From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Friday, said troops on counter insurgency operations and other security operations across the country killed 188 terrorists and arrested others in one week.
The DHQ also reiterated the resolve of the armed forces to decisively deal with terrorists, stop the insecurity and ensure the safety of citizens.
The Director, Defence Media Operations (DMO), Major General Edward Buba, made this known in a statement issued in Abuja, on update on military operations conducted across the country in the last one week.
Gen. Buba stated that within the period under review, troops arrested 36 oil thieves, rescued 133 kidnapped hostages and denied the oil theft of an estimated sum of over N600 million.
He said: “Furthermore, troops recovered 270 assorted weapons and 5,083 assorted ammunition. The breakdown is as follows: 122 AK47 rifles, 47 locally fabricated guns, 47 dane guns, 24 automatic pump action guns, eight locally fabricated pistols, two locally made single barrel guns, one double barrel gun, one hand grenade and one IED.
“Others are: 2,129 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo; 1,686 rounds of 7.62mm NATO; 116 rounds of 9mm ammo, 133 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ball ammo, 151 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammo, 619 live cartridges, 34 magazines, eight HH radios, eight vehicles, 40 motorcycles, six bicycles, 50 mobile phones and the sum of N610, 210.00 amongst other items.
“Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 51 dugout pits, 24 boats, 21 storage tanks and four vehicles. Other items recovered included, 28 cooking ovens and 21 illegal refining sites. Troops also recovered 672,350 litres of stolen crude oil and 90,530 litres of illegally refined AGO.
“The military is in a good and strong position in the war against terrorist with many terrorist leaders killed. We will continue to provide security for citizens with the tools at our disposal.”