By ZAKAA LAZARUS, Abuja
The Defence Headquarters DHq, on Thursday has confirmed that it’s troops across various theater of operations have eliminated about 8,034 terrorists, arrested 11,623 suspected criminals and rescued 6,376 hostages in the year 2024.
Director, Defence Media Operations DDMO, Major General Edwards Buba disclosed this while briefing newsmen at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
General Buba also revealed that, troops have denied the oil theft of an estimated sum over #57 bn (N57,052,218,551, since the year began.
According to him, troops have since the beginning of the year been confronted by different threats in five active theatres of operations across the country, namely; North East, North West, North Central, South South and South East.
He noted that, troops have adopted a high level of alert and an increased state of readiness to protect the country from further terrorist aggression and insecurity.
He said the military aggression across the various theatres of Operation since the beginning of the year culminated in 8,034 neutralized terrorists, 11,623 arrest and 6,376 rescued hostages.
” Troops recovered 8,216 weapons, 211,459 ammunitions and denied the oil theft of an estimated sum over #57 bn (N57,052,218,551.00) only.
” The breakdown of the recoveries are as follows: 4,053 AK47 rifles, 1,123 locally fabricated guns, 731 dane guns and 240 pump action guns.
” Others are; 120,247 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 41,515 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 5,373 cartridges, 1,940 assorted arms and 25,664 assorted ammunitions.
“Additionally, troops recovered: 53,101,430 litres of stolen crude oil, 9,179,181 litres of illegally refined AGO and 90,595 litres of DPK. Others are; 156,095 litres of PMS amongst other items.
“Overall, the military is keeping up the pressure through ongoing operations in the various theatres across the country.
General Buba noted that military is through these operations, increasingly creating conditions in which terrorist can not carry out acts of terror or harm citizens.
He said the armed forces is constantly examining ways to improve the effectiveness of its operations and guarantee the safety of citizens.
According to Buba, “operations are on an upward trajectory to winning the war”. Buba added.
