The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has reported that a total of 6,260 terrorists have been neutralized and 14,138 others, including various criminals, have been apprehended through joint military operations conducted nationwide over the past two years. This was revealed by the Deputy Director of Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Ibrahim Abu-Mawashi, during an Expanded Media Parley held in Abuja on Thursday. The briefing was part of the activities marking two years in office for the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, and other top service chiefs.
Abu-Mawashi detailed that the armed forces, during the same period, successfully rescued 5,365 individuals who had been kidnapped. In addition, a significant volume of arms and ammunition was recovered through coordinated operations across all regions of the country.
Breaking down the regional impact, he explained that troops under Operation Delta Safe in the Niger Delta recovered stolen crude oil worth approximately N83 billion. In the same region, 103 criminals were killed, 2,760 suspects arrested, and 266 kidnapped individuals rescued.
In the North-East, Operation Hadin Kai forces recorded the elimination of 1,246 terrorists associated with Boko Haram and ISWAP, arrested 2,467 others, rescued 1,920 civilians, and seized 982 firearms and over 2,100 rounds of ammunition.
In the North-West, troops under Operation Fasin Yamma killed 1,374 bandits, including high-profile leaders, apprehended 2,160 suspects, and freed 3,288 hostages. They also recovered 947 weapons and over 25,800 rounds of ammunition.
Operations in the North-Central led to the deaths of 730 terrorists and extremists, the arrest of 7,153 suspects, the rescue of 1,510 civilians, and the recovery of 1,065 weapons and nearly 20,000 rounds of ammunition.
In the South-East, troops under Operation UDO KA neutralized 440 terrorists, arrested 1,677 criminals, rescued 294 civilians, and seized 683 weapons and more than 21,000 rounds of ammunition.
Meanwhile, the South-West Joint Task Force eliminated 80 criminals, arrested 1,763, and rescued 89 kidnap victims, along with seizing 143 weapons and over 177,000 rounds of ammunition.
Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, described the event as a landmark occasion, underscoring the military’s commitment to tackling Nigeria’s evolving security challenges. He noted that the parley reflected the CDS’s people-focused leadership style and emphasized the military’s dedication to keeping the public well-informed about their activities and sacrifices.