The Defence Headquarters has disclosed that Nigerian troops killed no fewer than 156 terrorists and bandits in the past week while 464 suspects were arrested during various operations across the country.
This was revealed by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, during a press briefing in Abuja. According to him, troops also rescued 181 kidnapped hostages and apprehended 29 individuals involved in oil theft.
“In the South-South region, our troops denied oil thieves access to stolen crude worth an estimated N623.4 million. Additionally, they discovered and destroyed 48 crude oil cooking ovens, 10 dugout pits, 56 storage tanks, and 46 illegal refining sites,” Buba said.
Troops also recovered 219 assorted weapons and 2,871 rounds of ammunition, including General-Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), AK-47 rifles, fabricated rifles, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), RPG bombs, and grenades. Other seized items included vehicles, motorcycles, communication devices, and substantial quantities of stolen crude oil and refined products.
Major General Buba highlighted that the military remains resolute in its mission to dismantle insurgency and terrorism, particularly in the North-East and North-West, where foreign fighters infiltrating from the Sahel region have intensified threats.
“While we may face occasional tactical setbacks, which are expected in any theatre of war, our strategic objective of breaking the terrorists’ will to fight remains firm and unhindered,” he emphasized.
He urged Nigerians to prioritize security as a collective responsibility, stating, “Citizens must not compromise on security because when security is compromised, it affects everyone.”
Buba concluded by reaffirming the military’s commitment to ensuring peace and stability, noting that the sacrifices of fallen heroes during the Armed Forces Remembrance Day serve as a reminder of the ongoing fight for a safer nation.