Troops of the Nigerian military killed 42 suspected terrorists in separate ground and air operations in Adamawa and Borno.

In a military report on Wednesday, the operations led to the rescue of three kidnapped persons in Adamawa and the arrest of 13 suspected illegal miners in the Federal Capital Territory.

It said the troops of 226 Battalion, supported by local hunters and rangers, repelled an attack by ISWAP terrorists at Zangula-Kilba Junction in Gombi council area of Adamawa.

It added that troops neutralised two terrorists during the encounter and recovered two AK-47 rifles, magazines, ammunition, a mobile phone, a wristwatch, a camel bag and ₦15,000.

The report said the military surveillance platforms sighted a gathering of terrorists around 1.5 kilometres north-west of Wulgo-Momaduru in Ngala council area of Borno.

It said an initial attempt by one aircraft to strike the targets failed because of a munition malfunction.

The platform, according to the report, then handed over the target to another aircraft, which carried out a precision strike.

“Battle damage assessment indicates that 30 terrorists were neutralised, while a motorcycle was destroyed,” it said.

The report added that a follow-on strike against fleeing terrorists hiding under trees resulted in the neutralisation of another 10.

It said multiple secondary explosions were observed after the strikes, while other terrorists were seen fleeing the area.

“In Adamawa, troops of the 247 Reconnaissance Battalion, supported by local hunters, rescued three kidnapped persons around Dutse-Uku in Mubi South Local Government Area. The troops also recovered a motorcycle, a tricycle conveying 15 bags of beans and a vehicle conveying 13 bags of groundnuts belonging to the rescued victims.

“Meanwhile, troops of 7 Guards Battalion arrested 13 suspected illegal miners at a newly excavated mining site in Shere general area of Bwari Area Council, FCT. The suspects were arrested at about 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday and are in military custody for further action,” it said.

The report further said that troops of 114 Battalion (Rear) engaged suspected terrorists during a fighting patrol to Komodoro and Mashigin Kirya communities in Karim Lamido council area of Taraba.

It said the suspected terrorists fled during the initial contact, while troops later engaged another group, forcing them to retreat. According to the report, troops recovered five motorcycles and conducted an 81mm mortar fire mission along the suspected terrorists’ withdrawal route.

“In Rivers, troops of 6 Division discovered four illegal refining sites at Okarki Forest in Ahoada West Local Government Area. The operation also led to the recovery of 85 sacks of suspected stolen crude oil estimated at 4,420 litres, alongside ovens, drums, pipes and other refining equipment. The recovered items were handled in line with extant regulations,” it said.