The Defence Headquarters has said the fighting force of the Boko Haram Islamic sect has been grossly depleted by the mounting offensive launched by troops.
It noted that following the increasing land and air bombardment of the terrorists’ enclaves, no fewer than 1,000 terrorists and their families have laid down their arms and surrendered to troops at different locations in the Northeast.
Acting Director Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Benard Onyeuko, made the disclosures during the bi-weekly media parley at the Defence Headquarters.
He maintained various kinetic operations were carried out to deny terrorists, armed bandits and other criminal elements freedom of action, as well as frustrate movement of arms and other illegal items in all theatres of operations.
Giving further breakdown of the operations, Onyeuko, stated that a total of 80 insurgents were arrested while 51 were nuetralised and 30 kidnap victims rescued within the last two weeks.
A cache of arms and ammunition were also recovered within the time under review, he added.
According to him: “In the last two weeks, considerable achievements were recorded in the various theatres of operation. However, this brief is a summary of our operational effort in the various theatres that yielded significant results from 29 July to 12 August 2021.
“The Headquarters of Operation HADIN KAI has intensified its operations in the North East theatre. The intensity of these operations has yielded tremendous results as evidenced in the number of casualties and massive surrender of terrorists in Buni Yari, Gorgore, Baga and Monguno Towns as well as Maiduguri – Baga Road, Maiduguri – Damboa Road and Bula Yobe – Darel Jamel Road. Operations were also carried out at Kayamri and Mairari villages as well as Monguno and Kukawa Towns, all in Borno State.
“Cumulatively, the operations led to the neutralization of 27 BHT/ISWAP fighters, arrest of 51 BHT/ISWAP terrorists, 3 terrorists’ collaborators as well as recovery of 35 assorted arms and 1,051 round of ammunition including AK-47 and FN rifles, Dushka anti-aircraft guns, GPMG, PKT guns, 60mm mortar tubes, Makarov pistol and other machine guns, amongst other items. In addition, 29 abducted civilians were rescued within the period under review. Gentlemen no fewer than 1,000 terrorists and their families comprising adult females and children surrendered to own troops at different locations in the North East.
“Notable among them are the notorious BHT bomb expert named, Musa Adamu aka Mala Musa Abuja and his deputy, Usman Adamu aka Abu Darda. This has in no small measure depleted the BHT fighting force. OPERATION HADARIN DAJI3. On 31 July 2021, there were distress calls from locals, on cattle rustling and kidnapping incidents and armed bandits’ attacks on farmers, at Bagida village in Sokoto State; Shinkafi in Zamfara State and Maigora, Falale and Ungwan Dudu villages as well as Kankara – Katsina Road in Katsina State.
“In all incidents, troops repelled the criminals, rescued farmers and kidnapped victims as well as recovered arms, ammunition and some livestock, while some criminal elements were arrested. Cumulatively, a total of 89 livestock, 5 AK-47 rifles, 3 rounds of 9mm ball and 48 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition were recovered and 4 kidnap victims rescued.
“Also, two notorious cattle rustlers named, Mallam Buda Umar from Niger Republic and Mai Hatsi Ibrahim from Gada LGA of Sokoto State as well as 4 armed bandits and drug peddlers were arrested. Furthermore, between 2 and 6 August 2021, the Air Component of Operation HADARIN DAJI, carried out intensive air strikes on bandits’ hideouts at the South of Dansadau Town; North of Kwiambana Forest Reserves as well as North of Sububu Forest and Dudufi village under Faru District in Maradun LGA, all in Zamfara State”.
