No fewer than 28 terrorists have been killed while 114 criminals were arrested by troops during operations across the country between August 7 and 17, 2023.
The Defence Headquarters has said the arrested criminals include 92 terrorists, six gunrunners, three kidnappers, six collaborators, and seven suspected oil thieves.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, disclosed this on Thursday while briefing journalists on the activities of the military within the period under review in Abuja.
Buba also said 82 kidnapped civilians were rescued.
He said, “The men and women of the armed forces will continue to put themselves in harm’s way, time and time again, to protect our great nation.
“During the weeks leading to August 17, 2023, the military neutralized 28 terrorists, arrested 92 terrorists, six gunrunners, three kidnappers, six collaborators, and seven perpetrators of oil theft. Troops also rescued 82 kidnapped hostages and denied oil thieves the sum of N876,451,800.00 only.”
Speaking further, Buba said the troops recovered a total of 108 weapons and 564 ammunition.
“Overall, troops recovered 108 weapons and 564 ammunition. The breakdown as follows: 22 AK47 rifles, one PKT gun, six pump action guns, four Dane guns, one fabricated rifle, one Galil Ace rifle, one RGP bomb, one RPG tube, 44 hand grenades, 322 rounds of 7.62mm special, 63 rounds of 12.7mm ammo, 12 rounds of 5.6mm ammo, 33 AK47 magazines, one empty case of 7.62mm special, and three empty magazines,” he added
He noted that 14 motorcycles, 16 mobile phones, three Motorolla radio, one Boafeng radio, two motorcycle tyres, five touch lights, two solar panels, 104 livestock, and the sum of N2,896,400.00 were also recovered from criminals across the country.
He added that the troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 36 dugout pits, 62 wooden boats, 73 storage tanks, one vehicle, and 75 cooking ovens.
“Others include four pumping machines, five outboard engines, and 33 illegal refining sites. Furthermore, troops recovered 1,166,900 litres of stolen crude oil, 1,491,250 litres of illegally refined AGO, 54,750 litres of DPK and 800 litres of PMS,” he added.
