The Military High Command on Friday declared that the troops of the Armed Forces and other security agencies were on high alert and have increased readiness to protect the country from further terrorist aggression, particularly during the Yuletide celebration nationwide.
This was contained in a statement made available to Defence Correspondents in Abuja by Director Defence Media Operations, Major Gen. Edward Buba, on the report of the ongoing military operations against insurgency activities in the various theatres of operations across the country.
The statement pointed out that “accordingly, robust operations targeted at terrorist leadership are being conducted across the various theatres of operations.”
According to it, “significantly, high-profile terrorists identified as Hamisu Sale (aka Master) and Abubakar Muhammad were arrested during separate operations conducted in the North Central theatre of operation.”
It explained that the duo were cooperating and providing valuable intelligence on the terror network.
It added that similarly, troops in the North West theatre of operation arrested another high-profile and notorious terrorist identified as Bako Wurgi.
According to it, “the arrested terror leader is linked to the murder of the Sokoto Monarch and a staunch ally of wanted high-profile terrorist Bello Turji.”
It further added that the arrested terrorist leader, Bako Wurgi, eventually succumbed to gunshot injuries sustained during the firefight but nevertheless provided valuable intelligence to support troops’ operations before he died.
It also explained that during the week under review, troops neutralized 212 and arrested 272 persons, while troops also arrested 45 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 152 kidnapped hostages.
According to it, “In the South-South, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of One Billion One Hundred and Ninety-Three Million Eight Hundred and Seventy Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty Naira (N1,193,817,760.00) only.”
“Furthermore, troops recovered 247 assorted weapons and 6,174 assorted ammunition. The breakdown is as follows: 2 RPG UXO4, 110 AK47 rifles, 56 fabricated rifles, 36 Dane guns, 2 FN rifles, 2 Beretta pistols, 15 locally made pistols, 2 revolver pistols, 12 pump action guns, 2 double barrel guns, one single barrel gun, one RPG bomb, one RPG tube, 2 exploded RPG chargers, one PKM link, one link of GPMG, and 70 AK47 magazines.
“Others are: 3,235 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 1,583 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 130 rounds of 7.62 x 51mm ammo, 400 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammo, 92 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 107 rounds of 9mm ammo, 311 live cartridges, one FN magazine, 3 bandoliers, 5 Baofeng radios, 8 vehicles, 51 motorcycles, and 103 mobile phones, amongst other items.
It added that the troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 35 crude oil cooking ovens, 27 dugout pits, 35 boats, 51 storage tanks, and 61 illegal refining sites. Other items recovered include 5 speedboats, 5 receivers, 59 drums, 3 motorcycles, 3 mobile phones, and 8 vehicles, among others. Troops recovered 940,372 litres of stolen crude oil, 252,000 litres of illegally refined AGO, and 132 litres of PMS.
According to it, “Overall, troops are bent on achieving sustainable peace in the nation by ensuring that the terrorists are held accountable for any act of aggression against citizens. Citizens are therefore urged to ‘See Something, Say Something’.”
READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
