnappers, gunrunners, armed robbers, murderers, imposters as well as cattle rustlers.
Additionally , troops in fierce contact with violent extremists/terrorists neutralized several terrorists and rescued several kidnapped hostages. Furthermore, recovered rustled livestock.
Overall, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN neutralized 39 terrorist violent extremist, arrested 140 suspects and rescued 77 kidnap hostages.
Troops equally recovered 9 AK47 rifles, 13 fabricated guns, 16 assorted arms, 264 rounds of 7.62mm special, 133 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 140 assorted ammunitions.
Details are as follows:
Serial
Op Activity
Wk1
Wk2
Wk3
Wk4
Total
Rmks
Neutralized Terrorists
–
16
10
13
39
Arrested Suspects
26
32
31
51
140
Rescued Hostages
9
27
24
17
77
Weapons Recovered
2
5
3
28
38
Ammunition Recovered
–
157
23
221
401
Equipment
2
4
4
20
30
OPERATION WHIRL STROKE (NORTH CENTRAL)
Troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE conducted operations to combat security threats posed by banditry, kidnapping, gunrunning, and herders/farmers clashes. The operations have significantly mitigated security challenges in Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba States. The key threats faced by troops in the area in the region include, banditry by various militia groups, Farmers/herders clashes between herder militias and indigenes, kidnapping for ransom by suspected herder militia, gunrunning activities by suspected indigenes of Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba States.
Troops onslaught has largely degraded the potency of bandit groups. However, isolated cases of kidnapping still occur, such as the recent attack on a bus traveling from Abuja to Port Harcourt, resulting in the kidnapping of all passengers, including a military officer. Furthermore, as the rainy season sets in, communal clashes and farmers/herders conflicts are expected to increase due to encroachment on farmlands. However, with the support of sister services and other security agencies, troops continue to optimize their operations against terrorist and their cohorts.
Several operations to violent extremists strongholds and recorded several significant achievements during the month. Troops recorded the following: arrest of violent extremists, terrorist collaborators as well as gunrunners identified as Usman Shu’ibu, Tukur Bala, Shu’ibu Alh Uma, Akuma Tade, Daniel Ugbakuma and Mallam Umar Usman.
Troops also arrested violent extremists/logistics suppliers of Ambazonian rebels of Cameroon including a notorious violent extremist identified as Jafaru Adamu, Auwal Haruna, Umar Dahiru, Mubarak Abdullahi, Saidu Musa, Bashiru Ibrahim, Danlami Yahuaza, Abubakar Abdullahi and Mr Ibro Shuaibu.
Additionally, troops arrested the second a terrorist second in Command to a notorious terrorist commander known as Full-Fire identified as Mr Terkaa Mvenda Atoba.
Overall, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE neutralized 41 terrorist, arrested 184 suspects and rescued 48 kidnapped hostages. Troops also recovered 18 AK47 rifles, 27 assorted arms, 2,237 rounds of 7.62mm special, 297 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 201 assorted ammunition.
Details are as follows:
Serial
Op Activity
Wk1
Wk2
Wk3
Wk4
Total
Rmks
Neutralized Terrorists
–
13
17
11
41
Arrested terrorists
28
26
123
7
184
Rescued Hostages
12
15
18
3
48
Weapons Recovered
15
13
10
7
45
Ammunition recovered
452
500
1,589
194
2,735
Equipment Recovered
21
35
47
4
107
JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION HADARIN DAJI (NORTH WEST)
The major security threats witnessed during the period under review include kidnap for ransom, attack on remote communities and communal clash. Troops sustained offensive operations to destroy and disrupt terrorists across the Theatre.
The operations instigated rival clash among the terrorist groups leading to the death of terrorist commander Usman Modi Modi. He hitherto terrorized communities around Danmusa, Kankara and Safana LGAs of Katsina State. The synergy with other security and intelligence agencies assisted greatly in the optimal performance of the troops in their operations against the terrorists in the NW Zone.
Nevertheless, troops of Op HADARIN DAJI neutralized 262 terrorist, arrested 204 suspects and rescued 243 kidnap hostages.
Troops recovered 137 AK47 rifles, 50 fabricated guns, 66 assorted arms, 3,665 rounds of 7.62mm special, 1,445 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 354 assorted ammunition.
Details are as follows;
Serial
Op Activity
Wk1
Wk2
Wk3
Wk4
Total
Rmks
Neutralized Terrorists
88
36
58
80
262
Arrested Terrorists
34
25
125
20
204
Rescued Hostages
41
45
105
52
243
Weapon Recovered
88
25
58
82
253
Ammunition Recovered
3,130
559
511
1,296
5,496
Equipment Recovered
34
25
41
25
125
Air Interdiction. The air component of Operation HADARIN DAJI recorded significant air strikes on acquired terrorists enclaves/camps in Faskari, Bayan Ruwa, Maradun, Anka LGA of Zamfara State where terrorists kingpins Jammo Smally and Kachalla Halilu as well as their cohorts are hibernating. Also, the air component destroyed terrorists enclave at Tungar Daji in Zamfara State. The terrorist were responsible for banditry, abduction and other criminal activities in the general area. Similarly, in Rugu Forest located in Safana LGA of Katsina State. Air strikes were conducted on acquired terrorist Commanders enclaves namely: Kachalla Ruga, Haiyu and Sani Muhindinge enclaves.
JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION WHIRL PUNCH (NORTH WEST)
Troops of Operation WHIRL Punch intensified effort against terrorist and violent extremist in the conduct of operations. Significantly, offensive operations such as fighting patrols, raids ambushes and clearance patrols were conducted to terrorist hideouts and enclaves. The terrorist were denied freedom of action with their combat capabilities diminished.
Troops of Operation WHIRL PUNCH recorded the following in the month of May 2024. Troops neutralized 56 terrorist, arrested 150 suspects and rescued 80 kidnap hostages.
Troops equally recovered 23 AK47 rifles, 30 assorted arms, 670 rounds of 7.62mm special, 71 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 130 assorted ammunitions.
Details are as follows;
Serial
Op Activity
Wk1
Wk2
Wk3
Wk4
Total
Rmks
Neutralized Terrorists
–
9
25
22
56
Arrested Terrorists
15
21
97
17
150
Rescued Hostages
–
30
32
18
80
Weapon Recovered
12
12
9
20
53
Ammunition Recovered
266
178
211
215
870
Equipment Recovered
3
3
7
6
19
Air Interdiction. The air component of Operation WHIRL PUNCH conducted air interdiction missions to terrorists training camp in Kuduru, Giwa LGA of Kaduna State. The targeted terrorists enclaves/camps located at KABAGO, ALAWA Forest, KATARMA and KWAKI general areas in Shiroro and Chikun LGAs of Niger and Kaduna States were effectively engaged.
JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION DELTA SAFE (SOUTH SOUTH)
Troops of Op DELTA SAFE maintained the momentum against the activities of crude oil theft. Troops continued to find and destroyed illegal refining sites as well as arrest the perpetrators of oil theft.
During the month of May 2024, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE neutralized 5 violent extremist and arrested 81 persons involved in crude oil theft. Troops also denied the oil theft of 4,124,970 litres of crude oil, 793,796 litres of AGO and 4,480 litres of PMS.
Furthermore, troops recovered 73 assorted weapons and destroyed 129 wooden boats, 686 assorted ammunition and 223 illegal refining sites.
Details as follows:
Serial
Op Activity
Wk1
Wk2
Wk3
Wk4
Total
Rmks
Neutralized Terrorists
–
2
3
–
5
Arrested Terrorists
32
18
16
15
81
Rescued Hostages
–
–
–
–
–
Weapons recovered
44
14
2
13
73
Boats destroyed
13
45
34
37
129
Ammunitions Recovered
46
250
79
111
486
Illegal refining sites
21
70
57
75
223
Vehicles
7
20
9
13
49
Air Interdiction. The Air component of Operation DELTA SAFE acquired and destroyed illegal refining sites in Degema LGA of Rivers State.
JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION UDO KA (SOUTH EAST)
Troops of Op UDO KA conducted rigorous clearance operation across the theatre to frustrate the activities of the terrorist group and maintain peace in the region. The operations tamed many security challenges bedeviling the entire South East (SE) region. The major security threats being the activities of the terrorists, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its militant wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), illegal bunkering/oil theft as well as weapon and ammunition trafficking. Others are kidnap for ransom, cultism, assassinations and communal clashes.
Accordingly, the potency of the secessionist group was largely degraded from hitherto posture. Nevertheless , the group continues to employ opportunistic attacks on soft and hard targets to portray relevance. However, with the support of sister services and other security agencies, troops have continued to optimize its operations against the terrorist group in the SE.
Overall, troops of Op UDO KA in the month of May 24., neutralized 69 terrorist, arrested 115 suspects and rescued 32 kidnap hostages.
Additionally, troops recovered 8 AK47 rifles, 13 pump action guns, 270 rounds of 7.62mm special, 636 live cartridges, 51 assorted ammunitions and 15 other equipment.
Details are as follows:
Serial
Op Activity
Wk1
Wk2
Wk3
Wk4
Total
Rmks
Neutralized Terrorists
12
23
21
13
69
Arrested Terrorists
8
31
45
31
115
Rescued Hostages
–
13
12
7
32
Weapons Recovered
5
13
3
7
28
Ammunition Recovered
702
140
22
93
957
Equipment Recovered
1
4
3
13
21
