By Ferenmi Potoki
Nigerian forces on duty throughout the nation have killed 177 terrorists, captured 263 more, and freed 158 hostages who were abducted in the past week, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, Director of Defense Media Operations, stated in a statement on Friday in Abuja.
During the operation, the troops also found 170 different weapons and 4,692 different types of ammunition. Among these were six PKT guns, 63 AK47 rifles, three FN rifles, one SMG rifle, 29 locally made guns and 37 dane guns.
According to Buba, a total of 2,100 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 1,239 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, 419 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammunition, 212 rounds of 5.56 x 54mm ammunition, and 722 live cartridges were found.
Along with other items, he added that 17 vehicles, 43 motorcycles, 31 cell phones, 74 AK47 magazines, two FN magazines, six baofeng radios, and 13 empty cases of 7.62mm ammunition were also found.
The Defense spokesperson provided additional information about the operation, stating that within a week, troops from Operation Hadin Kai in the Northeast had neutralized 64 terrorists, detained 55 suspects, and freed 29 hostages who had been kidnapped.
According to him, a number of weapons and ammunition caches were found, and 751 terrorist fighters from the BH/ISWAP/JAS, along with their families, turned themselves in to the military forces stationed throughout the theater.
According to Buba, Operation Hadarin Daji’s soldiers in the North West were able to neutralize 52 terrorists, apprehend 41 others, free 49 hostages who had been kidnapped, and recover multiple arms caches.
He said that during the course of the week, the forces of Operation Whirl Punch had neutralized 19 terrorists, taken 20 people into custody, and freed ten hostages who had been kidnapped.
According to Buba, operation Actsis maintaini troops in the South-South have managed to free 41 hostages who had been kidnapped and apprehend those responsible for oil theft.
“Other items recovered include 58 cooking ovens, 17 vehicles, one pumping machine, 5 mobile phones as well as one million litres of stolen crude oil and 141,664 litres of illegally refined AGO,” he said.
He claims that soldiers are going up against the terrorists and are making great progress every day.
“Much is being done, however, we are focussed on doing much more to address the security situation and safeguard citizens,” he said.