Troops Kill 21, Arrest 40 Terrorists, Collaborators

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said troops deployed in internal operations in the North East, North West, North Central and South East neutralised 21 terrorists, arrested 40 terrorists/collaborators and rescued 19 kidnapped civilians.

This is just as the troops arrested two terrorists at Chekeihi village in Tangaza local government area of Sokoto State while responding to a distress call.

The director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba disclosed this during the biweekly update on Armed Forces of Nigeria operations between 13-20 July, 2023 in Abuja.

In the North East, he said troops of operation Hadin Kai between 11-12 Jul 2023 killed six terrorists, arrested a high-profile terrorist collaborator identified as Bulama Suri and seven others in Borno State.

He said Suri is a terrorist spy and collaborator residing at Gaulawa and Gwazari villages in Kukawa and Konduga local government areas of Borno State, adding that the troops recovered from the terrorists food items and two cows.

General Buba said the troops in the period under review rescued 10 kidnapped civilians.

The troops also recovered seven AK 47 rifles, two FN rifles, one 36 hand grenade, 100 rounds of 7.62 mm Special ammo, two mobile phones, two cows, foodstuffs, condiments, one cart and the sum of N2,104,000.00 only.

In the North Central, he said troops of Operation Safe Haven neutralised three terrorists and  recovered three AK 47 rifles, 14 rounds of 7.62 mm Special ammo, one motorcycle and a fake Nigeria Police officer ID Card.

He noted that troops of 176 Guards Battalion on 11 July, 2023 also arrested one suspected criminal at Gbau village in Gwagwalada area council of Federal Capital Territory with one locally made pistol, one mobile phone and one pump action ammo and handed him over to Nigeria Police Gwagwalada Division for further action.

In the same North Central,  he said troops of Operation Whirl Stroke neutralised nine bandits and arrested 10 suspects while rescuing nine kidnapped civilians.

The troops recovered one AK47 rifle, one fabricated pistol, one locally made pistol, one pump action ammo, 14 rounds of 7.62mm special, one motorcycle, cartridge, one mobile phone, machete, axe, fake Nigeria Police ID card and the sum of N35,000.00 only.

 Furthermore, in the North West, troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI raided bandit hideouts in five separate operations killing one terrorist and arresting nine others.

He stated particularly that troops on 11 July, 2023 while responding to information from the Commander Niger Republic Border patrol team on terrorists’ hideout at Tapkin Taramna general area in Illela local government area of Sokoto State arrested six suspected terrorists, all Nigeriens.

Relatedly, troops following a tip off arrested one suspected terrorist collaborator tasked by a notorious terrorist kingpin Nagala Jabbi to move livestock from Magami general area to Danjibga Cattle Market in Tsafe local government area of Zamfara State and recovered the sum of N1,104,000 only.

Meanwhile, in the South East, troops of Operation Udo Ka neutralised one IPOB/ESN terrorist and arrested 12 others.

The troops recovered one AK47 rifle, four pump action gun, one dane gun, and 86 live cartridges.

He said all recovered items, arrested suspects and rescued abducted civilians have been handed over to the relevant authority for further actions.