Tag: troops

Troops of the Nigerian Army killed five bandits during a fighting patrol in Dantarau, Kajuru local government area of Kaduna State, recovering arms and ammunition.

A statement signed by the overseeing commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan on Sunday, June 9, said the troops recovered two AK-47 rifles, one locally fabricated sub-machine gun, nine AK-47 magazines, 250 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, two motorcycles and two handheld radio sets.

The commissioner added that, the air component of Operation Whirl Punch also destroyed camps in Sabon Birnin Dajji, Igabi local government of Kaduna state.

He said: “Troops and Special Forces under the auspices of Operation Whirl Punch (OPWP) conducting special fighting patrols in the Kachia-Kajuru axis have neutralized five bandits in Dantarau general area of Kajuru LGA.

“This was communicated in an operational feedback to the Kaduna state government. According to the report, the troops embarked on operations to clear the Maro-Enugu axis spanning Kachia and Kajuru LGAs.

“At Dantarau community, the troops made contact with bandits and after a sharp exchange, five of the criminals were neutralized. The troops also recovered two AK-47 rifles, one locally fabricated sub-machine gun, nine AK-47 magazines, 250 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, two motorcycles and two handheld radio sets. 

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“Similarly, the Air Component of Operation Whirl Punch successfully hit bandits camps in Sabon Birnin Daji general area of Igabi LGA. Credible human intelligence sources confirmed the successful operation resulting in several bandits taken out during the mission. Some of the bandits sustained injuries and are reported to be lurking around the general area in need of medical support.

“Locals in the general area are warned to desist from providing medical support to questionable individuals without recourse to the nearest security agencies. Consequently, citizens are advised to report to the 24 Operations Room on the numbers: -09034000060 -08170189999

“Receiving the feedback, the Governor of Kaduna state, Senator Uba Sani, expressed elation at the breakthrough and lauded the troops – under the leadership of the General Officer Commanding, 1 Division Nigerian Army, Major General MLD Saraso – for their determined efforts.

“The governor further extended commendation to the Air Officer Commanding, Air Training Command, Air Vice Marshall NN Ananaba and his team, for the outstanding contribution to the security of the state. The Governor urged the military to keep up the momentum of operations,” Aruwan stated.

The Defence Headquarters says troops on operations across the country killed 202 terrorists, arrested 437 criminals, and rescued 209 kidnap victims in the past week. 

It said troops also discovered and destroyed 45 illegal refining sites, and arrested 30 oil thieves.

 The Director Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen Edward Buba, announced this in a statement yesterday.

He said troops recovered 201 assorted weapons including three G3 rifles, 105 AK47 rifles, 4 AK49 rifles, 17 locally fabricated gun, 37 Dane guns, nine pump action guns, one fabricated SMG, two double barrel guns, two single barrel guns, one pistol, six locally fabricated pistol, one revolver rifle, one damaged PKT, four grenades, one RPG bomb, one charger and four bandoliers.

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The defence spokesperson said troops also recovered 5,346 assorted ammunition, comprising 3,232 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 833 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 59 rounds of 9mm ammo, 28 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm, 1,017 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm, 177 live cartridges, and 118 magazines.

 Other items recovered, according to him, are nine baofeng radios, 8 vehicles, 118 motorcycles, 10 vehicles, three bicycles, 44 mobile phones and the sum of N74,702,320.00 only amongst other items.

Gen. Buba said troops in the Niger Delta recovered 707,200 litres of stolen crude oil, 149,700 litres of illegally refined diesel and 400 litres of kerosene.

He said troops also discovered and destroyed 28 dugout pits, 15 boats and 55 storage tanks. Other items recovered include seven cooking ovens, seven vehicles, eight mobile phones, two pumping machines, two baofeng radios, one outboard engine and 45 illegal refining sites.

The Defence Headquarters says troops on operations across the country killed 202 terrorists, arrested 437 criminals, and rescued 209 kidnap victims in the past week.

It said troops also discovered and destroyed 45 illegal refining sites, and arrested 30 oil thieves.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen Edward Buba, announced this in a statement on Friday, June 7.

He said troops recovered 201 assorted weapons including three G3 rifles, 105 AK47 rifles, 4 AK49 rifles, 17 locally fabricated gun, 37 Dane guns, nine pump action guns, one fabricated SMG, two double barrel guns, two single barrel guns, one pistol, six locally fabricated pistol, one revolver rifle, one damaged PKT, four grenades, one RPG bomb, one charger, and four bandoliers.

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The defence spokesperson said troops also recovered 5,346 assorted ammunition, comprising 3,232 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 833 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 59 rounds of 9mm ammo, 28 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm, 1,017 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm, 177 live cartridges, and 118 magazines.

Other items recovered, according to him, are nine baofeng radios, 8 vehicles, 118 motorcycles, 10 vehicles, three bicycles, 44 mobile phones and the sum of N74,702,320.00 only amongst other items.

Gen. Buba said troops in the Niger Delta recovered 707,200 litres of stolen crude oil, 149,700 litres of illegally refined diesel, and 400 litres of kerosene.

He said troops also discovered and destroyed 28 dugout pits, 15 boats, and 55 storage tanks. Other items recovered include seven cooking ovens, seven vehicles, eight mobile phones, two pumping machines, two baofeng radios, one outboard engine, and 45 illegal refining sites.

The military high command said troops remain focused on fighting the terrorist and their cohorts in the ongoing counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations across the country.

The Defence Headquarters says troops on operation across the country killed 253 terrorists and arrested 172 criminals in the past week.

It said troops also rescued 206 kidnap victims during several operations.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen Edward Buba, announced this in a statement on Friday, May 24.

He said troops recovered 251 assorted weapons and 4,113 assorted ammunition from terrorists and other criminals. 

The weapons recovered, according to the Defence spokesperson, are one GPMG, 118 AK47 rifles, 54 locally fabricated gun, 47 dane guns, six pump action guns, two locally fabricated pump action guns, five double barrel guns, four single barrel guns, four locally fabricated pistol, four Improvised Explosive Device (IED), 60mm mortar tube, two AK butts, MRAP and one bandolier.

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The ammunition and other items recovered, according to Gen. Buba are 2,047 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 942 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 98 rounds of 9mm ammo, 342 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm, 334 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm, 252 rounds of 7.62 x 51mm, 110 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ball, 299 live cartridges, 32 magazines, 2 baofeng radios, two KYD radios, 8 vehicles, 41 motorcycles, 27 bicycles, 41 mobile phones and the sum of N74,702,320.00.

The defence spokesperson said troops of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), a military operation against oil thieves in the Niger Delta region, destroyed 75 illegal refining sites, recovered 1,047,050 litres of stolen crude and 205,550 litres of illegally refined diesel.

Gen. Buba said troops also destroyed 22 dugout pits, 37 boats, 70 drums, four receiver, four reservoirs, 29 storage tanks, and arrested 15 oil thieves.

He said the operations across the country were a testament of the tireless effort of the military to prevent anarchy, unrest and national security destabilization. 

“For these reasons, the armed forces are deserving of the pride of place as the nation’s symbol of national unity and resilience,” Gen. Buba said.

“Based on the foregoing, it is instructive for citizens to extend utmost respect for their armed forces, rather than degrade the institution. 

“It would be counterproductive and amounts to self sabotage to do otherwise,” he added.

Troops of Joint Task Force Operation UDO KA have foiled an attempted kidnap of another South-East illustrious personality (names withheld) at Umuaka community in Njaba LGA of Imo. 

The Smspokesman of Joint Task Force Operation UDO KA, Lt.-Col. Jonah Unuakhalu, said in a statement on Saturday in Enugu that the kidnap was foiled by troops on routine patrol on Friday, May 17, 2024.

According to Unuakhalu, the troops while on routine patrol at Umuaka, along Orlu-Owerri Road, were alerted of the kidnap incident and the escape route of the kidnappers.

He said: “The troops swiftly pursued the kidnappers and made contact with them.

“In the fire fight that ensued, the troops professionally neutralised one of the kidnappers and injured two others despite their attempts to use passer-by as human shield.

“The troops recovered one AK 47 rifle with two loaded magazines and a motorcycle.”

The spokesman said that troops in conjunction with personnel of Naval Base, Oguta, also neutralised a member of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its Eastern Security Network (ESN) terrorist group at Amagberedere village in Oguta LGA of Imo.

He noted that during the raid operation conducted to the suspected hideout of the dissidents, the irredentists opened fire on sighting the troops.

“But the soldiers responded appropriately and in the process neutralised one of the terrorists and recovered one pump action shotgun and two cartridges. 

“We commend the good people of Umuaka and Oguta communities for providing timely intelligence.

“We continue to encourage the general public to provide timely information that will lead to the arrest of these criminal elements terrorising the law-abiding and peace-loving South-East people.

“The Force Commander, Joint Task Force Operation UDO KA, Maj.-Gen. Hassan Dada, beseech the support of all for restoration of peace in Imo State and the South-East in general,” he said.

Unuakhalu also urged residents of the South-East to pass any information of security value to the military by using a mobile phone (cell-phone) and dialing 193 and Press Number 2 for quick intervention.

Security forces have reported to the Kaduna state government that troops of Operation Whirl Punch neutralized four bandits, including one notorious bandit leader, during fighting patrols in Giwa Local Government Area of the state at the weekend.

According to the operational feedback, the troops conducted the special fighting patrol first to Tumburku village and then projected the same to Sabon Sara, both in Giwa LGA. 

Samuel Aruwan, Overseeing Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

“Acting on credible intelligence, the troops sighted bandits fleeing the latter location and engaged the criminals in hot pursuit. The troops neutralized two of the bandits and recovered a range of items including a motorcycle, a mobile phone, gas lighters, tobacco, assorted charms, and a polythene bag containing petrol.

“Another leg of the operation was conducted at Basurfe village, southwest of Kindandan. The troops fought through an ambush and forced the bandits to flee on motorcycles. A vigorous pursuit resulted in two more bandits being neutralized. The troops further exploited the area and dislodged a camp serving as a treatment area for the insurgents.

“Recoveries made at the location included two AK47 rifles, one pump action rifle, three magazines, 16 rounds of ammunition, one Improvised Explosive Device (IED), two radios and one motorcycle, as well as cigarettes, drugs and medical accessories.

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“The reports revealed that one of the bandits neutralized in the operations was a notorious bandit leader Dogo Bangaje, who was eliminated alongside a close associate yet to be identified.

“Receiving the report, the Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, praised the troops under the leadership of GOC 1 Division and Commander Operation Whirl Punch, Major General MLD Saraso for their efforts and congratulated them on the remarkable breakthrough. The Governor urged the security forces to sustain the momentum towards flushing out criminal elements from the area.

“Citizens are urged to report suspicious persons seeking medical attention in the general area to the Kaduna State Security Operations Room, via the lines 09034000060 and 08170189999.”