Troops Kill 31 Terrorists, Detain 81 of Them – DHQ

Troops Kill 31 Terrorists, Detain 81 of Them– DHQ

By Hussaini Sulaiman

According to the Defence Headquarters, military personnel have deactivated 31 terrorists in the past week and detained 81 others in separate operations across the North East, North Central, and North West.

This was said in a statement made on Sunday in Abuja by Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, Director, Defence Media Operations.

Buba said that 63 Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists and members of their families surrendered to the military across all theaters of action. The forces also freed 10 hostages who had been taken prisoner.

He claimed that in the North East, the Operation Hadin Kai forces conducted battle patrols in the Gujba LGA in Yobe State as well as the Bama and Chibok Local Government Areas of Borno State.

Buba added that in addition to other stuff, the troops also found 12 AK-47 weapons, two locally made rifles, three Dane guns, 181 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, four magazines, and three motorcycles.

He stated that the troops captured 12 suspects, killed 13 terrorists, and freed five hostages.

He claimed that during the course of the week, the soldiers of Operation Safe Haven in the North Central region detained five suspects, found weapons and ammo, and rescued 145 rustled cows.

He said that on October 1 while on patrol in the Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue, Operation Whirl Stroke troops detained two IPOB/ESN criminals.

He claimed that when the senior herbalist fled, the criminals were apprehended in his home.

He added that “troops recovered one body armour and bulletproof vests.

“Overall, troops arrested three suspects and recovered two locally fabricated rifles, 10 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, five cutlasses, one body armour, one bulletproof vest and a jack-knife.”

In North West,  Buba said troops of Operation Hadarin Daji neutralised six terrorists, arrested 12 and rescued 33 kidnapped persons.

He said the troops also recovered four AK47 rifles, two Dane guns, 35 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, three motorcycles, five mobile phones, one cutlass and five solar panels.

Troops of Operation Whirl Punch also eliminated one terrorist and recovered three AK47 rifles, one AK47 magazine loaded with five rounds of 7.62 mm Special ammo, 32 rounds of 7.62mm special, 10 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm warheads, one cutlass, amongst other items.

He said that in the fight against terrorism and violent extremist groups, the government and the people are allies.

“Accordingly, the military, through its operations, continues to prevail against the effects of insurgency and terrorism with an ultimate goal of securing the country against perpetrators of insecurity for national progress,” he said.