As a continuation of their efforts to put an end to insecurity in the country, the armed forces have neutralized 25 terrorists, while 377 of them and their relatives have surrendered in the last three weeks in the northeast.
The Director of Defense Means Operations, Defense Headquarters (DHQ), Major General Musa Danmadami, made it known at the fortnightly briefing held yesterday in Abuja.
Danmadami, who noted that Operation Hadin Kai troops, during the reporting period, conducted kinetic and non-kinetic operations in the mountains, villages in Borno State, Maiduguri Metropolis and some parts of Adamawa State with results Significantly, it also revealed that the troops also arrested 18 terrorists and rescued 47 adopted civilians, among other notable achievements in the area.
It also revealed that a large amount of weapons and ammunition, as well as cash, among other things, were also recovered from the terrorists.
He said: “Operation HADIN KAI troops have held and continue to dominate their general areas of operation. Operational activities were carried out in villages, forests, mountains, towns and cities in Bama, Gwoza, Konduga, Mafa, Monguno, Biu, Kukawa, Damboa, Ngala, Nganzai, Tarmuwa and Magumeri local government areas, as well as in the metropolitan city of Maiduguri of Borno state. .
“Operations were also carried out in the Nguru, Karasuwa and Gujba local government areas of Yobe state, as well as the Madagali and Song local government areas of Adamawa state in the north-eastern region of the country, aimed at denying Boko Haram/Islamic State terrorists from West Africa province. and its other criminal elements freedom of action and restoration of normality in the area.
“Between December 23 and 30, 2022, troops on combat patrols ambushed Boko Haram/ISIS West African Province terrorists at different locations within the theater of operations. During the encounter with the terrorists in the village of Kwatara in the Gwoza Local Government Area of ​​Borno State, after firefighting troops neutralized five terrorists, while their administrative leader in Guduf, identified as Umate Usman , was captured with gunshot wounds.
“The troops also had a meeting with terrorists near their deployment in Ngoshe in the Gwoza local government area. During the confrontation, the troops neutralized five terrorists while others fled. Troops recovered an AK-47 rifle, 20 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 10 rounds of 7.62mm special locally manufactured ammunition, 10 reloaded ammunition, two hand grenades, among other items.
“Similarly, troops made contact with terrorists along Gamboru-Logomani in the Ngala local government area. During the encounter, the troop neutralized 3 terrorists while others fled with gunshot wounds. The troops exploited the area and recovered two AK-47 rifles, one FN rifle, one RPG cannon and bomb, 94 rounds of 7.62 mm NATO belted, 66 rounds of 7.62 mm special, 30 rounds of 5.56 ammunition mm and six motorcycles.
“Furthermore, following an encounter with terrorists in the Bulge village in the Konduga local government area of ​​Borno state, troops neutralized four terrorists while others fled. Troops recovered two PKT machine guns, two FN rifles, 15 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, and a belt link containing 60 rounds of 7.62x51mm ammunition.
“In addition, the troops also met with terrorists while on patrol in Ngalzama village in Gujba local government area of ​​Yobe state and Hymbula in Madagali local government area of ​​Adamawa state. During these encounters the troops neutralized seven terrorists while others fled in disorder. The troops raided the general areas and recovered 4 locally made AK-47 rifles and 20 7.62mm special cartridges.
“Furthermore, on December 28, 2022, troops acting as human intelligence carried out a cordon and search operation at a suspected POL storage point for Boko Haram/Islamic State terrorists from West Africa Province in the city of Gamboru in the Ngala Local Government Area of ​​Borno State. During the operation, the troops recovered 19 Automotive Gas Oil drums and five Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) drums.
“In addition, on January 2, 2023, troops acted on credible information and raided Major Ali’s village in Gwoza Local Government Area in Borno State. During the operations, the kidnappers fled upon sighting the troops, so the troops rescued 35 kidnapped civilians, of whom seven were adult men, 12 adult women, and 16 children.
“Cumulatively, in the past three weeks, troops recovered 21 AK-47 rifles, four FN rifles, three locally made pump-action pistols, five locally made pistols, three PKT machine guns, 124 7.62mm NATO rounds, 139 7.62mm Special rounds, 29 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, 140mm bomb, one 81mm UXO mortar bomb, three RPG tubes and bombs, 5 x 36 hand grenades, five Dane pistols and five FN chargers.
“Other items recovered are 19 automotive Gas Oil drums, five Premium Motor Spirit drums, 10 bags of assorted grains, 10 boxes of soft drinks, 150 pieces of used clothing, 50 pieces of women’s fabrics, 50 children’s clothing, 30 pairs of women’s shoes, textile material, medical material, 21 motorcycles, 16 bicycles, 2 grinders, a tanker loaded with Premium Motor Spirit, 30 cattle, the sum of N938,580.00 and other miscellaneous items.
“The troops also neutralized 25 terrorists, arrested 18 terrorists and 21 terrorist logistics providers, two foreign terrorist informants and five hijackers. Troops also rescued 47 kidnapped civilians, while a total of 377 Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists and their family members, including 52 adult men, 126 adult women and 199 children, surrendered to the troops in different places within the theaters of operations. .
“All items recovered, criminals arrested; the rescued civilians have been handed over to the appropriate authority for further action, while the captured and surrendered terrorists from Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province and their relatives are being profiled for further action.
“Similarly, the air component of Operation HADIN KAI carried out a series of air interdiction operations at terrorist hideouts, enclaves and camps. In particular, on December 22, 2022, an air interdiction operation was carried out on terrorist enclaves in Suwa, ArinaWoje and Amchile in the Marte Local Government Area of ​​Borno State. Battle damage assessment revealed that several terrorists were neutralized with their structures destroyed in the attacks.”
It added: “In a related development, the air component of Operation HADIN KAI conducted an air interdiction operation in Mazuri in the southern Lake Chad and Gabchari region located in the Gazuwa area of ​​Borno State on January 7, 2023. The aerial interdiction operation was carried out on the basis of credible intelligence which revealed that a good number of terrorists had moved into the area following the recent flooding of Tunbuns on the lake and the ongoing infighting between the terrorist factions.
“Consequently, the place was bombed and the comments revealed that dozens of terrorists were neutralized with their entire structure destroyed. A similar operation was also carried out in Gabchari, located in the Gezuwa area, after receiving credible information that the location was a Boko Haram hideout. The information revealed that some terrorists who survived the airstrikes in Mantari on December 20, 2022 were receiving medical treatment at the scene. Consequently, the site was also bombarded with confirmed information that several of the terrorists were neutralized in the attacks while their facilities were also destroyed.”
Danmadami stressed that the troops have also made significant achievements in the fight against insecurity in the central-north, northwest, south-south and southeast areas of the country.
He conveyed the military high command’s praise for the efforts of the troops in the various theaters of operations across the country, urging them to leave no stone unturned to ensure that insecurity is put to an end in the country’s troubled areas.
He also praised the general public for their support of the Armed Forces and other security agencies, while urging them to continue to cooperate with the armed forces by providing prompt and credible information leading to the defeat of the insurgency and various other security challenges. in the country. .