By Joy Odor
The Armed Forces of Nigeria has reaffirmed its focus and continued counter-insurgency campaign against terrorists and their cohorts operating across the country, as troops neutralised 109 and arrested 81 persons.
In a press statement on the ongoing military operations across the theatre operations made available to newsmen in Abuja on Friday by the Director, Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Major General Edward Buba, troops also arrested 6 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 43 kidnapped hostages.
He maintained that the Nigeria troops recovered 21 assorted weapons and 124 assorted ammunition.
The DDMO informed that the breakdown are as follows: 9 AK47 rifles, 5 fabricated rifles, 4 dane guns, 3 locally made pistols, 7 magazines, 97 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 22 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 5 live cartridges, 3 baofeng radios, 4 vehicles, 6 motorcycles and 4 mobile phones amongst other items.
He mentioned that in the South South Zone (SS), the troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of Six Hundred and Eighteen Million Seven Hundred and Fifty-Six Thousand Four Hundred and Seventy Naira (N618,756,470.00) only.
General Buba said the Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 10 crude oil cooking ovens, 10 dugout pits, 12 boats, 4 storage tanks and 10 illegal refining sites.
According to him, other items recovered include 3 pumping machines, 12 speedboats, 20 drums, 2 motorcycles, one mobile phone and 4 vehicles among others.
The Troops recovered 631,709 litres of stolen crude oil, 3,140 litres of illegally refined AGO and 2,250 litres of PMS.
General Buba opined that the Troops are sustaining the winning ways of ongoing operational engagements while reassuring that the citizens would continue to witness the incremental effectiveness and efficiency of the armed forces.
Similarly, the Troops of Joint Tasks Forces (JTF) Operation HADIN KAI recorded the following activities during the period under review;
Air Interdiction.
Following credible reports and confirmatory ISR on the converging of BH/ISWAP terrorists arounds Mandara Mountains, the air component of Operation HADIN KAI on 2 January 2025 conducted air interdiction.
The location was acquired and engaged with stores on boards. Battle Damage Assessment revealed that several terrorists were neutralized and their logistics destroyed.
SUMMARY
Overall, troops of Operation HADIN KAI neutralized 64 terrorists, arrested 28 suspects and rescued 14 kidnappers hostages.
JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION FANSAN YAMMA (NORTH WEST)
The troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA recorded the following during the period under review; conducted offensive operation, and arrested terrorists in Talata Mafara, Shinkafi, Kaura Namoda, Anka and Gusau LGAs of Zamfara State as well as Batsari, Danmusa, Malumfashi and Jibia LGAs of Katsina State.
Troops also conducted similar operations in Isa, Illela, Gudu, Tangaza, Rabah and Sabon Birnin LGAs of Sokoto State as well as Chikun and Kaduna Metropolis of Kaduna State.
Air Interdiction. On 3 January 2025, the air component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA in continuation of its ongoing offensive operations against terrorists conducted air interdiction at Alawa Forest in Shiroro LGA of Niger State. Battle Damage Assessment revealed that several terrorists were eliminated and their structures as well as logistics were destroyed.
SUMMARY
Overall, troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA neutralized 21 terrorists, arrested 24 persons and rescued 5 kidnapped hostages.
JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION SAFE HAVEN (NORTH CENTRAL)
Troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN recorded the following during the period under review; troops arrested violent extremists/kidnappers in Zangon Kataf and Bokkos LGAs of Kaduna and Plateau States respectively.
Details are as follows:
a. Arrest Operations.
On 1 January 2025, following credible reports, troops in separate offensive operations to violent extremists/terrorists hideouts in Zango Kataf and Bokkos LGAs of Kaduna and Plateau States respectively.
During the operations, troops intercepted and arrested 3 extremists/gunrunners and recovered 3 locally fabricated pistols, 23 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 5 cartridges and 2 mobile phones amongst others
SUMMARY
Overall, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN neutralized 7 terrorists, arrested 14 persons and rescued 11 kidnapped hostages. Troops also recovered 3 locally fabricated pistols, 23 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 5 live cartridges and 2 mobile phones amongst others.
OPERATION WHIRL STROKE (NORTH CENTRAL)
Troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE conducted offensive operations that led to the arrest of 5 violent extremists and rescue of 3 kidnapped hostages.
JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION DELTA SAFE (SOUTH SOUTH)
Troops of Operation DELTA SAFE maintained momentum against the activities of crude oil theft. Troops destroyed several illegal refining sites and recovered stolen products.
Troops also arrested violent extremists/kidnappers and conducted several offensive operations in Southern Ijaw and Yenagoa LGAs of Bayelsa State as well as Bonny and Ikwerre LGAs of Rivers State respectively.
Details as follows:
a. Troops Destroy Illegal Refining Sites. Troops recovered 631,709 litres of stolen crude oil, 3,140 litres of illegally refined AGO and 2,250 litres of PMS. Additionally, troops discovered and destroyed 10 crude oil cooking ovens, 10 dugout pits, 12 boats, 4 storage tanks and 10 illegal refining sites. Other items recovered include 3 pumping machines, 12 speedboats, 20 drums, 2 motorcycles, one mobile phone and 4 vehicles among others.
SUMMARY
Overall, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE recovered 631,709 litres of stolen crude oil, 3,140 litres of illegally refined AGO and 2,250 litres of PMS. Additionally, troops discovered and destroyed 10 crude oil cooking ovens, 10 dugout pits, 12 boats, 4 storage tanks and 10 illegal refining sites. Other items recovered include 3 pumping machines, 12 speedboats, 20 drums, 2 motorcycles, one mobile phone and 4 vehicles among others.
Troops apprehended 6 suspected oil thefts and other violent extremists. Troops also recovered 7 magazines, 13 assorted arms and 96 assorted ammunition.
JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION UDO KA (SOUTH EAST)
Troops of Operation UDO KA recorded the following during the week under review; troops conducted offensive operations and arrested IPOB/ESN terrorists and collaborators in Ihiala and Udi LGAs of Anambra and Enugu as well as Ngor-Okpala, Oguta, Orsu and Ohaji/Egbema LGAs of Imo State.
SUMMARY
Overall, troops of Operation UDO KA neutralized 8 terrorists, arrested 14 violent extremists and rescued 10 kidnapped hostages.
Meanwhile, all recovered items, arrested suspects and rescued hostages were handed over to the relevant authority for further action” he ended.
