Troops kill terrorists, arrest 85 suspects, rescue 66 hostages – Defence Headquarters
Story by Susan Mbamah
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has reported significant progress in the fight against insecurity across Nigeria, stating that troops killed several terrorists, arrested 85 suspects, and rescued 66 kidnapped victims in August.
During a monthly operational review briefing in Abuja, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, provided an update on the armed forces’ activities.
He noted that troops from Operation Hadin Kai intensified their counter-terrorism efforts against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters. These operations resulted in the elimination of numerous insurgents, the arrest of 15 suspects, including 13 collaborators, a gunrunner, and a drug peddler, and the rescue of eight kidnapped victims.
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In Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna, Kebbi, and Katsina States, troops neutralized several terrorists in firefights, arrested 23 suspects, and freed 24 hostages.
Under Operation Enduring Peace, troops killed terrorists, arrested seven criminals, and rescued two kidnap victims. A notable arrest was a suspect caught in Bassa Local Government Area with ₦3 million in ransom money intended for terrorists.
Meanwhile, Operation Whirl Stroke troops arrested nine extremists and rescued 13 hostages during targeted clearance operations.
According to Kangye, joint forces also recovered large caches of arms, ammunition, explosives, motorcycles, and vehicles from terrorists across multiple operational theaters. “During the month under review, troops have continued to intensify joint operations aimed at neutralising threats to national security, restoring stability, and safeguarding the lives and property of citizens,” he stated.
This latest report follows a recent DHQ revelation that 6,260 terrorists have been killed and 14,138 criminals apprehended in joint military operations nationwide over the past two years.
The Deputy Director of Defence Media Operations, Brig.-Gen. Ibrahim Abu-Mawashi, shared this information earlier in the week during a media event in Abuja, which marked two years in office for the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, and the current service chiefs.
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The DHQ has pledged to maintain this momentum, vowing to spare no effort in dismantling terrorist networks and restoring lasting peace to the troubled regions of Nigeria.
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