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Nigeria’s defence spokesman claims troops killed 8,034 suspected terrorists in 11 months
The Defence Headquarters claimed on Thursday that troops to theatres of operations have killed 8,034 suspected terrorists in the last 11 months.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the operations of the military in Abuja.
He said the troops arrested 11,623 suspects and rescued 6,376 hostages between January and December.
Buba said the troops had since the beginning of the year been confronted by different threats in five active theatres of operations across the country.
He added that the troops adopted a high level of alert and an increased state of readiness to protect the country from further terrorist aggression and insecurity.
According to the spokesman, the troops also recovered 8,216 weapons, and 211,459 ammunition and denied the oil thieves an estimated sum of over N57 billion during the period.
Buba said: “The breakdown of the recoveries includes 4,053 AK47 rifles, 1,123 locally fabricated guns, 731 Dane guns and 240 pump action guns.
“Others are 120,247 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 41,515 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 5,373 cartridges, 1,940 assorted arms and 25,664 assorted ammunitions.
READ ALSO: Nigerian troops eliminate 88 terrorists, arrest 228 suspects in major crackdown
“Additionally, the troops recovered 53.1 million litres of stolen crude oil, 9.1 million litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and 90,595 litres of DPK and 156,095 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) aside from other items.
In the North-East, troops of Operation Hadin Kai neutralised 2,918 terrorists, apprehended 2,285 suspects and rescued 1,496 hostages within the period under review. Also, 15,950 Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists combatants and their families surrendered during the period.
“In the North-Central, the troops of Operation Safe Haven, neutralised 411 violent extremists, arrested 1,859 and rescued 927 kidnapped hostages as well as arms and ammunition.
“Under Operation Whirl Stroke, the troops neutralised 583 terrorists, arrested 916 suspects rescued 649 kidnapped hostages and recovered a cache of arms.
“In the North-West, the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji neutralised 2,646 terrorists, arrested 1,654 suspects and rescued 2,339 kidnapped hostages.
“Under Operation Whirl Punch, they neutralised 732 terrorists, apprehended 1,842 suspects and rescued 569 kidnap hostages.”
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