More than 50 terrorists neutralised, as troops arrest two foreign informants in three weeks

Speaking during a media briefing in Abuja, the Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Musa Danmadami, said the success was recorded via “Both kinetic and non-kinetic operations”.

The spokesman said the operations were conducted by the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies in the various theatres of operations which yielded significant results.

“Cumulatively, within the last three weeks, troops recovered 21 AK-47 rifles, four FN rifles, three locally pump made action guns, five locally made pistols, three PKT machine guns, 124 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 139 rounds of 7.62mm special, 29 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, 140mm bomb, 1UXO81mmmortarbomb, three RPG tubes and bombs, 5 x 36 hand grenade, five dane guns and five FN magazines, Danmadami stressed.”

He also disclosed that Nigerian troops recorded successes in the various operational theaters within the six geo-political zones of the country.

Danmadami noted, “troops neutralised 25 terrorists, arrested 18 terrorists as well as 21 terrorist logistics suppliers, two terrorist foreign informants and five kid­nappers”.

His words, “Troops also rescued 47 ab­ducted civilians while a total of 377 Boko Haram terrorists and Islamic State of West Afri­ca Province terrorists (ISWAP) and members of their families, comprising of 52 adult males, 126 adult females and 199 children surrendered to troops at different locations within the theatres of operations.

“Operational activities were conducted in villages, forests, mountains, towns and cities of Bama, Gwoza, Konduga, Mafa, Monguno, Biu, Kukawa, Dam­boa, Ngala, Nganzai, Tarmuwa and Magumeri local government areas as well as Maiduguri metro­politan city of Borno State.

“Operations were also con­ducted at Nguru, Karasuwa and Gujba local government areas of Yobe State as well as Madagali and Song local government areas of Adamawa State in the North- East region of the country geared toward denying Boko Haram ter­rorists and ISWAP Province and their other criminal elements freedom of actions and restore normalcy to the zone.”

Danmadami stated that “be­tween 23rd and 30th December, 2022, troops on fighting patrols, ambushed Boko Haram terror­ists and ISWAP terrorists at dif­ferent locations within the theatre of operation.”

He went on “During the encounter with the terrorists at Kwatara village in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, the director said following the fire fight, troops neutralised terrorists while their admin leader at Guduf identified as Umate Usman was captured with gunshot wounds.

“Troops also had a meeting engagement with terrorists close to their deployment at Ngoshe in Gwoza Local Government Area. During the engagement troops neutralised five terrorists while other fled.”

On the recovered items, Danmadami stated, “The recovered items, included one AK-47 rifle, 20 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 10 rounds of locally fabricated 7.62mm special, 10 refilled ammo, two hand grenade, among other items”.

Similarly, “the troops made contact with terrorists along Gam­boru-Logomani in Ngala Local Government Area. During the encounter, he said, troops neutralised terrorists while others fled with gunshot wounds.

“Troops exploited the area and recovered twoAK-47rifles, oneFN rifle, one RPG tube and bomb, 94 rounds of 7.62mm belted NATO, 66 rounds of 7.62mm special, 30 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition and six motorcycles.

“Also, following an encounter with terrorists at Bulge village in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State, troops neutralised four terrorists while others fled. Troops recovered two PKT machine guns, two FN rifles, 15 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and a belt link containing 60 rounds of 7.62 x 51mm ammunition.

“Furthermore, troops also had meeting engagement with terrorists while on patrol at Ngalzama village in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State and Hymbula in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

“During these encounters, troops neutralised seven terror­ists while others fled in disarray. They exploited the general areas and recovered four locally fabri­cated AK-47 rifles and 20 rounds of 7.62mm special.”

He said, also, on December 28, 2022, “Troops acting on human intel­ligence conducted cordon and search operation at a suspect­ed Boko Haram terrorists and ISWAP terrorists POL storage point at Gamboru town in Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State.

“During the operation, troops recovered 19 drums of automo­tive gas oil and five drums of premium motor spirit. While on 2nd January, 2023, troops acting on credible information raided Major Ali village in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

“During the operations, the abductors fled on sighting the troops, consequently, troops res­cued 35 kidnapped civilians com­prising of seven adult males, 12 adult females and 16 children”.