Troops neutralise 109 terrorists, arrest 81 others

From Molly Kilete, Abuja

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), has said soldiers fighting the counter insurgency war and other internal security operations across the country killed 108 terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and arrested 81 other criminals in the last one week.

The Director, Defence Media Operations (DMO), Major General Edward Buba, who made this known, said the troops arrested six perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 43 kidnapped hostages.  The troops also discovered and destroyed 10 illegal refining sites, 10 crude oil cooking ovens, 10 dugout pits, 12 boats and four storage tanks.

He said that military operations against crude oil theft denied the oil theft worth over N618 million.

Gen. Buba, in a statement, said the armed forces remains focused and is continuing its counter-insurgency campaign against terrorists and their cohorts operating across the country.  He said: “During the week under review, troops neutralised 109 and arrested 81 persons.

“In addition, troops arrested six perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 43 kidnapped hostages.

“In the SS, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of N618, 756,470.00 only.

“Furthermore, troops recovered 21 assorted weapons and 124 assorted ammunition. The breakdown as follows: Nine AK47 rifles, five fabricated rifles, four dane guns, three locally made pistols, seven magazines, 97 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 22 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, five live cartridges, three baofeng radios, four vehicles, six motorcycles and four mobile phones amongst other items.

“Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 10 crude oil cooking ovens, 10 dugout pits, 12 boats, four storage tanks and 10 illegal refining sites.

“Other items recovered include three pumping machines, 12 speedboats, 20 drums, two motorcycles, one mobile phone and four vehicles among others.”