The Defence Headquarters said troops of the armed forces have eliminated 77 terrorists in various operations across theatres of operations in North-East, North-Central and North-West in the last two weeks.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami, said this at a bi-weekly news conference on the operations of the armed forces on Thursday in Abuja.
Danmadami said troops of Operation Hadin Kai operating in the North-East, eliminated 56 Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists, apprehended 26 and rescued 59 victims within the period.
He said air component also eliminated many terrorists in recent air operations conducted at Gogore, a terrorist hideout, Damboa, Tumbun Dila, Arege and nearby settlements in the western fringes of Tumbuns in Borno.
He stated that the battle damage assessment after the air operations revealed that several terrorists were neutralised with their structures and logistics bases destroyed in the various air strikes.
Danmadami said a total of 340 terrorists and members of their families, comprising 12 adult males, 133 adult females and 195 children surrendered to troops at different locations within the theatre.
He said the troops had on January 27, raided a terrorists’ enclave at Yuwe village in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno and neutralised 17 terrorists.
The troops also recovered one GPMG, 36 hand grenade and 77 rounds of belted 7.62mm NATO ammunition.
He said the troops also on January 30, neutralised three terrorists and rescued 10 abducted victims in an offensive operation at villages within Bama and Mafa local government areas of Borno.
In his words:
“Troops recovered a vehicle conveying 13 jerry cans of automotive gas oil, two mobile phones and the sum of N5,000.
“Equally, on same day, troops responded to credible information on the presence of terrorist collaborators at Benisheik market in Kaga Local Government Area and arrested 13 suspects in a vehicle loaded with food items.
“Troops recovered a vehicle with 20 wraps of cannabis, three cartons of biscuit, six mobile phones, six jack knives and the sum of N72, 250.
“Equally, on February 4, troops raided a terrorists’ enclave at Balange village on the fringes of Sambisa forest, neutralised five terrorists and rescued 55 civilians.
“Also on February 6, troops responded to intelligent report on terrorists’ activities and conducted several artillery fire missions on Tumbun Barebare, Tumbun Mata, Kaye Kura, Kwatan Yobe and Dumba areas in Kukawa LGA of Borno.
“Following the artillery fire mission, feedbacks received later revealed that about 42 terrorists were confirmed dead as a result of the fire mission.”
