The Defence Headquarters said on Thursday that troops operating in the various theaters in the 6 geo-political zones of Nigeria continue to make huge recoveries of arms and ammunition from insurgents and criminals.
Director of Defence Media Operations, DMO, Major General Musa Danmadami who made this disclosure in Abuja during the bi-weekly press briefing . He said that 510 Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists and members of their families surrendered to troops in the North East alone within the past two weeks.
According to him, the huge recoveries include 16 AK47 rifles, 15 dane guns, 6 QJC 88 AA guns, 1 QJC 88 barrel, 1 SMG, 2 DSHKAA guns, 2 NSVT AA guns, 1 GMPG, 1 pump action gun, 2 local made double barrel gun, 1 local made short gun, 51 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition, 26 rounds of 12.7 x 108mm, 280 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 16 refilled rounds of 7.62mm NATO.
Also recovered from the terrorists are: “1 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 74 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 77 rounds of 7.62 x 51mm ammo, 182 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammunition, 15 empty cases of 7.62mm special, 14 empty cases 155mm ammunition, 46 assorted bullets, 4 Improvised Explosive Devices, and 48 AK47 rifles magazines.”
Other items include, “1 SMG magazine, 33 snipper rifle magazines, 4 extra GPMG barrels, several UXO to be used for IEDs, 7 x 122mm bombs, 3 x 120mm bombs, 3 x 105mm bombs, 2 x 155mm bombs, 1 x 105mm APF SDS bomb, 2 x 36 hand grenades and 8 metal pressure plate amongst others.”
Major General Danmadami said that troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation HADIN KAI in North East Zone of the country who made the recovery also neutralised a total of 40 terrorists, arrested 25 terrorists and 8 terrorist’s logistics suppliers during the various encounters,
“Troops also rescued 131 abducted civilians while a total of 510 Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists and members of their families, comprising 54 adult male, 164 adult female and 292 children surrendered to troops at different locations within the theatre of operations.”
He said that all recovered items and apprehended suspects have been handed over to the relevant authority further action while the rescued terrorists escapees and members of the their families were profiled and given medical attention.
The surrendered terrorists and members of their families are also been profile for further action.
Troops Operational activities were conducted in villages, forest, mountains, towns and cities of Gwoza, Bama, Biu, Kukawa, Monguno, Marte, Damboa, Mobbar and Konduga Local Government Areas of Borno State.
Similar military operational activities were also conducted in Michika and Madagali Local Government Areas of Adamawa State as well as Damaturu Local Government Area in Yobe State.
Troops continue to carry out several raids, fighting patrols and ambushes operations in efforts to curb the activities of terrorists and other criminal elements within the Joint Area of Operations.
In same vein, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN in North Central Zone conducted raid operations in bandits hide out within Nasarawa Egom Local Government Area of Nasarawa State and Iwilli village in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State and had encounters with the terrorists.
According to the military, “following a fire fight, troops neutralized 1 terrorist and arrested 9. Troops exploited the camps and recovered 1 AK47 rifle, 2 locally fabricated rifles, 1 locally made revolver rifle loaded with 7 rounds of 7.62mm special, 1 dane gun, 11 rounds of 7.62mm special, 3 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 1 AK47 rifle butt, 4 rounds 7.62mm special ammunition empty cases, 4 cartridges, 3 jack knives, 5 cutlasses, 5 motorcycles, 2 mobile phones and the sum of N1,130,090.00 only.
Troops carry on with fighting patrols into the terrorist camps in Ugba-Gbagir and Guma Local Government Areas of Benue State and neutralized 4 terrorists, arrested 1 and rescued 3 kidnapped civilians.
He said that 1 AK47 rifle, 2 AK47 magazines, 1 locally fabricated pistols, 1 fabricated wooden dummy gun, 40 rounds of 7.62mm special, 5 cutlasses, 3 mobile phones, 2 motorcycles and the sum of N14,625.00.