Defence Headquarters has given the re-assurance that 2024 is a hot year for non-state with a disclosure at its Thursday defence media briefing that between January and March saw gallant troops sacking over 2,351 terrorists and killing 10 notorious terror kingpins with over N20 billion worth of stolen crude oil seized in the Niger Delta region.
It maintained that notwithstanding a few cases of push-back in the fight against terrorism, crime and criminality in parts of the country, the situation was yielding significant results and producing reassuring moments ahead.
Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba at a regular press conference at the Defence Headquarters Complex in Abuja said the current optics showed that courageous troops of the Nigerian military were daily encouraged by their successes as sufficient proofs of definitive victory at the end of the tunnel.
The defence media operations pointsman disclosed that the successes had become significant sources of encouragement propelling the troops to inch towards more victory for the nation’s ongoing war on terror through strategic intelligence gathering leading to the eventual hunting down of terrorists and hacking them down at their hidden and hibernating locations across the country.
Major General Edward Buba further said that troops also conducted regular and surprise ambushes, raids, fighting patrols and offensives against the terrorists through asynchronous strikes between ground and air forces on the terrorist enclaves.
He said, “Surely, we have been collecting intelligence, hunting them and striking them where they may be hiding and hibernating. Our aim is to kill these terrorists and the infrastructure that supports them.
“Accordingly, we have employed significant firepower to neutralize several terrorists and disrupt their activities. Indeed, significant terrorist commanders killed include and are not limited to the following: Abu Bilal Minuki (aka Abubakar Mainok) – Head of Is-Al Furqan Province (ISGS and ISWAP) and Haruna Isiya Boderi. He was a notorious terrorist who operated along Birnin Gwari Forest in Kaduna State as well as the Abuja Kaduna Highway. He was killed by troops on 21 February 2024.
“Others are: Kachallah Damina (neutralised on March 24, by troops. He was neutralised alongside over 50 combatants); Kachallah Alhaji Dayi, Kachallah Idi (Namaidaro), Kachallah Kabiru (Doka), Kachallah Azarailu (Farin-Ruwa), Kachallah Balejo, Kachallah Ubangida, Alhaji Baldu among several others.
“The above was achieved through synchronized strikes between the ground and air forces on terrorist enclaves. For instance, immediately upon the acquisition of vital targets, fighter jets are scrambled to carry out major bombarding raids on significant terrorist enclaves.
“Troops equally conducted ambushes, raids, fighting patrols and offensive against the terrorists. The attacks and offensive actions by troops during the period January – March 2024 resulted in 2,351 terrorists neutralized, 2,308 persons arrested and 1,241 kidnapped hostages rescued.
‘’Furthermore, troops recovered 2,847 weapons, 58,492 ammunitions and denied the oil theft of an estimated sum over N20 billion (N20, 331,713,910.00) only.
“A breakdown of the period includes but not limited to the following: 1,497 AK47 rifles, 33,878 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 12,698 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 948 assorted arms and 5,520 assorted ammunitions.
“Others are 21,573,310 litres of stolen crude oil, 2,723,430 litres of illegally refined AGO, 53,300 litres of DPK and 52,730 litres of PMS amongst other items”.
Major General Edward Buba also seized the opportunity of the briefing to assure Nigerian citizens and residents of the resolve and readiness of the armed forces to track down and bring to book all criminal gangs terrorising the country, noting that “the military is ready, prepared, equipped and focused on what to do with these terrorists and their cohorts. Consequently, citizens will continue to witness the incremental effectiveness and efficiency of the armed forces”.
Explaining further that the nation’s armed forces was fighting a vicious enemy structure in the ongoing operations across the country, he gave the assurance that the military was always ready, prepared, equipped and focused on what to do with the bands of terrorists and their cohorts.
‘’The foregoing demonstrates that ongoing operations are effective and result oriented. Accordingly, the military is raising the bar in the prosecution of the war. Consequently, citizens will continue to witness the incremental effectiveness and efficiency of the armed forces’’,he said.
