Troops Kill 84 Terrorists, Over 1,000 Surrender .Apprehend 16 Migrant Bandits

The Defense Headquarters has said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai and HadarinDaji eliminated no fewer than 84 terrorists and bandits in North-East and North-West in the last two weeks.

The Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig.-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko said this while giving an update on military operations across the country between December 9 and December 23, yesterday in Abuja.

Under Operation Hadin Kai, Onyeuko said the troops carried out several land and air operations that recorded significant results at different locations across the theatre within the period.

He said the operational efforts resulted in the neutralisation of 51 and arrest of 19 terrorists as well as the surrendering of 1,081 terrorists and their families comprising 187 adult males, 326 adult females and 568 children.

According to him, a total of 122 assorted arms and 1,499 rounds of different calibres of ammunition were recovered, while a total of eight gun trucks belonging to the terrorists were destroyed.

“Additionally, troops’ kinetic and non-kinetic operations have continued to drive the terrorists out of their camps into surrendering.

“Within this period in focus, a total of 1,081 terrorists and their families comprising 187 adult males, 326 adult females and 568 children surrendered to our troops at different locations of the theatre.

“The surrendered terrorists were properly profiled and handed over to appropriate authorities for necessary actions,” he said.

Under Operation HadarinDaji, Onyeuko said the troops had sustained land and air offensives against the bandits and other criminal elements at different locations across the North-West theatre.

He said the troops’ operational efforts yielded significant results at Kaikazaka village in Sokoto State as well as Garbadu town and Saturi, Katanga, Badarawa and Tunga Na Yarchiga villages in Zamfara.

According to him, a total of 33 bandits were neutralised, while 19 of them and their collaborators, as well as armed herdsman, were arrested while 28 kidnapped civilians were rescued in the course of the operations.

He stated that 37 assorted arms, including AK-47 rifles, PKT machine guns, and GPMGs as well as 698 rounds of different calibres of ammunition, 22 motorcycles, and 899 rustled livestock, among other items and vehicles were recovered.

He added that 59 extra magazines of assorted arms and 21 motorcycles were recovered from bandits during the operations.

“We acknowledge and salute the noteworthy efforts and sacrifices of our gallant officers and men as well as other security agencies that progressively conduct the various operations across the country.

“Although some of our troops paid the supreme prize in the course of the operations, our dogged troops consistently exhibited gallantry and resilience in the various operations within the year,” he said.

Similarly, the Defence Headquarters, yesterday, said troops of Operation Whirl Stroke in Benue, Nasarawa and Tarabastates arrested sixteen migrant bandits from the Niger Republic.

It also said the bandits were arrested in different operations across the North-Central region of the country.

The Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig.-Gen Bernard Onyeuko, made this known while providing an update on military operations across Nigeria between December 9 and 23 in Abuja.

Onyeuko explained that troops executed different operations at Tine-Nune village in Mbatin Council Ward and TseYorbee town in Ukum Local Government Area, Ojapo community and Edumoga forest in Okpokwu Local Government Area and along Makurdi–Kula road in Benue.

According to him, other operations were executed at Ugya forest in Toto LGA of Nasarawa during the period with commendable results.

He said 12 criminals were neutralised, while 26 criminal elements, including 16 migrant bandits from the Niger Republic, were arrested.

He further said 16 different types of arms and 61 different calibres of ammunition were recovered, while thirteen kidnapped civilians were rescued during the operations.

Under Operation Safe Haven, Onyeuko disclosed that troops successfully repelled bandits’ attacks and arrested child traffickers, cattle rustlers, kidnappers, as well as bandits and robbers in parts of Plateau, Bauchi and Kaduna states.

He added, “Other locations were; Boto area in TafawaBalewa Local Government Area of Bauchi state; GidanWaya town and AngwanMagaji village in Jama’aLocal Government Area of Kaduna State.

“In addition, troops within the period held peace and security meetings with critical stakeholders as non-kinetic means of tackling insecurity.

“Some of these meetings were held at; the Force Headquarters of Operation Whirl Stroke in Makurdi and Lau LGA in Taraba.

“Issues discussed at the meeting centred on how to find lasting solutions to the security challenges in the North-Central Zone.”

Under Operation Thunder Strike/Whirl Punch, troops killed four bandits, arrested six criminals as well as recovered assorted arms and ammunition in Niger State during the period.