Troops Kill 135 Terrorists, Arrest 182, Rescue 140 In 1 Week – DHQ

The Nigerian troops on internal operations across the country have neutralised 135 terrorists, arrested 182 others, while 140 hostages were rescued in one week, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) disclosed on Friday.

The Director Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, in a statement said troops also arrested 15 suspected oil thieves and recovered stolen products worth N731,448,262.00 within the period under review.

He said troops recovered 97 assorted weapons and 3,117 assorted ammunition.

Gen. Buba said troops have significantly diminished the military capabilities of terrorist groups making the terrorists and their cohorts, “pay a much heavier price than we have been forced to pay”.

He gave a breakdown of recovered weapons to include 47 AK-47 rifles, one PKM MG, one FN rifle, 17 locally fabricated gun, 21 dane guns, 9 pump action guns, three locally fabricated pistols, three 36 hand grenade and one IED.

Others recovered items include 1,087 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 840 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 402 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 88 rounds of 5.56mm, 33 rounds of 9mm x 99mm ball ammo, 90 live cartridges, 29 magazines, 15 vehicles, 21 motorcycles, 6 bicycles, 43 mobile phones and the sum of N2,024,210.00 amongst other items.

Meanwhile in the Niger Delta, Buba said troops discovered and destroyed 40 illegal refining sites containing 11 dugout pits, 29 boats, 24 drums, four receiver, seven reservoirs and 41 storage tanks.

Other items recovered include 115 cooking ovens, 2 generators, 13 vehicles, and three pumping machines.

Troops also recovered 588,400 litres of stolen crude oil and 238,686 litres of illegally refined AGO.

“The military is in a good and strong position in the war against terrorist with many terrorist leaders killed,” Gen. Buba said.