By Joy Odor
The Director, Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Major General Edward Buba has on Thursday affirmed that the Nigeria troops aggressively across the various theatres of Operation since the beginning of the 2024 culminated in neutralizing 8,034 terrorists, arrest 11,623 while rescued 6,376 hostages.
According to him, while briefing journalists on Thursday on the January to December end of the year activities report of the ongoing military operations across the Theater operations.
He mentioned that the troops also recovered 8,216 weapons, 211,459 ammunition and denied the oil theft of an estimated sum over N57 b (N57,052,218,551.00) only.
The DDMO informed that the breakdown of the recoveries are as follows: 4,053 AK47 rifles, 1,123 locally fabricated guns, 731 dane guns and 240 pump action guns. Others are; 120,247 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 41,515 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 5,373 cartridges, 1,940 assorted arms and 25,664 assorted ammunition.
Gen Buba added that the troops recovered, 53,101,430 litres of stolen crude oil, 9,179,181 litres of illegally refined AGO and 90,595 litres of DPK. Others are; 156,095 litres of PMS amongst other items.
“Overall, the military is keeping up the pressure through ongoing operations in the various theatres across the country and the military through these operations, increasingly creating conditions in which terrorists cannot carry out acts of terror or harm citizens.
“On the whole, the armed forces are constantly examining ways to improve the effectiveness of its operations and guarantee the safety of citizens.
In another development made known to newsmen by Gen Buba, the Troops of Joint Tasks Forces (JTF) have since the beginning of the year been confronted by different threats in five active theatres of operations across the country, namely; NE, NW, NC, SS and SE.
Accordingly, troops adopted a high level of alert and an increased state of readiness to protect the country from further terrorist aggression and insecurity.
“Troops of OP HADIN KAI fought intensely against the terrorist all through the year 2024. Troops invaded terrorist hideouts, strongholds and enclaves to flush out terrorist and destroy them wherever they were hibernating.
“Indeed, offensive operations were conducted to known terrorist safe haven such as the Sambisa Forest, Timbuktu Triangle as well as the Tunbums along the Lake Chad Basin. Several terrorist leaders, combatants and the families surrendered as a result of the intensity of troops operations.
“Overall, from January till date, troops of Operations HADIN KAI neutralized 2,918 terrorists, arrested 2,285 suspects and rescued 1,496 kidnapped hostages. Additionally, troops recorded 257 surrendered BH/ISWAP terrorists combatants and their families.
“The summary of recovered items include: 1,682 AK47 rifles, 392 fabricated rifles, 403 dane guns, 363 assorted arms, 39,612 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 15,253 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 11,931 assorted ammunition.
Neutralized Terrorists
182
242
199
248
375
335
254
292
246
198
347
2,918
Surrendered BHT/Families
856
1,157
690
714
1,684
3,010
3,976
2,742
565
257
299
15,950
Arrested Terrorists
62
57
84
422
286
334
167
254
185
166
268
2,285
Rescued Hostages
42
42
94
163
247
237
8
213
183
156
111
1,496
Recovered Weapons
246
332
173
305
466
300
178
209
144
130
304
2,787
Recovered Ammunition
4,009
6,004
4,444
6,252
11,403
9,031
3,991
5,440
6,099
2,639
7,817
67,129
Equipment Recovered
148
231
118
205
223
122
108
144
109
127
232
1,767
JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION SAFE HAVEN (NORTH CENTRAL)
Troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN significantly restored peace in the Plateau as a result of their operations, since the beginning of the year. These operations resulted in the neutralization of several terrorist and violent extremist leaders, commanders and combatants.
The support system for the terrorists were equally not spared by troops operations. Accordingly, several gun runners, kidnappers, informants and collaborators were arrested during the year.
Overall, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN neutralized 411 violent extremists, arrested 1,859 and rescued 927 kidnap hostages. Troops also recovered 238 AK47 rifles, 307 fabricated guns, 295 assorted arms, 18,324 rounds of 7.62mm special, 2,710 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 1,689 assorted ammunition.
Details are as follows:
Neutralized Terrorists
28
31
2
32
52
66
50
50
22
30
48
411
Arrested Suspects
160
187
58
148
203
280
135
290
88
140
170
1,859
Rescued Hostages
18
19
11
35
97
183
80
121
104
105
154
927
Weapons Recovered
139
157
31
65
46
37
43
36
26
42
34
656
Ammunition Recovered
1,433
2,124
1,590
1,504
909
3,256
1,163
3,069
5,982
1,021
1,105
23,156
Equipment Recovered
70
80
34
38
55
65
14
25
40
19
32
472
OPERATION WHIRL STROKE (NORTH CENTRAL)
Troops of Op WHIRL STROKE sustained their operations all through the year in Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa States. The operations significantly delivered damages to the terrorist fighting capabilities.
Troops hunted the terrorists and destroyed them in areas in which they were hibernating. Troops also arrested several notorious gunner runners, kidnappers and terrorist collaborators. Accordingly, the terrorists were denied the ability to carry out major offensive to harm citizens.
“Overall, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE neutralized 583 terrorists, arrested 916 suspects and rescued 649 kidnapped hostages. Troops also recovered 291 AK47 rifles, 302 assorted arms, 12,925 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 2,458 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 2,227 rounds of assorted ammunition.
Details are as follows:
Neutralized Terrorists
85
100
94
60
44
49
24
37
48
20
22
583
Arrested terrorists
57
67
27
99
213
107
56
94
53
61
82
916
Rescued Hostages
16
53
4
57
59
111
59
68
83
60
79
649
Weapons Recovered
103
126
65
100
45
26
8
13
30
17
33
566
Ammunition recovered
2,908
3,710
1,283
2,144
2,735
879
162
1,481
1,157
741
437
16,827
Equipment Recovered
35
42
43
74
107
24
10
26
25
14
37
437
JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION HADARIN DAJI (NORTH WEST)
Troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI continued all through the year to create a conducive and stable security environment for agricultural activities and other forms of socio-economic activities in KADUNA, KATSINA, KEBBI, SOKOTO and ZAMFARA State in the NW as well as NIGER State in the NC Zone.
Troops boxed in the terrorist through its operations, cutting off their resupply routes and chains. Accordingly, several notable terrorist neutralised leaders, commanders and combatants were destroyed as a result of troops operations.
Overall, since the beginning of the year till date, troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI neutralized 2,646 terrorists, arrested 1,654 suspects and rescued 2,339 kidnap hostages.
Additionally, troops recovered 1,341 AK47 rifles, 424 fabricated guns, 486 assorted arms, 29,068 rounds of 7.62mm special, 13,759 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 4,127 assorted ammunitions.
Details are as follows;
Neutralized Terrorists
248
345
203
297
325
237
152
153
293
163
230
2,646
Arrested Terrorists
55
80
25
141
361
357
102
97
126
82
228
1,654
Rescued Hostages
246
289
276
143
268
226
144
186
193
80
288
2,339
Weapon Recovered
257
348
198
310
289
164
99
68
147
174
150
2,204
Ammunition Recovered
4,434
6,612
2,935
7,989
6,130
3,566
2,635
2,635
2,058
4,634
3,224
49,172
Equipment Recovered
108
175
142
174
160
128
84
87
136
137
128
1,459
JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION WHIRL PUNCH (NORTH WEST)
Troops of Operation WHIRL PUNCH delivered significant damage to the terrorist military capabilities from January till date. Indeed, troops onslaught has is causing the terrorist motivation to be lowered and lower indicated by surrendering that commenced in the NC theatre of operation.
Overall, troops of Operation WHIRL PUNCH neutralized 732 terrorists, arrested 1,842 suspects and rescued 569 kidnap hostages.
Troops equally recovered 357 AK47 rifles, 289 assorted arms, 12,312 rounds of 7.62mm special, 5,658 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 2,807 assorted ammunitions.
Details are as follows;
Neutralized Terrorists
107
150
25
31
64
102
66
63
88
30
6
732
Arrested Terrorists
127
161
98
69
170
163
76
291
81
111
495
1,842
Rescued Hostages
18
44
31
17
96
91
97
62
58
52
3
569
Weapon Recovered
108
144
30
47
56
58
39
43
67
18
30
640
Ammunition Recovered
2,530
3,245
551
2,135
934
1,817
1,063
2,754
8,149
248
410
23,836
Equipment Recovered
81
98
21
28
24
90
17
47
46
29
38
519
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. Indeed, troops operations spiked the nation’s daily crude oil production to over 1.7 million barrels per day.
Nevertheless, troops are urging for more transparency by the IOCs, accurate metering, cooperation of stakeholders in the sector as well as cooperation from the local communities. Troops are also monitoring the prosecution of culprits perpetrating crude oil theft in order to ensure justice is served.
Since the beginning of the year till date, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE neutralized 78 terrorists, arrested 2,176 persons involved in crude oil theft and rescued 73 kidnapped hostages.
Troops also denied the oil theft of 53,101,430 litres of crude oil, 9,179,181 litres of AGO, 90,595 litres of DPK and 156,095 litres of PMS. Furthermore, troops recovered 524 assorted weapons, 12,974 assorted ammunition and destroyed 1,880 wooden boats as well as 2,413 illegal refining sites.
26. Details as follows:
Neutralized Terrorists
10
10
34
9
9
–
–
–
6
–
–
78
Arrested Terrorists
296
359
202
164
97
254
137
71
239
126
231
2,176
Rescued Hostages
3
3
4
–
–
–
–
45
3
4
11
73
Weapons recovered
78
79
60
56
88
39
–
35
13
35
41
524
Boats destroyed
235
319
134
74
157
134
91
125
136
195
280
1,880
Ammunitions Recovered
859
1,095
698
1,501
6,475
922
53
194
425
429
323
12,974
Illegal refining sites
161
246
248
76
288
298
173
63
266
216
378
2,413
Vehicles
45
48
50
23
66
51
59
63
44
30
52
541
JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION UDO KA (SOUTH EAST)
Troops of Operation UDO KA sustained the momentum in finding, flushing out and destroying IPOB /ESN terrorists at locations in which they hibernate. Additionally, the troops also worked assiduously to curb crude oil theft in the region.
Troops operations intercepted and arrested several IPOB/ESN terrorist. Several terrorist collaborators, gun runners and informants were also arrested.
Overall, since January till date, troops of Op UDO KA neutralized 666 terrorists, arrested 893 suspects and rescued 323 kidnap hostages.
Additionally, troops recovered 144 AK47 rifles, 240 pump action guns, 8,000 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 1,677 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammo, 5,373 live cartridges, 205 assorted arms and 2,883 assorted ammunition.
Details are as follows:
Neutralized Terrorists
85
106
62
38
123
78
26
34
33
40
41
666
Arrested Terrorists
62
69
26
103
115
143
117
82
41
55
80
893
Rescued Hostages
9
17
–
50
32
73
19
26
30
35
32
323
Weapons Recovered
86
10
77
54
31
317
73
23
13
64
91
839
Ammunitions Recovered
2,784
3,422
1,823
1,509
1,066
3,574
1,522
238
78
724
1,625
18,365
Equipment Recovered
93
104
45
34
27
50
49
33
13
63
84
595” the DDMO ended.
