Olayiwola Matthew
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has revealed that 450 terrorists were eliminated and 180 kidnap victims were rescued during military operations in September.
The development was made public in a statement signed by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen Markus Kangye, on Saturday.
Kangye also disclosed that 39 terrorists repented and submitted various calibers of weapons and ammunition from the insurgents last month.
Kangye said the operations were executed under different joint task forces, including Operation Hadin Kai, Operation Fansan Yamma, Operation Enduring Peace, Operation Whirl Stroke, Operation Delta Safe, and Operation Udo Ka.
According to the defence spokesman, troops recovered 63 assorted arms, 4,475 rounds of ammunition, and 294 items, including grenades, improvised explosive device materials, motorcycles, vehicles and handheld radios.
In addition, the spokesperson said N112,175,220 worth of crude oil was recovered by troops of Operation Delta Safe while 41 illegal refining sites were destroyed.
He said, “The Armed Forces remain committed to transparency, accountability, and the lawful execution of all missions in accordance with international and domestic rules of engagement.”
The defence spokesman reaffirmed the military’s commitment to protect civilians, while also ensuring the safety and welfare of personnel.