By Mariam Sanni
Defence Headquarters, DHQ has disclosed that troops eliminated 65 terrorist senior leaders and rescued 1,854 kidnapped hostages during the third quarter of 2024.
This was disclosed by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Major-General Edward Buba during the quarterly media briefing on the ongoing military operations from July to September at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
He explained that 1,937 terrorists were neutralise, while 2,782 suspects were arrested .
General Buba said troops offensive actions culminated in the neutralisation of several notable terrorist leaders, commanders and combatants across all theatres of operations.
These include Munzir Arika, Sani Dilla (Dan Hausawan Jubillaram), Ameer Modu, Matawal Bitrus, Thomas Benedict, Mohammed Sani, Rimamy (aka Omo), Terkimbi Injoko and Jacob Uzege, Ibn Kasir.
Others are Kachalla Dan Baleri, Kachallah Halilu (Buzu), Kachalla Dan Ali Garin Fadama, Kachalla Basiru Zakarriya and ofem Emmanuel Igwe among several others.
He also revealed that troops recovered 1,304 weapons, 43,347 ammunitions and denied oil thieves of an estimated N13,081,605,534.
Breakdown for the period include and is not limited to the following: 688 AK47 rifles, 32,945 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo and 9,677 rounds of 7.62mm NATO among others.
Others are 12,143,870 litres of stolen crude oil, 2,623,216 litres of illegally refined AGO, 6,970 litres of DPK and 31,450 litres of PMS amongst other item.
According to General Buba, during the third quarter of the year, troops of OP HADIN ΚΑΙ neutralised 792 terrorists, arrested 606 suspects and rescued 476 kidnapped hostages.
Additionally, troops recorded 7,283 surrendered Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists combatants and their families.
Troops diminished the terrorists military capabilities by recovering 339 AK47 rifles, 58 fabricated rifles 9,653 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo and 3,147 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, among others.
The air component of Operation HADIN KAI in the third quarter of the year conducted air interdictions in several terrorists enclaves. These include: Mandara Mountain, Maradun, Southern Tumbun Fulani among others. The air interdictions conducted killed several terrorist leaders, commanders and combatants, as well as destroyed their logistics dumps.
Overall, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN neutralised 122 violent extremists, arrested 513 suspects and rescued 305 kidnap hostages.
