Military Moves against Terror Leaders as Troops Vanquish 50 Insurgents, Arrest 122 Others

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

The Nigerian military high command said yesterday that it targeted the leadership of terror organisations undermining the security of the country even as troops vanquished 50 terrorists and arrested 122 others.

A statement issued in Abuja by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Edward Buba, said the armed forces intensified operations against the non-state actors, which he said were yielding results.

He said the ongoing counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations ensured that the country remained safer each passing day as the evil forces were being decimated.

He said the operations of the last week resulted in the killing of 50 terrorists and the arrest of 122 others.

“Troops also arrested 49 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 182 kidnapped hostages. In the South-south, troops denied oil theft estimated at N128,066,825.00,” it said.

Furthermore, troops recovered 66 assorted weapons and 11,474 assorted ammunitions.

They include one conqueror APC, one GPMG, one NSVT gun, one GT3 rifle, 25 AK47 rifles, four pump action guns, two locally made AK47 rifles, three locally made guns, one locally made revolver guns, four locally fabricated pistols, four long dane guns, two locally made hand grenades, and one bandolier. Others are 574 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 640 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 150 rounds of 12.7mm ammo, five rounds of 9mm ammo, 10,520 live cartridges, five vehicles, 27 mobile phones, 12 motorcycles, three boating radios, one Motorolla HHR, three bicycles, one solar panel, one solar charger controller, one radio receiver and the sum of N75,909,290.00 among other items”.

He said troops in the Niger Delta region destroyed 242 dugout pits, 49 boats, 78 storage tanks, one tricycle, 21 vehicles, 104 cooking ovens, three pumping machines, seven outboard engines and 49 illegal refining sites.

Buba said the troops recovered 151,850 litres of stolen crude oil, 48,630 litres of illegally refined diesel and 10,125 litres of DPK.

 “The armed forces will continue to apply strong military pressure such as has been witnessed within the week under review.

 “It is in the interest of terrorists to surrender as is being done in the North-east to avoid eventual destruction,” he warned.