The Defence Headquarters said that troops have in the last one week, eliminated 165 terrorists, apprehended 238 others and rescued 188 kidnapped hostages in different operations across the country.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, made this known while briefing newsmen on the operations of the armed forces, on Thursday in Abuja.

Mr Buba said the military also recovered 153 assorted weapons and over 2,000 assorted ammunition comprising 81 AK-47 rifles, 23 fabricated rifles, 27 Daneguns, and 30 AK-47 magazines among other items during the week.

He added that the troops also recovered over 1,500 rounds of 7.62 millimetre special ammunition, over 270 rounds of 7.62 millimetre NATO ammunition, 21 motorcycles, and 45 mobile phones.

In the North-East, Mr Buba said that the troops of Operation Hadin Kai neutralised 83 terrorists, apprehended 56 and rescued 50 kidnapped hostages with recovery of a cache of arms.

He said that a total of 74 terrorists comprising 22 adult males, 28 adult females and 24 children surrendered to troops between October 2 and October 8 within the theatre of operations.

In the North-Central, he said the troops of Operations Safe Haven and Whirl Stroke neutralised 19 violent extremists, arrested 56 violent extremists and rescued 69 kidnapped hostages.

In the North West, Mr Buba said the troops of Operations Hadarin Daji and Whirl Punch executed successful operations across the theatre neutralising 47 terrorists, apprehended 67 and rescued 47 kidnapped hostages.

He said the air component of the operations conducted air interdiction operations to the enclave of terrorist commander, Ado Aleiro in Tsafe area of Zamfara killing several terrorists hibernating at the location.

According to him, similar air interdictions were conducted, on October 4, on terrorist hideouts around Bayan Ruwa in the Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara.

He said, “The location was acquired and attacked with rockets and cannons. Battle Damage Assessment revealed that several terrorists were neutralized, their structures as well as logistics destroyed. Our role in the ongoing war is clear and we are winning the war. The military is not oblivious of some security challenges faced by citizens in certain quarters and are reassessing operations in those areas to better secure and protect citizens. The armed forces seize this opportunity to caution persons or groups from making threats or inflammatory comments on untoward activities against troops’ presence or deployment as a result of ongoing operations. The outcome of such an act is better imagined than experienced. Troops recognise the urgency to ensure peace and security for all citizens across the country. Accordingly, working on new strategies to better protect the nation and citizens.’’

(NAN)