The Defence Headquarters said on Friday that troops eliminated 125 terrorists and apprehended 200 others across the country in the past ine week.
Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations,disclosed this in Abuja while giving an update on major military operations in different parts of Nigeria.
Buba,said troops also rescued 140 kidnapped victims during the week under review.
According to him, troops recovered 120 assorted weapons and 1,793 assorted ammunition, comprising 56 AK47 rifles, 26 locally fabricated guns, 22 Dane guns, one SMG rifle and seven pump action guns.
Also recovered are one fabricated Beretta pistol, 5x60mm mortar bomb and unexploded ordinances, 1,244 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 383 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 88 rounds of 7.62x54mm, 78 live cartridges and 24 empty cases of 7.62mm ammo.
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Buba said that 21 AK47 magazines, one Baofeng radio, six vehicles, 11 motorcycles, five bicycles, 38 mobile phones and the sum of N2.7 million amongst other items, were also recovered.
In the North East, he said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai, neutralised 52 terrorists, arrested 40 others and rescued 14 kidnapped hostages within the week.
He said the troops recovered 23 AK47 rifles, seven fabricated rifles, five Dane guns, one SMG gun, 16 magazines, 408 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 112 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 88 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo and 5x60mm mortar bombs amongst others.
In the North Central, Buba said the troops of Operations Safe Haven and Whirl Stroke neutralised 22 insurgents, arrested 38 violent extremists and rescued 27 kidnapped hostages.
In the North West, he said the troops of Hadarin Daji, neutralised 31 terrorists, arrested 21 others and rescued 30 kidnapped hostages, as well as recovered a cache of arms.
According to him, the air component conducted an air interdiction on July 12, following intelligence and confirmatory ISR on the converging of suspected terrorists around Bukuru in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Buba said : “Battle Damage Assessment revealed that several terrorists were eliminated and their logistics destroyed.
“The troops of Operation Whirl Punch conducted offensive operations to Kwali Area Council of FCT Abuja, as well as Lokoja and Adavi LGA of Kogi State during the week.
“On July 8 and July 12, the air component of Operation conducted air interdiction on terrorists’ kingpin enclaves.
“The air strikes were on enclaves belonging to terrorist commander Alhaji Layi’s in Giwa LGA of Kaduna State.
“Battle Damage Assessment revealed that several terrorists were neutralised and their structures destroyed.”
He also said that the air interdiction conducted at terrorist camps located in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State killed several terrorists and destroyed their structures as well as logistics.
The Defence Spokesman said the troops, neutralised 18 terrorists, arrested 13 suspects and rescued 53 kidnapped hostages during the operation. (vitalnewsngr.com)
