Troops Kill 28 Terrorists, Arrest 114, Rescue 82 Hostages — DHQ

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said troops deployed for internal security operations across the country have killed 28 terrorists, arrested 114 terrorists/collaborators, suspected oil thieves, kidnappers and rescued 82 hostages.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, who disclosed this at the biweekly update on Armed Forces of Nigeria operations on Thursday, said the troops seized stolen crude worth N876,451,000.00 within the period.

He said the troops destroyed 36 dugout pits, 62 wooden boats, 73 storage tanks, one vehicle, and 75 cooking ovens used by the crude oil thieves.

He assured Nigerians that members of the Armed Forces will continue to respond with overwhelming military force against any group that threatens the safety of citizens and security forces.

“The men and women of the Armed Forces will continue to put themselves in harm’s ways, time and time again, to protect our great nation.

“No doubt, the Armed Forces possess the power and the will to hunt down those that wish to bring harm upon our citizens. The ongoing operations is a message to those that question the resolve of the military. It is also a message to members of these violent extremist groups that think they can hide. They can be rest assured that others shall raise their sons and daughters, as no one will strike at the military without injurious consequences.”

He explained that troops during the week leading to August 17, 2023, neutralised 28 terrorists, arrested 92 terrorists, six gunrunners, three kidnappers, six collaborators, and seven perpetrators of oil theft.

They also rescued 82 kidnapped hostages and recovered 108 weapons and 564 ammunition.

He gave a breakdown of recovered items to include; 22 AK47 rifles, one PKT gun, six pump action guns, four dane guns, one fabricated rifle, one galileo ace rifle, one RGP bomb, one RPG tube, 44 hand grenades, 322 rounds of 7.62mm special, 63 rounds of 12.7mm ammo, 12 rounds of 5.6mm ammo, 33 AK47 magazines, one empty case of 7.62mm special and three empty magazines.

Other items include; 14 motorcycles, 16 mobile phones, three motorolla radio, one boafeng radio, two motorcycle tyres, five touch lights, two solar panels, 104 livestock, and the sum of N2,896,400.00.

In the Niger Delta area, the troops discovered and destroyed 36 dugout pits, 62 wooden boats, 73 storage tanks, one vehicle, and 75 cooking ovens from crude oil thieves.

Troops also recovered four pumping machines, five outboard engines, and 33 illegal refining sites.

Furthermore, he said troops recovered 1,166,900 litres of stolen crude oil, 1,491,250 litres of illegally refined AGO, 54,750 litres of DPK, and 800 litres of PMS from economic saboteurs.