Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, has reiterated the unwavering commitment of the Nigerian Armed Forces in the ongoing counter-terrorism efforts as the new year unfolds.
Briefing the Press on the ongoing military operations in the country on Thursday [today] in Abuja, Buba asserted that, “Our aim is to find and destroy the terrorists wherever they may be hiding, ensuring their enduring defeat and denying them the ability to terrorize or harm citizens across the country”.
He charged the Nigerian troops, saying “No gree for terrorists,’ until the victory in the counter-terrorism war is secured.
Highlighting recent achievements, he disclosed, “In the past week, our troops focused on striking terrorist enclaves through air attacks and exerted significant military power on areas where the terrorists were hibernating.”
The operations, according to the General, yielded substantial results, with 86 terrorists neutralized, and 101 arrested.
He added that 30 perpetrators involved in oil theft were apprehended, and 21 kidnapped hostages were successfully rescued.
“In the SS region, troops thwarted oil theft attempts, preventing the loss of an estimated sum of Seven Hundred and Thirty-Six Million One Hundred and Fifteen Thousand Four Hundred and Seventy Naira (N736,115,470.00),” Major General Buba disclosed.
The armed forces also seized a significant cache of weapons, including 65 AK47 rifles, one HK G3 dun, one G3 rifle, 8 locally fabricated guns, 15 dane guns, 2 fabricated rifles, one locally made pistol, one English pistol, one pump-action gun, 2 auto pump-action guns, and 2 single barrel guns.
“Furthermore, 111 assorted weapons and 1,124 assorted ammunition were recovered, comprising various rounds and live cartridges, along with 5 vehicles, 29 motorcycles, 6 bicycles, mobile phones, and one GTA radio, among other items,” he added.
Troops operating in the Niger Delta area made substantial strides by discovering and destroying 37 dugout pits, 65 boats, 71 storage tanks, and 14 vehicles.
Additionally, 108 cooking ovens, 4 pump machines, one speedboat, and 60 illegal refining sites were dismantled. Notably, 1,013,530 litres of stolen crude oil, 299,169 litres of illegally refined AGO, and 3,158 litres of DPK were recovered.
“Our operations clearly indicate that we are targeting terrorist commanders and their senior leadership. From their topmost leadership to the lowest commanders, they are dead men walking, and we will stop at nothing until they are either eliminated or surrender,” affirmed Major General Buba.
