Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said its troops on internal operations across the country killed 814 terrorists and arrested 1,903 suspected terrorists in six months, adding that about 4,560 terrorists and their family members also surrendered to the troops.
The director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, disclosed this at the third quarter update on military operations in Abuja yesterday.
He said 721 kidnapped hostages were also rescued from captivity by the troops during the period.
Maj-Gen Buba said the troops recovered 501 weapons, 3,577 livestock, 3,269 assorted kinds of ammunition and 674 other equipment.
He warned that the military will punish those taking sides with criminal elements.
“It is clear from our operations that the terrorists and their cohorts have sustained a significant number of casualties. It is certain that they will continue to sustain even more casualties, as we move forward. The illusion by these groups to embark on terrorism or insurgency is laughable.
“Increasingly, they have become more of a criminal organization which is the reason they fight. They fight so that they can keep profiting from criminal activities such as illegal mining, kidnapping, cattle rustling, illegal levies on fishing and farming communities and all other unholy forms of criminal inclinations.
“Indeed, if these groups don’t come to the table in peace, we will ceaselessly punish them with overwhelming military force. For those supporting them, they have picked the wrong side and will face similar fate as these criminals and murderers,” he said.
He added, “Our operations across the six geopolitical zones from June to August 2023 reveals that; we neutralized 814 terrorists and arrested 1,326 criminals. We arrested 42 kidnappers, 231 collaborators, 33 armed robbers, 80 cattle rustlers, 325 militias, 27 rails vandals, 73 gunrunners, 191 suspected oil thieves and rescued 721 kidnapped hostages. Additionally, 4,560 terrorists and their families surrendered to troops.
“Troops recovered a total number of 501 weapons, 3,577 livestock, 3,269 assorted kinds of ammunition and 674 other equipment.”
On the war against oil theft in the South-South geopolitical zone, he said the troops recovered 6,652,250 litres of stolen crude oil, 3,558,325 litres of illegally refined AGO, 288,650 litres of DPK and 65,600 PMS.
He said the stolen crude recovered from economic saboteurs is estimated to worth the sum of N4 billion.
He reiterated that the armed forces will continue to apply strong military pressure on groups undermining the national security of the country, adding that it is clear that the terrorists and their cohorts cannot win in the face of ongoing military pressure against them.
Accordingly, he said the terrorists and their cohorts are encouraged to drop their arms and rejoin society to provide a better life for themselves and their children, noting that they risk annihilation if they fail to do so.
He assured Nigerians that the military will work tirelessly to ensure their safety and security.
