The Defence Headquarters said no fewer than 130 Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa State Province (ISWAP) terrorists have been neutralized by troops in recent weeks. Addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, the Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.Gen. Musa Danmadami, the troops of Operations Hadin Kai and Hadarin Daji killed the terrorist at separate destinations in the North-East and North-West, adding that the troops apprehended four terrorist commanders and 12 logistics suppliers. He also said that 423 insurgents and members of their families comprising 41 males, 126 females and 222 children surrendered to troops.
He said, “Cumulatively, within the weeks in focus, troops recovered 20 AK47 rifles, two G3 rifles, five FN rifles, two QJC guns, one gun truck, 2,411 rounds of 7.62mm special. 143 belted rounds of 7.62mm NATO, one Barretta pistol, 26 Ak47 magazines, four bandoliers, 4 x 36 hand grenades, 1 x 42 hand grenade, one RPG tube, one HEAP bomb, one HEAT bomb, and mortor tube, two mortar tripod stands and a 60mm mortar bomb.
“Other items recovered are 33 motorcycles, 33 bicycles, medical suppliers, 50 pieces of males and females fabrics, bags of grains, jerry cans of groundnut oil, cartons of detergents, the sum of N291,060 and other sundry items.”
The defence spokesman revealed further that troops in conjunction with other security agencies raided Karamajiji and Lugbe areas in Abuja Municipal Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory to rid the areas of criminals.
According to him, during the operations, the team intercepted 429 motorcycles, adding that, “The motorcycles were subsequently crushed the same day in an open field at Lugbe in the presence of all participating security agencies.
“Equally, on December 16, 2022, troops in conjunction with other security agencies conducted fighting patrol to Kassanki village in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory and arrested five suspected kidnappers in their hideout.”