We Are Working Relentlessly To Tackle Kidnapping, Other Vices — DHQ

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has stated that its troops are working tirelessly to address the issue of kidnapping and other vices across the country.

In a statement on Friday, Major General Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, assured that troops had eliminated 43 terrorists, arrested 76 individuals, and rescued 27 hostages.

He also mentioned that troops apprehended 29 suspected oil thieves, recovering stolen products valued at N131,101,750.00 during the reviewed week.

Addressing the kidnapping menace, he noted that troops had prioritised vulnerable areas, increasing both ground and air surveillance over them.

“While troops may not have all the answers at the moment, citizens can rest assured that the armed forces are working relentlessly to address this troubling situation. Technologies have been deployed to more easily detect these kidnapping gangs in their hideouts and enclaves,” he said.

He added that troops had heightened operations to find, degrade, and destroy terrorists and their cohorts wherever they were hiding.

“In the FCT and environs, areas cleared by troops so far include Kawu, Gaba, Deidei, Kubwa Hills, and Ushafa in the FCT, Garam, Jibi, and the back of Zuma Rock in Niger State, as well as Gidan Dogo and Kuyeri/Kuyeri Hills in Kaduna State.

Intensified night patrols have also been conducted in Mpape, Kubwa, Lugbe, Pyakasa, Keti, Gbaupe, Gbaukuchi, and Airport Rd, among others.”

In the North East, he mentioned that the air component of Operation HADIN KAI eliminated three top ISWAP terrorist commanders in Borno State on January 10, 2024. The three commanders, Abou Maimuna, Abou Zahra, and Commander Saleh, along with their lieutenants, were targeted and destroyed by air strikes.

Troops recovered 81 assorted weapons and 2,150 assorted ammunition during the week. The recovered items include various firearms, ammunition, explosives, vehicles, motorcycles, phones, radios, and a sum of N1,266,920.00.

In the Niger Delta area, troops discovered and destroyed 16 illegal refining sites, seven dugout pits, 13 boats, 23 storage tanks, two barges, four vehicles, 15 cooking ovens, and two pump machines. Recovered items include 139,045 litres of stolen crude oil, 25,115 litres of illegally refined AGO, and 5,200 litres of DPK.

The Director reiterated that the armed forces would remain vigilant against the threats posed by kidnapping gangs and terrorists nationwide.

“We will continually review our internal processes to address these threats both now and in the long term. The military is determined to give the situation the seriousness it deserves to create a safer environment for citizens,” he said.