Troops have killed 13 terrorists and kidnappers in the ongoing onslaught against criminals nationwide.
They also arrested two high-profile bandit leaders, Saauwan Wuaiyolna, in Benue State, and Chukwuepre Gideon, in Enugu State, alongside 28 other terrorists and criminals in operations from September 17 to 19.
A source at the Army Headquarters told The Nation that the operation also led to the rescue of three kidnap victims, five terrorist family members, and recovery of a cache of weapons and other items.
According to the source, Wuaiyolna, high-profile member of the notorious and wanted criminal gang led by AKIKI UTIVI, popularly known as Full Fire, was arrested by troops of Operation Whirl Stroke at Takum Junction in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State while attempting to monitor troops.
He said Gideon, a notorious wanted criminal, was arrested through the efforts of the 103 Battalion, Nigeria Police, and Neighborhood Watch, during a raid at his hideout in the Mmaku community of Awgu Local Government Area in Enugu State. They recovered one motorcycle, one laptop, three unidentified flags, four empty cartridges, and other items.
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The source said the troops intensified counter-terrorism in the Northeast and Northwest, dealing decisive blows to terrorists and rescuing kidnap victims.
“In Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State, troops of 19 Battalion, supported by Civilian JTF and other volunteers, engaged Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP/JAS) terrorists, neutralising one and destroying their logistics structures. Two kidnapped victims were rescued during the operation,” he said.
“In a similar operation in the Bama Local Government Area, five ISWAP/JAS family members, one woman and four children, surrendered to troops of 202 Battalion. Elsewhere in Konduga Local Government Area, troops of 222 Battalion ambushed and killed two terrorists following CCTV surveillance.
“In Zamfara State, troops of 1 Brigade neutralised one terrorist and recovered an AK-47 rifle in Anka Local Government Area, while in another patrol recovered three rustled camels from terrorists attempting to move livestock around the Bakura axis. In Kaduna State, troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA neutralised two terrorists at Ankwa in Kachia Local Government Area, recovering two AK-47 rifles, a motorcycle and a mobile phone.”
According to the military source, troops of Army Headquarters Garrison, Department of State Service (DSS) and Police Anti-Kidnap Squad also dealt decisive blows to kidnappers in Abuja, killing three kidnappers in Kurudu high ground and rescuing one victim, and recovering two AK-47 rifles and ammunition.
“Similarly, in Delta State, troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion neutralized two suspected kidnappers in Ika North Local Government Area, recovering one AK-47 rifle, magazines and 42 rounds of ammunition.”
In the Southeast region, the military source revealed that the 34 Artillery Brigade neutralized two Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network (IPOB/ESN) militants during clearance operations in Imo State, recovering a locally fabricated gun, radios, IED-making materials, and Biafra insignia.
He said troops also made significant strides against oil theft in the Southsouth, discovering over 6,500 litres of illegally refined products and dismantling cooking drums and receivers in Ohaji Egbema Local Government Area. Additionally, in Delta State, three suspected oil bunkers were arrested with petroleum products in Ethiope East Local Government Area.
According to the military source, troops also engaged criminal cultists and miscreants, arresting one cultist linked to kidnapping was arrested, while another was neutralised and one pump-action rifle was recovered, In Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State
“In Cross River State, eight suspected miscreants were arrested in Obubura Local Government Area, following an ambush on troops, with clearance operations ongoing in the forests,” he said.