Troops, in one week, and one fell swoop, eliminated no fewer than 75 terrorists, arresting 138 suspected criminals and rescuing 46 kidnap victims, according to the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday in Abuja.
Keen defence analysts have adjudged the feats as another major milestone in the ongoing aggressive military offensive against non-state actors across various theaters of operations in the country.
Newly appointed Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, a former Commander Artillery Corps in Kontagora, Niger State, at his first appearance at the regular bi-weekly briefing of defence correspondents at the DHQ also disclosed that troops gallantly denied the theft of an estimated sum of over Six Hundred and Forty-six Million, One Hundred and Eighty-nine Thousand, Six Hundred and Ninety Naira (N646, 189, 690.00) only worth of crude oil in the Niger Delta region.
According to him, troops had since the beginning of February this year been confronted by different shapes and modes of life-threatening threats in five active theatres of operations across the country, noting that troops’ professionalism, resilience, courage and gallantry were not waning and wanting.
He further disclosed that troops had continued to gain incremental victories, saying that the military aggression and superior fir power across the various theatres of Operation since the beginning of February culminated in the massive surrendering of 65 terrorists comprising 12 adult males, 19 adult females and 34 children surrendered to troops within the theatre of operations.
Sharply-dressed, clear-headed and humorous two star general of the same Regular Course 39 of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) as the present military service chiefs of Army, Navy, Air Force and the Defence Intelligence, Major General Markus Kangye who displayed effective mastery of the briefing as if he had been at it for long, said that troops also recovered 104 and 2,639 assorted weapons and ammunition, respectively.
“The breakdown include: 497,152 litres of stolen crude oil, 142,000 litres of illegally refined AGO and 4,075 litres of PMS. Additionally, troops discovered and destroyed 164 crude oil cooking ovens, 37 dugout pits, 19 boats, 16 storage tanks, 38 drums and 42 illegal refining sites.
” Other items recovered include 3 pumping machines, 4 tricycles, 7 motorcycles, 5 mobile phones and 3 vehicles among others.
” These includes, 55 AK47 rifles, 20 locally fabricated guns, 8 dane guns, 18 pump action guns, 1,826 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 376 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 366 rounds of 7.62 x 12.7mm ammo, 26 cartridges as well as other 14 assorted arms and 45 assorted ammunitions.
According to Major General Kangye who used the briefing to solicit the cooperation of the defence correspondents, troops of Operation HADIN KAI on the 5th and 6th February 2025, following credible intelligence, laid an ambush on ISWAP route in Gwoza and Konduga LGAs of Borno State and made contact.
He said during a fire fight, 8 terrorists were neutralized, while 3 AK47 rifles, 2 locally fabricated rifles, one G3 rifle, 157 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 27 rounds of 7.62mm NATO as well as one magazine were recovered.
“Between 5 and 10 February 2025, troops in conjunction with Hybrid Forces, conducted offensive operations including ambushes, fighting patrols and clearance operations in Gwoza, Konduga, Damboa and Mafa LGAs of Borno State.
“During the operations, 12 terrorists were neutralized, 3 were apprehended, while 4 kidnapped hostages were rescued.
“They also recovered 9 Ak47 rifles, one G3 Rifle, 2 dane guns, 102 rounds of 12.7mm ammo, 70 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammo, 55 rounds of 7.62 mm NATO, one RPG tube, 3 RPG bombs and 6 magazines.
“Similarly, 2 calibrated aircraft engines from a longtime unidentified aircraft crashed site, one double barrel cannon gun and 16 missiles were also recovered.
“From 5 – 10 February 2025, troops in conjunction with Hybrid Force while on offensive patrol intercepted and arrested 18 BH/ISWAP terrorist collaborators in Konduga, Biu and Hawul LGAs of Borno State as well as Gediman and Gujba LGAs of Yobe State.
”Quantity 90 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 5 mobile phones and the sum of N58,980.00 only were recovered from them. Overall, troops of Operation HADIN KAI neutralized 22 terrorists, arrested 13 others and rescued 34 kidnapped hostages.
“Troops also recovered 12 Ak47 rifles, 2 G3 Rifles, 3 Dane guns, 2 fabricated rifles, 102 rounds of 12.7mm ammo, 317 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammo, 82 rounds of 7.62 mm NATO, one RPG tube, 3 RPG bombs and 11 magazines.
“Also, 2 aircraft engines, one double barrel cannon gun, 16 missiles and the sum of N58, 980.00 were recovered, amongst other items.
“Troops of Operation FASAN YAMMA recorded the following during the week under review:a. Recovery of Weapons from Repentant Terrorists.
“On 3 and 4 February 2025, sequel to the ongoing non-kinetic initiative, one GPMG, one AK47 and one fabricated AK47 rifles were received from a repentant terrorist leader identified as Kachalla Mudi and 2 others in Birnin Gwari and Igabi LGAs of Kaduna State.
“On 4 February 2025, troops while on fighting patrol responded to information about terrorists’ activities and made contact in Malumfashi LGA of Katsina State. Following a fire fight, 5 terrorists were neutralized while 5 kidnapped hostages are rescued.
“On 4 February 2025, troops encountered terrorists in Gusau LGA of Zamfara State and engaged them accordingly.
“As a result, 6 terrorists were neutralized and 4 AK 47 rifles, 2 dane guns, 62 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, as well as 2 motorcycles were recovered.
” On 4th February 2025, troops conducted fighting patrol to Maradun LGA of Zamfara State and made contact.
“Following a fire fight, 8 terrorists were neutralized while 5 AK47 rifles, 2 fabricated rifles, one dane gun, 83 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 2 magazines and one boefeng radios were recovered.
“On 4 and 6 February 2025, troops responded to information about BH/ISWAP terrorists activities in Sabon Birni and Talatan Mafara, Maru and Gumi LGAs of Sokoto and Zamfara States as well as Sabuwa, Kafur and Baure LGAs of Katsina State.
” On arrival, troops neutralized 6 terrorists and rescued 4 victims. They recovered 4 AK 47 rifles, one fabricated rifle, 173 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 3 magazines and 3 motorcycles.
“Between 4 and 9 February 2025, troops conducted fighting patrols and made contact in Gusau, Maradun, Shinkafi and Zurmi LGAs of Zamfara State, as well as Malumfashi, Batsari and Kankara LGAs of Katsina State.
” Similar operations were also conducted in Chikun and Birnin Gwari LGAs of Kaduna State as well as Gudu LGA of Sokoto State.
He said during the combat operations, 18 terrorists were neutralized while 6 kidnaped hostages were rescued.
Major Gen Markus Kangye who had meritoriously served as former Chief of Civil-Military Relations at the Army Headquarters for two years, also said that troops recovered 13 AK47 rifles, 3 fabricated rifles, one GPMG, one RPG tube, 252 Chain link of 12.7mm, 197 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 94 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammo, 5 magazines, 3 boefeng radios, 8 motorcycles and 11 mobile phones were also recovered.
“From 7 – 9 February 2025, following intelligence reports, troops intercepted and arrested a notorious terrorist kingpin identified as Muhada Muhammadu (Yellow) and 4 others in Kauran Namoda, Shinkafi and Bukkuyum LGAs of Zamfara State as well as Binji and Birnin Kebbi LGAs of Sokoto and Kebbi States.
“The sum of N2, 451, 820.00 only was recovered.SUMMARY9. Overall, troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA neutralized 58 terrorists, arrested 11 others and rescued 16 kidnapped hostages.
“Troops recovered 31 AK47 rifles, 9 fabricated rifles, 2 GPMGs, one RPG tube, 252 Chain link of 12.7mm, 558 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 94 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammo, 12 magazines, 5 boefeng radios, 13 motorcycles, 11 mobile phones and the sum of N2,451,820.00 only among others’’, Major General Kangye added.
