Tag: troops

Troops of the Nigerian Army in conjunction with personnel of other security agencies have eliminated a notorious IPOB/ESN Commander, known as Tochukwu, alias Ojoto and two others in encounter at the their camp at Ihiteukwa in Imo.

The post on the Nigerian Army X Handle on Tuesday said the operation was conducted with personnel of the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services, and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.

It said the troops conducted a successful special clearance operation across the general areas of Udda, Ihiteukwa, and Orsumoghu, along the borders of Orsu and Ihiala Local Government Areas of Imo and Anambra States, respectively.

The army added that the troops encountered members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN) who had been using the area as a sanctuary.

The army said the insurgents, on sighting troops, employed guerrilla tactics, lobbing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from concealed positions and  riddling the roads with booby traps.

According to the army, in spite of the terrorists’ guerrilla tactics, troops maintained their resolve and countered the attacks with tactical precision, employing superior firepower to neutralise Tochukwu and two others.

Read Also: Nnamdi Kanu’s wife visits IPOB leader in prison

“The operation led to the recovery of firearms, communication devices, narcotics, and personal effects of the terrorists. Notably, two undetonated IEDs, six  detonated IEDs and bomb-making materials were captured by the gallant troops.

“The operation has  dealt a significant blow to the terrorists’ networks in the region.

“The IEDs and bomb-making materials were safely destroyed,” it said.

Army said that its troops had in another operation in Cross River, engaged in a fierce gun battle with a group of  suspected kidnappers in the remote community of Akparanbong in Ikom Local Government Area.

It said that the troops, while on routine patrol stormed the kidnappers’ hideout, leading to a gun battle that forced the kidnappers to retreat hastily leaving behind teo AK 47 Rifles, six Magazines, variety of ammunition and three mobile phones.

According to the army, all the items have been recovered by the troops. (NAN)

The Defence headquarters says air strikes by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) have killed three terrorist commanders, Ali Dawud, Bakura Fallujah, and Mallam Ari, at Kolleram village in Borno state.

It said several terrorist commanders and their combatants were killed during air strikes on terrorist commanders’ enclaves in Katsina, Niger, Sokoto, and Zamfara states, in the past three months.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba said during a press briefing at the Defence Headquarters Abuja on Thursday, May 2.

Buba said terrorist leaders’ enclaves engaged in Katsina State include that of terrorist Nasanda and his loyalists in the Zurmi local government area, the enclave of terrorist commander Babaru in Kankara, the terrorist hideout belonging to a senior terrorist commander Kamilu Buzaru in Danmusa local government, senior terrorist commander Ado Ailero and Kamilu Buzaru in Danmusa local government.

Other terrorist Commanders engaged by air strikes, according to the defence spokesperson, include Mallam Yadee at Mariga local government area and enclave of Mallam Umar and several other commanders located in the Alawa Forest of Niger State, the enclave of Abdullahi Nasanda, Mallam Tukur in Zurmi and Gusau local government area and Bello Turji’s Camp in Kagara Forest located between Shinkafi in Zamfara and Isa local government area in Sokoto State.

Buba said the synchronised strikes between the ground and air force in April resulted in over 715 terrorists being neutralized. He said troops also arrested 146 persons and rescued 465 kidnap victims.

He said, in the past three months, troops seized 2,563,335 litres of stolen crude oil, 254,620 litres of illegally refined diesel, 1,050 litres of kerosene and 8,000 litres of petrol.

Buba said: “Furthermore, troops recovered 937 assorted weapons, and 23,034 assorted ammunitions and denied the oil theft of an estimated sum over #2 bn (N2,572,397,190.00) only.

“Breakdown for the month of February includes and is not limited to the following: 495 AK47 rifles, 190 locally fabricated guns, 43 pump action guns, 151 Dane guns, 11,549 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 6,722 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 511 rounds of 9mm and 941 live cartridges.”

Buba said the military was building and maintaining the momentum against the terrorists and their cohorts across the country.

He said: “Troops are conscious and are not losing sight of the importance of momentum when it comes to fighting such vicious adversaries.

Read Also: Troops dislodge terrorists, rescue kidnap victims in Taraba, Benue

“The current situation depicts a strain of tactical achievements in degrading the terrorists by dismantling most of the terrorist infrastructure in the North East, killing the majority of the combatants, and killing a lot of their senior combatants.

“It must be noted that many of the terrorist commanders as well have been taken off the battlefield. 

“Ongoing operations have suppressed the terrorists and prevented them from achieving their strategic objectives.

“Troops have equally denied the terrorist freedom of action and disrupted their activities, thereby reducing their effectiveness. Nevertheless, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to rid the environment of terrorists and the military is not resting on its oars.”

The Defence Headquarters says troops on operation across the country killed 216 terrorists and arrested 332 criminals in the past week.

It said troops also rescued 161 kidnap victims.

The Director Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, announced this in a statement on Friday, April 26.

Gen. Buba said troops recovered 234 assorted weapons comprising 131 AK47 rifles, 3 PKT guns, one M16 rifle, 43 locally fabricated gun, 21 dane guns, one 105mm gun, two automatic pump action guns, 18 locally fabricated pistols, 8 single barrel guns, two automatic pump action guns, one LG4 bomb, one MG skeleton, three explosive IED case, one MOWAG APC.

He said troops also recovered 5,994 assorted ammunition, comprising 3,120 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 2,195 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 211 rounds of 9mm ammo, 99 rounds of 7.62 x 25mm ammo, 467 live cartridges, one rifle butt, 15 magazines, among others.

Read Also: Troops kills 192 terrorists, arrest 341 others in one week

Speaking on operations in the Niger Delta region, the defence spokesperson said troops in the Niger Delta area recovered 533,127 litres of stolen crude oil and 24,520 litres of illegally refined diesel.

Gen. Buba said troops also arrested 24 oil thieves.

He said: “Destroyed 97 dugout pits, six boats, 20 storage tanks, two receivers, 16 drums and seven vehicles. Other items recovered included 174 cooking ovens, one pumping machine and eight illegal refining sites.”

The defence spokesperson said that the military would continue with very strong operations against the terrorist.

He said: “Troops are maintaining the momentum in neutralizing the terrorist leaders and commanders. Indeed, we remain focused on fighting for the basic safety and security of citizens of this country.

 “Indeed, we will banish and defeat terrorism from the nation rather than bow to it.” 

Troops on operation in Zamfara state have killed 12 terrorists and recovered many arms and ammunition.

The troops also destroyed the terrorists enclave during the operation that was conducted on Monday, April 15, in Maru Local Government Area.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, announced this in a statement on Tuesday, April 16.

Nwachukwu said the troops also recovered 10 motorbikes used for mobility by the terrorists, and 18 rustled cows.

He said the troops, while acting on “credible intelligence on the activities of the terrorists” conducted a “targeted clearance operation” to dismantle the terrorists’ operational base in Maru town. 

Read Also: NSA receives 22 rescued Zamfara varsity students, staff

“In a fierce gun battle with the terrorists, the gallant troops neutralized 12 of the terrorists, compelling the others to flee. The troops also recovered one AK-47 rifle, one magazine, 12 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, and two locally fabricated guns. The troops destroyed the terrorists’ base after dislodging them,” he said.

The army spokesperson said the operation was one of the significant breakthroughs in the counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations in the northwest.

He said: “The successful operation is a testament to the dedication of our troops in the fight against terrorism and insurgency. 

“The Nigerian Army remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of our citizens and will continue to take decisive action to curb terrorists’ activities in the region.” 

The Joint Task Force Northwest Operation Hadarin Daji (OPHD), on Friday neutralised 12 terrorists, while others fled with gunshot wounds, the information officer, OPHD, Lt. Suleiman Omale,said yesterday in a statement.

 He said: “In the early hours of yesterday, Friday, April 12th, 2024, the troops successfully dominated Babban Doka, Gobirawar Challi, and Kabaro axis under Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State, engaging the terrorists in a heavy gun duel.

Read Also: Charge troops to remain disciplined, professional in their operations – Commander

“During the operation, our brave troops from Dansadau Forward Operating Base exhibited exceptional courage, overpowering the criminal elements and neutralizing 12 terrorists, while others fled with gunshot wounds.”

In a subsequent mop-up patrol, he further explained that the gallant troops recovered significant weapons and assets from the scene, including 1 AK-47 rifle, 1 magazine, 2 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 1 locally made gun, 1 Dane gun, and 18 cows, adding that 10 motorcycles belonging to the terrorists were recovered and destroyed on the spot.

The statement said that Brigadier General S. Ahmed, the Commander 1 Brigade and Sector 1 OPHD, commended the resilience, doggedness, and gallantry displayed by our troops and urged them to maintain the momentum and not relent until normalcy is fully restored in the region.

It added that Brigadier General S. Ahmed extended his appreciation to the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division, and Commander, Joint Task Force Northwest Operation Hadarin Daji (OPHD), Major General GM Mutkut, for his tactical leadership and unwavering support to the troops in achieving their mandate.

Troops on operations across the country have killed 188 terrorists in the past week.

They also recovered 672,350 litres of stolen crude and 90,530 litres of illegally refined diesel

The troops also arrested 36 oil thieves.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba said this during a press briefing at the Defence Headquarters on Friday, April 123.

He said the troops also arrested 330 criminals and rescued 133 kidnap victims.

Buba said troops recovered 270 assorted weapons, comprising 122 AK47 rifles, 47 locally fabricated guns, 47 dane guns, 24 automatic pump action guns, eight locally fabricated pistols, two locally made single barrel guns, one double barrel gun, one hand grenade and one improvised Explosive Device (IED).

He said troops also seized 5,083 assorted ammunition, comprising 2,129 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 1,686 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 116 rounds of 9mm ammo, 133 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ball ammo, 151 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammo, 619 live cartridges, 34 magazines.

Read Also: JUST IN: Troops kill many terrorists in Zamfara

Other items recovered from the terrorists, according to the defence spokesperson, are eight HH radios, eight vehicles, 40 motorcycles, six bicycles, 50 mobile phones, and the sum of N610,210.00.

Buba said troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 51 dugout pits, 24 boats, 21 storage tanks and four vehicles, 28 cooking ovens and 21 illegal refining sites.

He said: “The military is working “decisively to kill the terrorists, stop the insecurity, and ensure the safety of citizens.

“We are making the terrorists pay a much heavier price than we have been forced to pay.

Buba said the troops would continue to operate with tremendous force against the terrorists across the country.

He said: “The military is in a good and strong position in the war against terrorists with many terrorist leaders killed. We will continue to provide security for citizens with the tools at our disposal.”

Troops in Kaduna State have killed three terrorists during an ambush operation around Kidandan village in Giwa Local Government of the state.

The terrorists were neutralised on Friday, April 5, while on transit to repair their motorbikes, Army spokesperson, Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu said in a statement on Saturday, April 6.

The Nation reports that terrorists use motorcycles as mobility to carry out acts of terror on the populace in Kaduna State and across the Northwest region.

Nwachukwu said the troops, while acting on credible intelligence, engaged the terrorists in a gun battle, neutralizing three of them during the operation. 

Read Also: Troops seize 21m ltrs, 210 metric tons of stolen crude

He said: “The operation also led to the recovery of one Ak 47 Rifle, one stock Ak 47 Rifle, four motorbikes, and one Motorola Radio.” 

Nwachukwu said the Army remains committed to the ongoing counter terrorism and counter insurgency operations to ensure the safety and security of the populace. 

“We therefore enjoin members of the public to continue to support Nigerian Army troops and other security operatives as they continue to strive to mitigate security challenges in the country,” he said 

The Nigerian Army said the Combat Team of the 7 Division on Friday rescued 78 hostages comprising 35 women and 43 children during an aggressive clearance patrol in terrorists’ enclaves in Borno.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, announced this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

Nwachukwu said the troops had continued to pounce on the vestiges of the Islamic State of West African Province and their JAS counterparts in North East Nigeria.

He said the troops  successfully cleared six villages where terrorists hibernated with their hostages in a fierce gun battle, eliminating five  of the criminals.

He said the enclaves and villages cleared by the troops included Ngurusoye, Sabon Gari, Mairamri 1 and 2, Bula Dalo, and Bula Dalo extension as well as Yamanci and Gargaji general areas.

Read Also: Delta killings: Troops recover decomposing hearts of killed soldiers

According to him, items recovered are one terrorists’ flag and a mobile phone belonging to the terrorists.

“The rescued victims are in custody for preliminary investigation and profiling.

“The troops have continued to maintain momentum in the ongoing Operation Desert Sanity III to rid the North East of terrorists and insurgents,” he said.

(NAN)

…recover decomposing hearts of killed soldiers

The Defence Headquarters said that troops have intensified a manhunt to apprehend the killers of 18 military in OKuama community of Delta state.

It said that troops are also conducting clearance operations as well as cordon and search to recover, among other things, the weapons of the deceased soldiers.

The military high command said this through the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba.

Buba in a statement on Friday, March 22, said some of the communities in which troops have conducted operations are Akugbene, Ukuama, and Okoloba Communities in Ugheli and Ugheli South of Delta State, Ukuama Amusamo, Akwagbe, Arhavwarien, Pirigbene, and Igbomatoro Communities, in Delta State.

He said: “The decomposing hearts of some of the killed soldiers were recovered during the search, while the manhunt container with no significant arrest yet made.

“Significantly, there is a viral video of a person admitting to have perpetrated the killings of the soldier in Delta State. The video among other things helps to narrow investigations to persons of interest and their cohorts.

“Accordingly, the state governments and host communities of these personalities are required to assist instigation in flushing them out. There can be no hiding place for perpetrators of such dastardly acts against our nation. This is a clarion call to duty by members of those communities and the state governments.”

Giving updates on troops’ successes across other theatres of operation during the week, the Defence spokesperson said troops neutralised 106 terrorists and arrested 103 criminals.

He said troops also arrested 22 oil thieves and rescued 96 kidnap victims.

Buba said troops recovered 171 assorted weapons comprising 47 AK47 rifles, one PKT gun, 18 pump action rifles, 17 locally fabricated guns, 14 dane guns, 12 locally fabricated pistols, one fabricated revolver, one hand grenade, 81mm mortar bomb, one mortar tube and four bandoliers.

Read Also: Okuama killing: Troops will not rest until perpetrators are identified, says GOC

He said troops also recovered 2,452 assorted ammunition, comprising 995 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 468 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 317 live cartridges, 125 rounds of 9mm ammo, 313 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 13 rounds of 7.62 x 51mm, 19 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm, 167 empty shells of 7.62mm special ammo, 45 empty shells of 7.62mm NATO, 72 empty cases of cartridges, 14 magazines.

Other items recovered, according to defence spokesperson are 10 vehicles, 23 motorcycles, 19 mobile phones, one bicycle, four baofeng radios, and the sum of N112,920.00 amongst other items.

He said: “Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 51 dugout pits, 17 boats, 15 storage tanks and 4 vehicles. Other items recovered included 21 cooking ovens, 3 pumping machines and 40 illegal refining sites.

 “Troops recovered 772,350 litres of stolen crude oil, 80,530 litres of illegally refined AGO, and 1,500 litres of DPK.”

The military high command said the ongoing counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist operation across the country is a fight for our sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation.

Buba said the troops would continue to put themselves in harm’s way to protect and secure the citizens of this country.