The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said 36 military personnel were killed in Niger State while defending the nation’s territorial integrity.
This is just as troops deployed for internal operations across the country killed 28 terrorists, arrested 114 terrorists/collaborators, suspected oil thieves, kidnappers and rescued 82 hostages within the period.
The director Defence Media Operations Major General Edward Buba who disclosed this at the biweekly update of Armed Forces of Nigeria said no group would ever strike the military without injurious consequences.
He said three officers and 22 soldiers were killed in an ambush by terrorists while conducting offensive operations around Kundu general area in Shiroro LGA of Niger State.
LEADERSHIP had reported that the NAF MI-171 Helicopter crashed on 14 August 2023 at about 1pm near Chukuba village in Niger State
The aircraft had departed Zungeru Primary School en route Kaduna before the ugly incident.
General Buba added that the aircraft evacuating the victims crashed with 14 previously killed in action soldiers and seven wounded in action soldiers.
He said the aircraft had pilots and two crew members.
“Sadly, it is no more news that we sustained casualties on 14 Aug 23 in two separate but related occurrences. It is on this note that on behalf of the CDS, I express our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of all those killed in action as a result of the occurrences.
“Troops while conducting offensive operations around Kundu general area in Shiroro LGA of Niger State got into an ambush. Following a fire fight, 3 officers and 22 soldiers were killed in action, 7 soldiers were wounded in action.
“Subsequently, the NAF MI-171 Helicopter was dispatched to evacuate the casualties. While out bound to Kaduna, the helicopter crashed with 14 of the earlier killed in action personnel, 7 of the earlier wounded in action personnel, 2 pilots, and 2 crew members of the helicopter. Operations are ongoing to recover the bodies and investigate the cause of the air crash which will be communicated. Surely, no group will strike its own troops with impunity,” he said.
The director said the troops confiscated stolen crude worth 876,451,00.00 within the period.
General Buba said the troops destroyed 36 dugout pits, 62 wooden boats, 73 storage tanks, one vehicle, and 75 cooking ovens.
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 their own forces.
“The men and women of the armed forces will continue to put themselves in harm’s way, 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 operation 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 17 August 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 3 empty magazines.
Other items include; 14 motorcycles, 16 mobile phones, three Motorolla radios, 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 troop discovered and destroyed 36 dugout pits, 62 wooden boats, 73 storage tanks, one vehicle, and 75 cooking ovens.
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.
