Troops eliminate more than 60 terrorists and apprehend more than 50 in the north-west and north-central

The Defense Headquarters says that the armed forces have, in the past three weeks, eliminated more than 60 terrorists and bandits in the north-west and north-central part of the country.

Director of Defense Media Operations, Musa Danmadami, a Major General, made this clear while providing an update on military operations on Thursday in Abuja.

Mr. Danmadami said the troops also apprehended more than 50 terrorists and their collaborators and rescued 27 kidnapped victims in various operations during the period.

He said Operation Hadarin Daji troops in the northwest had supported operational activities through combat patrols, raids and clearance operations in bandit enclaves in the states of Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara and Kaduna.

He said that on December 3, troops neutralized five terrorists while others fled during combat patrols in Ungawan Babale and Rafin Sarki in Giwa Local Government Area in Kaduna State .

The defense spokesman said troops also apprehended a suspected arms dealer who was on a wanted list at a gas station as he was refueling his car in the area from Ja'ama of the State.

According to him, five AK47 rifles, 4,000 rounds of special 7.6 mm ammunition concealed in a bag, four magazines, a tear gas cartridge and knives were recovered from him.

"As a result, during the weeks under review, troops recovered seven AK47 rifles, one baretta pistol, one locally-made rifle, three locally-made pistols, and four locally-made rifles.

“Also recovered were 55 motorbikes, seven unhitched motorbikes, 13 mobile phones and 820 stolen cattle as well as a sum of 2.3 million naira.

“Troops also neutralized 27 terrorists, arrested 36 suspected terrorists and rescued 35 abducted civilians,” he said.

Mr. Danmadami said the air component of Operation Whirl Punch carried out an airstrike against identified hideouts of terrorists in Giwa Local Government Area, Kaduna State, killing dozens of terrorists.

He said reactions after the bombing confirmed that seven main terrorists who were on the wanted list had been neutralized.

According to him, Jibrin Gurgu, Isah Jauro and Tambuwal of Zamfara as well as Noti, Bala, Yunusa and Burti who were on the security officers' watch lists were all neutralized along with their infantrymen.

READ ALSO: Nigerian Army Kills 103 Terrorists in North East - Official

In the center-north, Danmadami said troops have also maintained a crackdown on terrorists and other criminal elements.

He said that the air component of Operation Safe Haven on December 3 conducted an air interdiction operation at identified bandit hideouts in Odare, Magama Forests and the general area of ​​Zurak from Kampani village in Wase Local Government Area in Plateau State.

According to him, seven motorcycles, each ridden by three bandits, were seen trying to get away but were bombed.

He said the comments confirmed that the bandits had suffered serious casualties, as it was confirmed that they had all been neutralized in the airstrikes.

(NAN)

Support PREMIUM TIMES Onboarding Journalism...