From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said its troops have killed a notorious terrorist commander, Munzur Ya Audu in North East and 114 others through well executed operations across the country.
The soldiers also arrested 51 suspected oil thieves, destroyed 56 illegal refining sites and rescued 138 kidnapped hostages.
Director, Defence Media Operations(DMO), Major General Edward Buba, at a media briefing on update of military and security agencies operations conducted across the country in the last one week, said during the period, troops recovered 145 assorted weapons and 3,825 assorted ammunition.
He said the ammunition comprised one GPMG, two PKT guns, 68 AK47 rifles, two AK56 rifles, 24 fabricated rifles, 28 dane guns, one fabricated revolver pistol, six locally made pistols, one pistol, eight pump action guns, one hand grenade, four fabricated hand grenades, one RPG bomb and three explosives.
Buba said serious efforts had been emplaced to dismantle the capabilities as well as destroy the networks of the terror groups.
He added that troops were also actively targeting terrorist logistics bases and other structures that had affiliation to terror groups.
According to him ,In the North East,the troops of Operation Hadin Kai, neutralised 61 terrorists, apprehended 34 suspects and rescued 32 kidnapped hostages within the week.
In the North Central, he said troops of Operations Safe Haven and Whirl Stroke, neutralised 18 violent extremists, nabbed 48 persons and rescued 48 kidnapped hostages.
In the North West, he said the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji, neutralised 28 terrorists, apprehended 77 persons and rescued 57 kidnapped hostages.
Buba said the Air Component conducted air interdiction on the hibernating of terrorists at notorious terrorist kingpin’s Sadiku’s and Sola’s in Safana and Batsari areas of Katsina State.
“The air component acquired and engaged with rockets and bombs. Battle Damage Assessment revealed that several terrorists were eliminated and their structures were destroyed.
“Similarly, on November 11 and 13, the air component conducted air interdiction on terrorist enclaves in Shinkafi and Zurmi LGAs of Zamfara, killing several terrorists and destroyed their logistics,’’ he said.
In the South East, Buba said the troops of Operation UDO KA neutralised six terrorists, apprehended 13 violent extremists and rescued one kidnapped hostage during the week.