The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said on Thursday in Abuja that several air strikes and ground interdictions successfully conducted by troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) in the first week of this year indicate one thing: 2024 is a hot year for terrorists, kidnappers, oil robbers or criminals whom he described as walking corpses. He said it is either they surrender or are smoked out of their hidden places and defeated.
Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba disclosed this at a regular bi-weekly briefing of defence correspondents on the operations of the military across the country, noting that troops had intensified its aggressive strikes on terrorists and other criminal elements in the county.
Major General Edward Buba whose face wore an unusual serious and firm countenance throughout the crowded briefing which lasted almost two hours emphasized that the fast-depleting clan of terrorists ranging from the their top leadership to the lowest rank and file would remain on the firing line of the superior caliber, professional and fire power of the Nigerian military. He gave the assurance that there is no rest for the criminals except they surrender or are felled.
“Our operations indicate that we are hunting the terrorist commanders and their senior leadership. Indeed, from their topmost leadership to the lowest commanders are dead men walking and we will stop at nothing until they are dead or surrender.”
He disclosed that during the period under review, troops successfully neutralized 86 terrorists and nabbed 101 terrorists, 30 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 21 kidnapped hostages.
He said that in the North East, troops of Operation HADIN KAI neutralized 20 terrorists, arrested 4 rescuing 40 kidnapped hostages
while in the North Central, both the troops of Operations SAFE HAVEN and WHIRL STROKE nabbed 21 violent extremists and rescued 27 kidnapped victims during their separate onslaughts in the zone within the period.
Major General Edward Buba further explained that troops of Operations WHIRL PUNCH and HADARIN DAJI made significant successes in the North West during the operations.
“Overall, troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI neutralized 56 terrorists, arrested 10 and rescued 40 kidnapped hostages.
“Overall, troops of Operation WHIRL PUNCH neutralized 13 violent extremists, arrested 15 and rescued 23 kidnapped hostages,” he stated.
He said troops’ operations in the Niger Delta prevented economic saboteurs from destroying national assets worth Seven Hundred and Fifteen Six million, One Hundred and Seventy Naira (N756, 000, 170.00), adding that during the onslaughts across the country, they recovered a cache of firearms from the criminals.
“Troops recovered 111 assorted weapons and 1,124 assorted ammunition. The breakdown is as follows: 65 AK47 rifles, one HK G3 dun, one G3 rifle, 8 locally fabricated guns, 15 Dane guns, 2 fabricated rifles, one locally made pistol, one English pistol, one pump action gun, 2 auto pump action gun, 2 single barrel guns.
“Others are 14 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 993 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 5 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammo, 5 rounds of 7.62mm x 39mm, 99 live cartridges, one round of 9mm ammo, one of the short gun cartridge, 2 bandoliers, 2 fabricated swords, 13 magazines, 5 vehicles, 29 motorcycles, 6 bicycles, mobile phones and one GTA radio amongst other items,” he noted.
The Director urged Nigerians never to give up on the ongoing fight in the face of seeming unrelenting pushback by the terrorists and other criminal activities in the country. He stressed the need for citizens irrespective of their backgrounds to close ranks and always lend their support to the military and other security and intelligence agencies to fight insecurity across the country.
Reacting to alleged increasing fears among residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT arising from reported attacks in Bwari Area Council and other reports of incessant kidnappings, abductions and general criminality in the territory, the spokesman of defence media operations said that ongoing military operations would make the FCT safer and more secure for residents.
Fielding reporters’ questions at the briefing, Major Gen. Edward Buba said,
”The aim of our ongoing operations remains unchanged and clear even in the new year 2024“. Our aim is to find and destroy the terrorists wherever they may be hiding in order to ensure their enduring defeat.
This would deny the terrorist the ability to terrorize or hurt citizens across country”, he said.
The DMO spokesman disclosed that troops’ onslaught led to the arrest of 10 suspects including one violent extremists’ informant/collaborator and two kidnappers in hideouts in FCT, Abuja.
”On 5 January 2024, troops with hybrid forces in separate operations conducted fighting patrols in Bwari Area Council of FCT and Kagarko LGA of Kaduna State respectively. During the operations, troops arrested 2 suspected extremists’ informants and recovered one mobile phone. (3)
On 6 January 2024, troops in conjunction with hybrid forces conducted fighting patrols to Bwari Area Council of FCT Abuja and Rijau LGA of Niger State respectively. During the operations, troops arrested 3 suspected violent extremists’ sympathizers.
On 30 December 2023, troops in conjunction with hybrid forces responded to kidnap incident in Ajaokuta LGA of Kogi State where they rescued 21 kidnapped hostages in the course of the operation.
On 1 January 2024, following reports, troops in separate operations raided a suspected extremists’ hideout in Bwari Area Council of FCT Abuja and Tafa LGA of Niger State respectively.
During the operations, troops arrested 10 suspects including one violent extremists’ informant/collaborator and 2 kidnappers.
The suspects were said to be cooperating, providing valuable intelligence which is supporting ongoing operation to make the FCT much safer”.
