THE Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has announced that troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria rescued 397 kidnapped victims during military operations conducted across the country in July, while 57 terrorists and their family members also surrendered as sustained offensives intensified against criminal elements.
News Point Nigeria reports that the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed the operational achievements on Friday while presenting the military’s scorecard for July. According to him, troops operating across various theatres of operation neutralised 102 terrorists and other criminals, arrested 345 suspects, and recovered 59 weapons as well as 1,811 rounds of ammunition during the month.
Providing a breakdown of operations in the North-East, Onoja said troops of Operation HADIN KAI sustained intensive offensives against Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad across Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno and Yobe states.
He disclosed that the troops neutralised 54 terrorist fighters, arrested 102 terrorists, rescued 102 kidnapped victims and facilitated the surrender of 57 insurgents and their family members.
“The theatre also recorded a steady trend of surrenders occasioned by sustained offensive pressure on terrorists’ enclaves,” he said.
Onoja explained that on July 1, a suspected terrorist who fled a Lake Chad camp surrendered to troops in Mobbar Local Government Area of Borno State. He added that on July 4, a woman and her child also surrendered at Yaganari village in Dikwa Local Government Area.
According to him, between July 4 and 17, seven family members of terrorists who escaped from the Mandara Mountains equally surrendered to troops in Gwoza Local Government Area.
Highlighting one of the military’s major breakthroughs during the month, Onoja revealed that a senior ISWAP finance operative surrendered to troops along the Ladari-Jegarawa-Tunokalia axis on the Gamboru-Wulgo Main Supply Route on July 25.
He identified the suspect as the Chief Finance Officer of the ISWAP enclave at Jubillaram, noting that the operative surrendered alongside two children and handed over an AK-47 rifle, four magazines, 101 rounds of ammunition, a motorcycle and cash.
According to him, the surrender “brings to about 46 the number of terrorists and family members who have voluntarily surrendered in recent weeks, reflecting the effectiveness of ongoing land and air offensives in degrading terrorist capabilities and morale.”
Onoja further disclosed that on July 28, three suspected terrorists surrendered in Gubio Local Government Area after fleeing their camps at Sabon Gari and Tumbun Mota due to sustained air bombardments.
He said the suspects confessed during interrogation that they had been trained as gunboat operators and anti-aircraft gunners for operations in the Lake Chad region.
The Defence spokesman also revealed that troops arrested two suspected terrorist collaborators in Magumeri Local Government Area on the same day after they allegedly admitted to collaborating with the insurgents.
In Taraba State, Onoja said troops on July 29 conducted a fighting patrol to Bomanda village in Karim Lamido Local Government Area following reports of kidnappings and successfully rescued three civilians who had been held captive for about 10 days.
“The victims were evacuated for medical treatment prior to reunification with their families,” he stated.
Summarising the military’s nationwide operations for the month, Onoja said, “The operational record for the month of July stands as compelling testimony to the sustained resolve of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to ensure a secure environment for socio-economic stability and peace to thrive in our country.”
He added, “Over 102 terrorists and criminals were neutralised this month, with 345 terrorist/criminals arrested and 393 kidnap victims rescued. Additionally, 57 insurgents surrendered to troops, while 59 arms and 1,811 rounds of ammunition were recovered.”
Onoja further stated that the military sustained pressure against crude oil theft throughout July, noting that the successes recorded in the Niger Delta had continued to frustrate the activities of economic saboteurs.