Troops eliminate 44 terrorists, apprehend 50 in N/E, NW

Troops of Operations Hadin Kai and Hadarin Daji have eliminated no fewer than 44 terrorists and apprehended over 50 in North East and North West in the last two week, the Defence Headquarters says.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami, made this known at a bi-weekly news briefing on the operations of the armed forces, on Thursday in Abuja.

In the North East, Danmadami said troops of operation Hadin Kai had between Oct. 20 and Nov. 2 apprehended 27 suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists and neutralised 19.

Danmadami added that the troops recovered large cache of arms and ammunition of different categories as well as other logistics supplies during the period.

According to him, the air component had on Oct. 21 conducted air interdiction mission on a terrorist convoy movement along Tunbum Aliyu, near Lake Chad, a terrorist location Southwest of Maiduguri.

He said the strikes eliminated several terrorists as well as seven gun trucks and other materials.

“Similarly, based on credible intelligence of terrorist hibernating in enclaves in Abulum and Njibul near Sambisa forest, the air component struck the locations simultaneously and eliminated scores of terrorists while the injured ones were observed to be have scampered for safety.

“Also, troops in conjunction with Civilian Joint Task Force on Oct. 22, nabbed one suspect in possession of 67 Permanent Voter Cards at an IDPs Camp in Shuwari town in Maiduguri Municipal Council of Borno.

“Also, in the same camp, a known terrorist, Lawan Yashin, who attempted to escape upon sighting troops was neutralised.

“During the period in focus, a total of 145 Boko Haram Terrorists and their families comprising 30 adult males, 33 adult females and 82 children surrendered to troops at different locations within the North East theatre of operation,” Danmadami said.

In North West, the defence spokesman said troops of operations Hadarin Daji and Whirl Punch neutralised 25 terrorists, arrested 18 and rescued 19 civilians in different operations.

Danmadami said the troops also recovered large cache of arms and ammunition of different calibre as well as 441 rustled cattle.

“Notably, troops of Operation WHIRL PUNCH on 23 October 2022 responded to the presence of terrorist at Abasia-Amala villages, east of Polewire and Maidaro villages in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State and made contact with the terrorist.

“During the encounter, troops neutralized 2 terrorists, recovered 1 AK47 rifle, 2 magazines containing 38 rounds of 7.62mm special, 14 mobile phones, one Dane gun, 2 Baofeng radio as well as 11 motorcycles which were destroyed”.

He added that the troops on Oct. 24, made contact with terrorist along Buruku-Angwan Yako-Udawa road in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State and rescued 10 civilians and recovered three vehicles.

The defence spokesman said the troops also neutralised two bandits and rescued nine kidnapped victims at Faskari in Katsina State and Anka in Zamfara.

“On the same day, based on credible information on Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist activities at Dumburum forest west of Kwari village in Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State, the air component of Hadarin Daji carried out air bombardment at the identified terrorists location.

“Feedback of the air strike revealed that scores of terrorists were neutralized with others badly injured following the air strike,” he added.