The Nigerian Defence Headquarters has declared that the fighting force of the Boko Haram Islamic group that has been greatly depleted through recent air and land offensives mounted on it.
This declaration was made by Acting Director Defence Media Operations, Brigadier-General Bernard Onyeuko, at this week’s edition of the bi-weekly media briefing at the Defence Headquarters, in Abuja.
General Onyeuko recounted a string of recent successes recorded by the military against the Islamic group that has waged a war in Nigeria’s northeast since 2009.
According to the general, at least 1,000 terrorists and their families have surrendered to troops at different locations in the Northeast as a result of intensified land and air bombardment of the terrorists’ enclaves.
Onyeuko declared that the military undertook different kinetic operations against the actions of terrorists, armed bandits and other criminal elements, and also frustrated their ability to move arms and other illegal items.
A total of 80 insurgents were arrested, while 51 were neutralised and 30 kidnap victims rescued in the last two weeks, he said. Also, a cache of arms and ammunition was also recovered within the time under review, he added.
“In the last two weeks, considerable achievements were recorded in the various theatres of operation. However, this brief is a summary of our operational effort in the various theatres that yielded significant results from 29 July to 12 August 202,” Onyeuko said.
“The Headquarters of Operation HADIN KAI has intensified its operations in the North East theatre. The intensity of these operations has yielded tremendous results as evidenced in the number of casualties and massive surrender of terrorists in Buni Yari, Gorgore, Baga and Monguno Towns as well as Maiduguri – Baga Road, Maiduguri – Damboa Road and Bula Yobe – Darel Jamel Road. Operations were also carried out at Kayamri and Mairari villages as well as Monguno and Kukawa Towns, all in Borno State.
“Cumulatively, the operations led to the neutralization of 27 BHT/ISWAP fighters, arrest of 51 BHT/ISWAP terrorists, 3 terrorists’ collaborators as well as recovery of 35 assorted arms and 1,051 round of ammunition including AK-47 and FN rifles, Dushka anti-aircraft guns, GPMG, PKT guns, 60mm mortar tubes, Makarov pistol and other machine guns, amongst other items. In addition, 29 abducted civilians were rescued within the period under review. Gentlemen no fewer than 1,000 terrorists and their families comprising adult females and children surrendered to own troops at different locations in the North East.
“Notable among them are the notorious BHT bomb expert named, Musa Adamu, aka Mala Musa Abuja, and his deputy, Usman Adamu, aka Abu Darda. This has in no small measure depleted the BHT fighting force. OPERATION HADARIN DAJI3. On 31 July 2021, there were distress calls from locals, on cattle rustling and kidnapping incidents and armed bandits’ attacks on farmers, at Bagida village in Sokoto State; Shinkafi in Zamfara State and Maigora, Falale and Ungwan Dudu villages as well as Kankara – Katsina Road in Katsina State.
“In all incidents, troops repelled the criminals, rescued farmers and kidnapped victims as well as recovered arms, ammunition and some livestock, while some criminal elements were arrested. Cumulatively, a total of 89 livestock, 5 AK-47 rifles, 3 rounds of 9mm ball and 48 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition were recovered and 4 kidnap victims rescued.
“Also, two notorious cattle rustlers named, Mallam Buda Umar from Niger Republic and Mai Hatsi Ibrahim from Gada LGA of Sokoto State as well as 4 armed bandits and drug peddlers were arrested. Furthermore, between 2 and 6 August 2021, the Air Component of Operation HADARIN DAJI, carried out intensive airstrikes on bandits’ hideouts at the South of Dansadau Town; North of Kwiambana Forest Reserves as well as North of Sububu Forest and Dudufi village under Faru District in Maradun LGA, all in Zamfara State”.
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