6,260 Terrorists Killed, 5,365 Civilians Rescued In 2 Years — DHQ

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has disclosed that a total of 6,260 terrorists have been killed across the country through joint military operations in the past two years.

This is just as the troops also recovered stolen products worth over N83 billion within the period.

Deputy Director Defence Media Operations, Brig.-Gen. Ibrahim Abu-Mawashi revealed this while giving an overview of troops’ achievement in two years at the expanded parley with media executives at the Defence Headquarters, on Thursday.

Brig.-Gen. Abu-Mawashi added that 14,138 terrorists and other criminal elements were arrested while 5,365 civilians rescued within the period.

Abu-Mawashi further said troops recovered hundreds of weapons and thousands of rounds of ammunition.

Giving details of military successes in each of the region, the Defence spokesman said troops recovered N83 billion worth of stolen crude in the Niger Delta region.

He added that troops also killed 103 criminals, arrested 2,760 others and rescued 266 civilians from the kidnappers’ den.

Abu-Mawashi said 1,246 Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) were killed, while 2,467 of them were arrested in the North-East.

“The troops rescued 1,920 civilians, recovered 982 arms and 2,153 ammunition in the North-East,” he said.

According to him, troops killed 1,374 bandits, including their top commanders in the North-West theatre of operation, which comprises Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi and Sokoto States.

They also arrested 2,160 bandits and rescued 3,288 hostages from bandits’ enclaves.

He said, “The arms and ammunition recovered are 947 weapons and 25,802 rounds, respectively.”

The defence spokesman said troops on operations in the North-Central killed 730 terrorists, bandits and violent extremists, alongside the arrest of 7,153 violent extremists.

He added that 1,510 civilians were rescued, while 1,065 weapons and 19,709 rounds were recovered.

In the military’s Joint Task Force South-East over the past two years, the defence spokesman said 440 terrorists were killed while 1,677 criminals were arrested.

“The troops rescued 294 civilians and recovered 683 weapons and 21,300 rounds of ammunition, “ he said.

“Finally, Joint Task Force South-West killed 80 criminals and arrested 1,763 others, while they rescued 89 kidnap victims.

“Troops recovered 143 weapons, and 177,904 rounds of ammunition,” the defence spokesman added.

The Director Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, said the event marked a significant milestone in the military’s collective efforts to address and mitigate the complex security challenges confronting the nation.

Gusau said the programme was conceived in alignment with one of the leadership philosophies of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Christopher Musa, which is “leading a people-centric armed forces”.

He pledged the commitment of the military to ensuring that the Nigerian public remains accurately and adequately informed about the activities, achievements and sacrifices of the armed forces.