Mariam Sanni
The Nigerian Defence Headquarters, DHQ has disclosed that 80militants has recently surrendered to troops of Operation UDO KA, while eight Cameroonian nationals were also rescued during cross-border patrol along Bakassi waterways.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael E. Onoja, made this known while briefing journalists in Abuja,.
He explained that the troops responded to distress calls on terrorists, sea pirate, militancy and other criminality activities across Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States.
He added that crime rate has drastically reduced in the region compared to past crime occurrence.
According to him, troops neutralized some terrorists, arrested twenty-two (22) of them and rescued eleven (11) kidnapped victims.
“Troops responded to distress calls on terrorists, sea pirate, militancy and other criminality activities across Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States. It is worthy to note that, over eighty (80) militants recently surrendered to troops, while eight (8) Cameroonian nationals were also rescued during cross-border patrol along Bakassi waterways.
“Arms and ammunition were recovered from them. Recovered weapons are in troops’ custody for further action,” he said.
According to him, in the North East, troops engaged Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province, and JAS terrorists across Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States, neutralizing several fighters, arresting 74 suspects, rescuing 40 kidnapped victims, and securing the surrender of 44 terrorists and their family members.
Air interdiction missions destroyed terrorist hideouts in the Tumbuns and Mandara Mountains and led to the elimination of senior ISWAP commanders.
The DDMO said operations in the North West, North Central, and areas covered by Operation Whirl Stroke resulted in the neutralization of terrorists, the arrest of more than 200 suspects, and the rescue of over 150 kidnapped victims, with arms, ammunition, vehicles, and rustled livestock recovered.
In the South South, troops destroyed 53 illegal refining sites and arrested 81 oil thieves, while in the South East, over 80 militants surrendered and crime rates declined significantly.
Major General Onoja reaffirmed the Armed Forces’ commitment to sustaining operations across all theatres and called on Nigerians to support security efforts by providing timely and credible information, reiterating the Chief of Defence Staff’s directive urging citizens to “see something, say something” in the collective effort to restore lasting peace and stability.
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