Nigerian military kills 54 terrorists, rescues over 400 victims – DHQ

The Defense Headquarters says the armed forces troops have rescued 468 kidnapped victims and eliminated 54 terrorists in various operations in the North-East, North-Central and North-West regions in the last two weeks.

The Director of Defense Media Operations, Musa Danmadami, said this in Abuja on Thursday during a bi-weekly press conference on the operations of the armed forces.

Major General Danmadami said troops have also arrested 122 terrorists, bandits, their collaborators and other criminals in the area.

He added that 30 injured rescue victims have been hospitalized while the rest have been reunited with their families.

In the North East, Mr. Danmadami said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai carried out operational activities in identified Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa (ISWAP) terrorist camps and high ground, villages and forests.

He said the troops neutralized 24 terrorists, arrested 40 logistics providers, one woman, four terrorist informers and rescued 206 civilians.

According to him, a total of 501 Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists and their families surrendered to groups comprising 60 male adults, 176 female adults and 266 children at different locations in the theater of operations.

“The troops also recovered 14 AK47 rifles, two AK49 rifles, one AK56 rifle, one GPMG, one RPG tube, one PK MG and two RPG bombs.

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“Also recovered were 732 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 77 rounds of 7.62mm special, 19 rounds of 7.62mm 29mm special and 16 rounds of 7.62mm metal ball.

“Also 1,000 rounds of 7.62mm NATO (belt), 243 rounds of 7.62mm x 54mm special ammunition, 89 rounds of 5.56mm x 45mm, 16 AK47 magazines, seven cannon danes and Only the sum of N103,505.like many other items were recovered.

“All recovered items, arrested Boko Haram/lSWAP terrorists, logistics providers of the terrorists were handed over to the relevant authority for further action.

“While the surrendered Boko Haram/Islamic State in West Africa provincial terrorists and their family members were profiled for further action.

“The rescued civilians were given medical attention before being handed over to the competent authorities for further action,” he said.

In the North Central, a defense spokesman said troops from Operations Safe Haven and Whirl Stoke had apprehended 44 suspected criminals and rescued 252 civilians during the period.

He said the troops also recovered a cache of arms, 18 mobile phones, 38 railway sleepers among other items.

In the northwest, Danmadami said troops of the Hadarin Daji operation neutralized 30 terrorists, arrested 33 others and rescued 10 kidnapped civilians.

He said the troops recovered 13 AK47 rifles, 16 AK47 magazines, 1,531 rounds of 7.62mm, 886 rounds of NATO 7.62mm (belt) ammunition, 7.62mm 7.62mm (tracer) case 139 special guns and 30 empty boxes. Special 7.62mm.

“Other items recovered include 87 Detonators, 33 coiled detonator cables, 11 safety fuses, 43 main explosive chargers, 25 motorcycles, 21 mobile phones, boafeng radios, 887 cattle rustlers, seven trucks and the sum of N230,900.

“All recovered items, apprehended suspects and rescued civilians have been handed over to the appropriate authority for further action,” he said.

(IN)