The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) claimed on Friday troops deployed to the theatre of operations killed 159 suspected terrorists in the last one week.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the operations of the armed forces in Abuja.
He said the troops arrested 174 others and rescued 188 hostages during the period.
He added that the troops also apprehended 45 suspected oil thieves and recovered 151 assorted weapons and 12,401 assorted ammunition in the operations.
The spokesman stressed that the armed forces had taken resolute steps towards ending terrorism and insecurity in the country through ongoing operations.
Buba noted that the operations were yielding the desired results as troops dismantled terrorist networks and decimated their leadership and combatants with several of the terrorist leaders and commanders killed from the battlefield.
He said: “Furthermore, troops are strategically deployed to ensure that the off-cycle Governorship election scheduled for September 21 in Edo is violence-free, fair and credible.
“Troops’ role is to support the police to ensure voters safety and security to thwart the activities of those elements bent on fomenting crisis during the elections.
“Our operations against the terrorist and violent extremists remain aimed at providing security and stability for the nation and citizens.
“Troops will therefore continue to be relentless in pursuit of ending all forms of insecurity across the country.
“In the North-East, troops of Operation Hadin Kai neutralised 46 terrorists, apprehended 41 suspects and rescued 48 kidnapped hostages, as well as recovered of large cache of arms and ammunition.
“A total of 76 terrorists comprising nine adult males, 28 adult females and 39 children surrendered to troops within the theatre between September 11 and September 17 September.
“The air component of Operation Hadin Kai conducted air interdiction on suspected ISWAP/JAS terrorists’ enclave in Southern Tumbun of Borno, neutralising several terrorists and destroying their logistics.
“In the North-Central, troops of Operations Safe Haven and Whirl Stroke neutralised 15 violent extremists, arrested 18 violent extremists and rescued 64 kidnapped hostages with the recovery of several caches of arms.
“In the North-West, troops of Operation Hadarin Daji neutralised 73 terrorists, nabbed 23 terrorists and rescued 54 kidnapped hostages, as well as recovered large cache of arms.
“The air component conducted air interdictions on terrorists’ kingpin Gambo’s Enclave in Gusau Local Government Area and Bello Turji’s hideout in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara within the week.”
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