From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) Thursday, said soldiers engaged in the counter insurgency war and other security operations across the country killed 1,166 terrorists, arrested 1,096, others and rescued 721 kidnapped persons in the month of August.
Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, who made this known, said the troops recovered 391 weapons, 15,234 ammunition comprising 208 AK47 rifles, 54 locally fabricated guns, 53 dane guns, 36 pump action guns, 10,452 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 1,991 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 293 cartridges, 42 assorted arms and 2,498 assorted ammunition.
Buba, at a media briefing on military operations conducted across the country in the last one month, said the troops also killed several prominent terrorists commanders in the North-East theatre.
He listed the terrorists commanders killed within the period to include Munir Arika, Sani Dilla (aka Dan Hausawan Jibilarram), Ameer Modu, Dan Fulani Fari Fari, Bakoura Araina Chikin, Dungusu, Abu Darda and Abu Rijab.
Others in the North-West include Kachalla Dan Ali Garin Fadama, Kachalla Dan Mani Na Inna, Kachalla Basiru Zakariyya, Sani Baka Tsine, Inusa Zangon Kuzi, Ibrahim, Tukur and Kamilu Buzaru, among others.
Gen. Buba, while noting that the terrorists’ motivation “is getting lower and lower in the North-East”, thus leading to the mass surrendering among fighters, said troops aim at replicating same in other theatres of operation to bring peace and safety to the citizens.
According to him, “The military is on high alert and we have increased our readiness to protect the country from further terrorist aggression.
“We urge citizens to understand that this war is not a quick fix, but a long and enduring military operation. It is certain that at the end, these terrorists will be destroyed and our nation will be safe and peaceful again,”.