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The Defence Headquaters has revealed that the combined forces of the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force, in the past two weeks, have sustained aggressive operations to deny terrorists further freedom of action.
Director, Defence Media Operations, Major-General Musa Danmadami, revealed in a statement on Thursday.
He noted that in the North-Eastern region, troops of Operation Hadin Kai theatre, have sustained aggressive operations to deny terrorists further freedom of action. Adding that the force conducted fighting patrols, ambushes and clearance operations at communities, villages and towns in Kukawa, Monguno, Kaga, Dikwa, Biu, Damboa, Gwoza, Mafa, Konguda, Bama and Guzamala Local Government Areas in Borno State.
Danmadami added that two key Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province commanders, Abu Asiya and Abu Ubaida also known as, A Qaid, were neutralized on September 12 and 15, 2022, at Parisu and Sheruri general area in Sambisa forest respectively.
Within the period in review, Danmadami added that troops neutralized 36 terrorists, rescued 130 civilians, and arrested 46 suspected Boko Haram terrorists as well as 12 suspected logistic suppliers to the terrorists.
The Defense Headquarters noted that exactly 21 AK47 rifles, 163 rounds of 7.62mm special, two RPG bombs, 25 dane guns, four unexplosive ordinance store, two bandoliers, 10 solar panels, 23 bicycles, 10 motorcycles, one tricycle, 19 cell phones, 28 torch lights, bags of assorted grains, 122 rustled sheep, and the sum of N203,125, were recovered from the operation.
Also, a total of 368 suspected Boko Haram Terrorists and ISWAP criminals and their families; comprising 53 adult males, 116 adult females, and 214 children, surrendered to troops at different locations. All recovered items, rescued civilians and apprehended suspected terrorists were handed over to the relevant authorities for further action while surrendered Boko Haram Terrorists and their families were being profiled for further action.
He added that in a related development, the air component of Operation Hadin Kai, on September 9, 2022, while acting on credible intelligence, conducted air interdiction operation at Somalia, in Sambisa Forest, and bombarded a terrorist critical facility.
“The air strike inflicted deadly casualty on the terrorists as feedback revealed that several of the terrorists were neutralized while several structures were destroyed after the strike.
“Similar operation was carried out on terrorist enclaves at Abdallari, Mafa, Zanari and Tumbun Baba, between September 10th and 14th. The airstrikes led to the neutralization of several terrorists with many of their structures destroyed in the strikes,” Danmadami said.
He noted that on September 16, 2022, following reports on activities of an outlawed cultist group known as Sara Suka boys, troops in conjunction with vigilantes carried out raid operation on their hideout at Rikkos and Nassarawa in Jos Local Government Area of Plateau State, and arrested six suspects.
He added that three locally fabricated rifles, five mobile phones, four hammers, five cutlasses, six knives, and one fragmental jacket, among others, were recovered, as arrested suspects and recovered items were handed over to the relevant authorities for further action.