Ground Troops Free 139 Hostages, Kill 99 B/Haram Terrorists in 7 Days
The Defence Headquarters says the troops of the Armed Forces have achieved significant success in their ongoing counterterrorism operations, eliminating 99 terrorists and apprehending 198 others in a week-long offensive.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, disclosed this during a news briefing in Abuja on Thursday.
Buba revealed that the troops have also rescued a total of 139 hostages and recovered a substantial cache of weapons and ammunition, including 141 assorted weapons and 1,463 assorted ammunition.
These operations he said were conducted across the North East, North Central, and North West theaters of operation.
While giving the breakdown, Buba said, troops also recovered items which include one GPMG, one GT3 rifle, one assault rifle, 49 AK47 rifles, one Josef Magnum Pump Action gun, one double barrel gun and two single barrel guns.
Others are: nine locally made pistols, 13 dane guns, one hand grenade, seven locally made rifles, and two locally made hand grenades.
In the North East, he said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai on Nov. 17, apprehended three suspected terrorists collaborators in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe.
He added that the suspects claimed to have been coerced to go on the errand by terrorists elements.
Buba said a total of 108 terrorists and their families comprising 13 adult males, 32 adult females and 63 children surrendered to troops between Nov. 17 and Nov. 23 within the theater of operations.
He said the troops neutralised 19 terrorists, arrested 21 and rescued eight kidnapped victims within the week across the theatre.
In the North Central, Buba said the troops of Operation Safe Haven neutralised three terrorists, apprehended 32 and rescued eight kidnapped victims as well as recovered various types of arms and ammunition, amongst other items.
