Nigerian Military fighting terrorists and bandits across the country on Thursday, said they have killed two top Boko Haram Terrorists and Islamic State of West Africa Province Commanders and 34 others during an attack launched by the Nigerian Army.
This was disclosed in press conference by the Directorate of Defence Media Operations on Armed Forces of the Nigeria’s Military operations held at the Defence Headquarters on Thursday.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General, Musa Danmadami, said during the bi-weekly briefing on troops activities that significant successes were recorded in the operations .
He gave the names of the two Terrorists commanders killed by troops as Abu Asiya and Abu Ubaida (A Qaid).
According to him, the troops neutralized them at Parisu and Sheruri general area in Sambisa forest respectively.
He stated also that the troops killed 36 other terrorists, arrested 46 others, 12 and 12 suspected logistic suppliers to them
Danmadami added that 130 civilians were also rescued.
He said the period under review covered operational activities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies conducted in tackling the various security challenges across the country between the September 8-22, 2022.
According to Danmadami in the North East, the Troops of Operation ‘HADIN KAI’ sustained aggressive operations and denied the terrorists freedom of action in theatre of operation.
“In furtherance to this, troops conducted fighting patrols, ambushes and clearance operations at communities, villages and towns in Kukawa, Monguno, Kaga, Dikwa, Biu, Damboa, Gwoza, Mafa, Konguda, Bama and Guzamala Local Government Areas all in Borno State.
“Of significant was the neutralization of 2 key Boko Haram Terrorists/Islamic State of West Africa Province commander on the 12th and 15th September 2022 identified as Abu Asiya and Abu Ubaida (A Qaid) at Parisu and Sheruri general area in Sambisa forest respectively.
“Consequently, within the period in review, troops neutralized 36 terrorists, rescued 130 civilians and arrested 46 suspected Boko Haram Terrorists as well as 12 suspected Boko Haram Terrorists/Islamic State of West Africa Province logistic suppliers.
“Furthermore, 21 AK47 rifles, 163 rounds of 7.62mm special, 2 RPG bombs, 25 dane guns, 4 unexplosive ordinance store, 2 bandoliers, 10 solar panels, 23 bicycles, 10 motorcycles, 1 tricycle, 19 cell phones, 28 torch lights, bags of assorted grains, 122 rustled sheep, and the sum of N203,125.00 were recovered among other items.
“Equally, a total of 368 suspected Boko Haram Terrorists/Islamic State of West Africa Province criminals and their families comprises of 53 adult males, 116 adult females and 214 children surrendered to own troops at different locations in the theatre.
“All recovered items, rescued civilians and apprehended suspected terrorists were handed over to the relevant authority for further action while surrendered Boko Haram Terrorists and their families are being profiled for further action.
“In a related development, the air component of Operation HADIN KAI on 9 September 2022 while acting on credible intelligence conducted air interdiction operation at Somalia in Sambisa Forest and bombarded a terrorist critical facility.” The statement said.
He disçlosed that the air strikes inflicted heavy casualties on the terrorists adding that the feedback revealed that several of the terrorists were neutralized while several camps were destroyed after the strike.
He added that similar operations carried out on terrorist enclaves at Abdallari, Mafa, Zanari and Tumbun Baba between 10 and 14 September 2022, led to the neutralization of several terrorists with several of their structures destroyed in the strikes.
Danmadami also said that in the North Central, the Troops were able to resolve the lingering security challenges in the Plateau.
According to him, the Commander of the Special Task Force Operation SAFE HAVEN , at its Headquarters in Jos declared open a 26 man joint peace committee summit led by Justice Daniel Longji (Rtd) to sensitize communities in the Plateau State on the need for peaceful coexistence.
He stated that following report on activities of the outlawed cultist group known as Sara Suka boys, troops in conjunction with vigilantes carried out raids in their hideout at Rikkos and Nassarawa in Jos Local Government Area of Plateau State and arrested six suspects.
He explained that items recovered, from the cultists include three locally fabricated rifles, five mobile phones, four hammers, five cutlasses, six knives, one fragmental jacket among others.
He said all the arrested suspects and items recovered were handed over to the relevant authority for further action.
“Furthermore, the air component of Operation WHIRL PUNCH continued the onslaught against terrorists, as an air interdiction operation was carried out on 8 September 2022 at an identified terrorists hideout at Gaude in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
“Intelligence report confirmed that the location was usually used by the terrorists for planning their nefarious activities. It was further revealed that all the attacks around Shiroro were orchestrated from this location and consequently, the hideout was bombarded.
“Feedback, revealed that several terrorists were neutralized with others fleeing with various degrees of injuries. Also, 2 suspected gun runners enroute Onitsha to Abuja were arrested by personnel of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency along Okene-Lokoja road in Kogi State. Items recovered from the suspects were 12 pump action guns and 374 cartridges. The arrested suspects and recovered items were handed over to the Nigerian Police for further action.” He stated.
Speaking on the activities of the Troops in the North West, Danmadami stressed that the Troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI, intensified offensive actions against terrorists adding that other criminal elements in their operational environment have been flushed out.
“On 15 September 2022, troops arrested two suspected terrorists collaborators at Access Bank, PZ Branch in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State while trying to withdraw the sum of Fourteen Million Naira (14,000,000.00) deposited into the account of one Alhaji Abubakar a suspected terrorist financier.
“Troops also conducted operational activities in villages, communities and towns in Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina and Kaduna State in the North West zone of the Country. During the operations troops neutralized 16 suspected terrorists and arrested 10 notorious terrorists at different locations in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
“While, five AK47 rifles, 10 rounds of 7.62mm special, 17 mobile phones, two motorcycles, 3 locally made rifles, 3 pairs of woodland camouflage, 118 rustled sheep, four boafeng radio and N29,250.00 cash among other items were recovered, while 21 civilians were rescued. All recovered items, arrested terrorists and rescued civilians were handed over to relevant authority for further action.
“Furthermore, the air component of Operation HADARIN DAJI on 13 Sep 2022 conducted air interdiction operation at identified terrorist hideout in Dutse Babare in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.
“The air strikes led to the neutralization of a terrorist leader identified as Ibrahim Dangawo and other members of his gang. Similar, operation was carried out at Gidan Guga in Faskari Local Government Area also in Katsina State, at an identified terrorist enclave.
“The airstrikes led to the neutralization of a terrorist kingpin known as Babaru who has been on the wanted list of security agents. Equally, another major feat was recorded with the neutralization of large number of terrorists at Kawari axis in Dan Musa Local Government Area of Katsina State.
“It was revealed that the terrorists group has been responsible for the kidnapping and robbing of people in that general area. Reports, revealed that scores of terrorists were neutralized in the air attack. He further stated.
SOUTH SOUTH ZONE
On the update on the South South zone, the military spokesman said Troops of Joint Task Force Operation DELTA SAFE, sustained offensive actions against oil thieves and economic saboteurs through its kinetic operations and denied the criminal elements freedom of action to create a conducive environment for economic activities in the area to thrive.
“Accordingly, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE conducted patrol, raids, clearance and swamp buggy operations in the creeks, villages, communities and towns in Dleta, Bayelsa and Rivers State.
“Consequently, within the weeks in focus, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE in the conduct of Operation OCTOPUS GRIP discovered and destroyed several illegal refining sites, 17 wooden boats, 103 storage tanks, 94 ovens and 58 dugout pits.
“Troops also recovered 10 trucks, 1 generator, 1 tanker, 2 vehicles, 8 pumping machines, arrested 17 pipelines vandals while a total of Seven Thousand Eight Hundred and Five (7,805) Barrels of crude oil and Two Thousand Six Hundred and Thirteen (2,613) Barrels of Automotive Gas Oil were recovered.
” In addition, a total of One Hundred and Thirty Four Million, Six Hundred and Seventy Thousand Two Hundred and Fifty Five Naira and Seventy Two Kobo (N134,670,255.72) of Automotive Gas Oil and Four Hundred and Two Million Four Hundred and Nineteen Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty Six Naira Four Kobo (N402,419,846.04) were denied the oil thieve. Accordingly, a total approximated value of product denied oil thieves within the period under review was Five Hundred and Thirty Seven Million Ninety Thousand One Hundred and Two Naira (N537,090,102.12)
“Similarly, between 9 and 13 September 2022 troops raided suspected criminal hideouts at Okpokumu community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State and Iduodah community in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State and arrested 4 suspected armed robbers.
“Items recovered from the suspects include 2 G3 rifles, 1 locally made pump action gun, 1 locally made pistol, 3 G3 magazine, 3 AK47 magazines, 280 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 780 rounds of 7.62mm special, MMG metal links, 2 boafeng radios.
“Others items recovered are 5 pairs of military camouflages, 6 pairs of desert boots, some Nigerian currency notes and large quantities of items suspected to be hard drugs. The arrested suspects and items recovered have been handed over to the relevant authority for further action.” He also said in the statement.
Giving update on the activities of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra and the Eastern Security Network criminal activities and other criminal elements in the zone, the Military spokesman explained that Troops in conjunction with other security agents launched the offensive and raided operation against the activities of the gang.
He said: “Notably, on 17 September 2022, troops in a coordinate joint operation with the Nigerian Police and operatives of the Department of State Security Service conducted offensive operation at a identified criminal camp at Orsumoghu forest in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.
“During the encounter troops neutralized 2 criminals and recovered 4 Improvised Explosive Devices, 4 locally fabricated RPGs, 1 pump action rifle, 5 dane guns, 1 short gun, 1 pistol, 34 rounds of 7.62mm special, 5 vehicles, 7 motorcycles, among others. Troops also conducted operational activities in Imo, Enugu, and Abia States at criminal hideouts and camps.
“Consequently, from these operations, troops recovered 4 Improvised Explosive Devices, 4 locally fabricated RPGs, 1 pump action rifle, 4 pistols, 4 AK47 rifles, 10 motorcycles, 50 rounds of 7.62mm special and 7 dane guns among others. Troops also arrested 5 suspected criminals and neutralized 4.
“All recovered items, and arrested criminals were handed over to relevant authority for further action.”
He said on the South West axis of the country, Troops of Operation AWATSE, also sustained aggressive patrols and raid operations to curb the menace of smugglers of contraband goods and other criminal elements in the zone.
He stressed out that troops of Operation AWATSE in the conduct of Operation SWIFT RESPONSE and Operation TRIPARTITE JOINT BORDER PATROL conducted operational activities at Rounda road in Lafenwa Abeokuta South Local Government Area, Ijebu Ode-Ibadan road, Sango Ota, Idiroko, in Ewekoro Local Government Area and Yewa Local Government Area of Ogun State.
“Other locations include Owode Apa Lagoon, Akarakumo waterways in Badagry Local Government Area and Ibeju Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos Stat as well as Arogbo Ijaw in Ese Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State and Agbaruru bush path in Iwajowa Local Government Area of Oyo State respectively.
“Notably, the Maritime component of Operation AWATSE on 12 September 2022 arrested 2 child trafficking criminals with 2 passenger boats loaded with 13 teenage girls suspected to be victims of child trafficking around Akarakumo waterways in Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State.
“Equally, troops in conjunction with the Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on 18 September 2022 raided a suspected drug barons residence at Solebo Estate, Ipakodo in Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos State during the operation troops arrested 4 suspected drug barons and a foreign national with 1,855kg of substance, suspected to be cocaine worth about Two Hundred and Seventy Eight Million Dollars ($278,250,000.00) equivalent of about N184,700,000,000.00.
“Cumulatively, within the weeks in focus, troops recovered 1,953 bags of 50kg foreign rice, 212 jerrycans of 30 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, 2 vehicles, 2 wooden boats and 1 motorcycle as well as arrested 3 suspected smugglers.
“Furthermore, operatives of the Nigerian Custom Services along Ijebu Ode-Ibadan road in Ijebu Ode Local Government Area of Ogun State, intercepted a truck containing 20 drums of calcium carbide and 41 pairs of military camouflage.
“All recovered items were handed over to the Nigerian Custom Services while the arrested 2 passenger boats with the 13 teenage girls and the 2 suspected traffickers were handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further action.
“On a final note, I wish to convey the military high command commendations on the troops efforts in the various theatres of operation across the Country.” The statement reads.
Danmadami appreciated the media community in it’s partnership with the military adding that the NA, acknowledged their partnership.
He urged them to continued to cooperate with the military and other security agencies in their quest to return peace to the country.
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