From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), said its ongoing counter-terrorism and other security operations across the country led to the killing of 148 terrorists and arrest of 258 others in the last one week.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Director Edward Buba, who made this known, said troops in the Niger Delta region arrested 51 oil thieves, rescued 291 kidnapped hostages, while a total of 74 terrorists comprising three males, 29 females and 42 children surrendered to troops within the theatres of operation.
Buba, in a statement on the military operations conducted in the last one week, disclosed that troops arrested two ammunition couriers that collaborated with terrorists, recovered 146 assorted weapons and 2,599 assorted ammunition.
He listed the recovered weapons as 2 PKT guns, 72 AK 47 rifles, 33 fabricated rifles, 28 Dane guns, two locally-made SMG, three locally-made pistols, two pump action guns, one RPG bomb, one RPG tube, 39 magazines.
Buba, while assuring the determination of the armed forces to wipe out terrorism soon, said the armed forces was, through its operations turning the tide against terrorists and violent extremists across the country.
He said the support base of the group is equally being dislocated as a result of the ongoing operations.
“Significantly, during the week, troops in the North Central theatre of operation intercepted and apprehended two ammunition couriers that collaborate with the terrorist. The arrested persons identified as Danweri and Abubakar Hamza, were apprehended in Alkaleri LGA of Bauchi State; they are cooperating with troops.
“Meanwhile during the week under review, troops neutralised 148 and arrested 258 persons. Troops also arrested 51 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 291 kidnapped hostages.
“Furthermore, troops recovered 146 assorted weapons and 2,599 assorted ammunition. The breakdown are as follows: 2 PKT guns, 72 AK47 rifles, 33 fabricated rifles, 28 Dane guns, two locally-made SMG, three locally-made pistols, two pump action guns, one RPG bomb, one RPG tube, 39 magazines.
Others are: 1,596 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 636 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 111 rounds of 7.62 x 51mm ammo, 114 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 25 rounds of 9mm ammo, 98 live cartridges, three Baofeng radios, three vehicles, 36 motorcycles, 40 mobile phones and the sum of N1,838,000.00 amongst other items.
“Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 68 crude oil cooking ovens, 13 dugout pits, 41 boats, 45 storage tanks and 66 illegal refining sites. Other items recovered include four speedboats, one pumping machine, 150 drums, one generator, two motorcycles, two mobile phones, one drone and five vehicles among others. Troops recovered 657,470 litres of stolen crude oil, 127,870 litres of illegally-refined AGO and 5,000 litres of DPK.”