The Defence Headquarters, DHQ, said troops have depleted the power of the Islamic State for West Africa Province, ISWAP, terrorists in the Northeastern part of Nigeria, forcing the terror group on a recruitment drive for new fighters across the region.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen Edward Buba, made this known in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
He said the terrorists in the North West also suffered the same fate and were on membership recruitment on social media.
“Troops are aware of the situation and working with other security agencies and governments to thwart the plans.
“Troops are also deployed in strength to assist the police in ensuring a hitch-free off-cycle governorship election in Ondo State, slated for November.
“Indeed, troops’ presence is to ensure the security of citizens enabling them to cast their votes without any form of harassment or intimidation while keeping mischief-makers at bay.
“The NAF is already engaged in flying sensitive electoral material in support of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,” he said.
While giving updates on successes across various theatres of operation in the past week, Buba said troops killed 88 terrorists, arrested 228 criminals, and rescued 181 kidnap victims.
According to him, troops recovered 84 high calibre weapons, comprising 34 AK47 rifles, 15 fabricated rifles, 11 Dane guns, five fabricated revolver pistols, eight locally made pistols, three pump action guns and one magnum pump action.
The Defense spokesman added that troops recovered 2,393 pieces of ammunition, comprising 1,807 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 314 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 146 rounds of 7.62mm PKM ammo, 77 rounds of 9mm ammo, 49 live cartridges, and 25 magazines, among others.
Speaking on troops successes in the Niger Delta region, Gen. Buba said troops destroyed 59 illegal refining sites and arrested 40 oil thieves.
“Troops recovered 942,420 litres of stolen crude oil, 175,075 litres of illegally refined diesel and 4,980 litres of petrol.
“Troops also discovered and destroyed 13 crude oil cooking ovens, 20 dugout pits, 73 boats, 25 storage tanks and 59 illegal refining sites, three barges, seven speedboats, and 73 drums, among others,” he added.