The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said notorious terrorists’ leaders on its wanted list, Yellow Jambros, Alhaji Mallam, Ardo Idi (Alhaji Lawal), Lawal Kwalba, Salkado, Yellow Ibrahim, Gana’e and Babangida, among others, have surrendered to troops during the week.
Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba who disclosed this in a statement on Friday, said others were similarly indicating interests to surrender.
Maj.-Gen. Buba also disclosed that troops neutralised 135 terrorists, arrested 185 others and rescued 129 hostages during the week.
He added that 61 suspected oil thieves were also arrested by the troops with the recovery of stolen crude worth N889,233,020.00.
General Buba said the surrendering of the terrorists followed troops’ onslaught against them in recent weeks.
He said following the terrorists’ leadership overtures, a non-kinetic collaborative effort with stakeholders was deployed to encourage the surrendering process.
“Accordingly, several terrorist leaders, commanders and combatants have so far surrendered with more indicating interest to surrender.
“Notable terrorist that have surrendered include Yellow Jambros, Alhaji Mallam, Ardo Idi (Alhaji Lawal), Lawal Kwalba, Salkado, Yellow Ibrahim, Gana’e and Babangida among others,” he said.
He assured that troops will nevertheless sustain its operational tempo in order to destroy or cause more terrorists to further surrender.
The military spokesperson further disclosed that troops in the course of the week recovered 113 assorted weapons and 2,415 assorted ammunitions.
He gave a breakdown of recovered weapons to include 72 AK47 rifles, 11 fabricated rifles, 15 dane guns, three locally made pistols, eight pump action guns, four hand grenades, one RPG bomb and tube.
Others are 1,554 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 380 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 203 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammo, 129 live cartridges, 28 shotgun cartridges, 500 empty case of MG ammo, 30 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 49 rounds of 5.7mm ammo, 165 live cartridges, 10 rounds of 9mm ammo, 38 magazines, two baofeng radios, three handheld radios, two baofeng radios, 15 vehicles, 46 motorcycles, 28 mobile phones and the sum of N732,000.00 only amongst other items.
Meanwhile, in the Niger Delta area, Buba said troops discovered and destroyed 82 illegal refining sites, 93 crude oil cooking ovens, 12 dugout pits, 37 boats, 127 drums, and 41 storage tanks.
Items recovered in the operations include one outboard engine, four speedboats, three HH radios, four motorcycles, five mobile phones and 14 vehicles.
He added that troops recovered 909,800 litres of stolen crude oil, 71,060 litres of illegally refined AGO and 13,580 litres of PMS.
He assured that the Nigerian troops will continue to find innovative solutions in tackling the myriads of security challenges confronting the nation.
