The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) announced on Friday that its troops have begun to record the surrender of terrorists in the North Central operational theatres, following their recent military offensives against these groups.
This information was contained in a statement released to Defence Correspondents in Abuja by the Director of Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba.
The statement provided an update on the ongoing military operations carried out by the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) and other security agencies in various theatres of operation against insurgency activities.
According to the statement, “These surrenders were prompted by overtures from the terrorist leadership in response to the troop’s relentless assaults against them.”
“Therefore, a non-kinetic collaborative effort with stakeholders was deployed to encourage the surrendering process.
“Accordingly, several terrorist leaders, commanders and combatants have so far surrendered with more indicating interest to surrender.
It explained that notable terrorists that have surrendered include; Yellow Jambros, Alhaji Mallam, Ardo Idi(Alhaji Lawal ), Lawal Kwalba, Salkado, Yellow Ibrahim, Gana’e and Babangida among others.
It added that nevertheless, troops would sustain its operational tempo in order to destroy or cause further surrendering by terrorists. However, during the week under review, troops neutralised 135 and arrested 185 persons.
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The statement further explained the roops also arrested 61 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 129 kidnapped hostages while in the South South operational theatre, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of Eight Hundred and Eighty Nine Million Two Hundred and Thirty Three Thousand Twenty Naira (N889,233,020.00) only.
According to it, “furthermore, troops recovered 113 assorted weapons and 2,415 assorted ammunition. The breakdown as follows: 72 AK47 rifles, 11 fabricated rifles, 15 dane guns, 3 locally made pistols, 8 pump action guns, 4 hand grenades, one RPG bomb and tube.
“Others are: 1,554 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 380 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 203 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammo, 129 live cartridges, 28 shotgun cartridges, 500 empty case of MG ammo, 30 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 49 rounds of 5.7mm ammo, 165 live cartridges, 10 rounds of 9mm ammo, 38 magazines, 2 baofeng radios, 3 handheld radios, 2 baofeng radios, 15 vehicles, 46 motorcycles, 28 mobile phones and the sum of N732,000.00 only amongst other items.
It added that the troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 93 crude oil cooking ovens, 12 dugout pits, 37 boats, 127 drums, 41 storage tanks and 82 illegal refining sites.
According to it, “other items recovered include one outboard engine, 4 speedboats, 3 HH radios, 4 motorcycles, 5 mobile phones and 14 vehicles. Troops recovered 909,800 litres of stolen crude oil, 71,060 litres of illegally refined AGO and 13,580 litres of PMS.
It reassured that the troops would continue to find innovative solutions in tackling the myriad of security challenges confronting the nation, adding that the Military remained in a winning position in the war.
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