The Defence Headquarters has announced the successful elimination of 96 terrorists and the arrest of 227 suspects during recent military operations across Northern Nigeria.
Among those captured was Usman Maisaje, a notorious terrorist commander closely linked to Kachalla Boka, a high-profile terrorist leader. The arrest of Maisaje has proven instrumental in gathering crucial intelligence, as he is reportedly cooperating with security forces.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Buba Edward, detailed the successes of the week’s operations, stating: “Troops neutralised 96 terrorists, arrested 227 individuals, and rescued 157 kidnapped victims. Notably, in the North-Central operational theatre, troops apprehended Usman Maisaje, a notorious commander and associate of Kachalla Boka. His arrest has provided valuable intelligence for ongoing operations.”
In addition to the achievements against terrorism, military personnel in the South-South region also disrupted large-scale oil theft. Troops seized stolen crude oil valued at approximately N712 million and arrested 45 individuals involved in the illegal trade.
“The troops in the South-South region foiled oil theft activities worth N712,065,450. They also apprehended 45 oil theft suspects,” Major General Edward confirmed.
Further operations in the Niger Delta saw troops uncover and dismantle numerous illegal refining facilities, including 4 dugout pits, 48 boats, 52 drums, and 38 storage tanks. In these operations, 712,535 litres of stolen crude oil and 76,800 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) were recovered.
In addition to oil recovery, significant weapons were seized. Troops confiscated 71 assorted firearms, including 50 AK-47 rifles, 16 fabricated rifles, 5 Dane guns, and several locally made pistols, along with over 1,400 rounds of ammunition.
The list of recovered items includes: 50 AK-47 rifles, 16 fabricated rifles, 5 Dane guns, 5 pump-action guns, 5 locally made pistols, 1 revolver, 16 AK-47 magazines, 784 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 403 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammo, 164 rounds of 7.62x39mm ammo, 53 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 67 live cartridges, 1 Baofeng radio, 19 vehicles, 23 motorcycles, 35 mobile phones, and N4,087,630, alongside 46,000 CFA.
These ongoing operations highlight the Nigerian military’s relentless commitment to combating insecurity, dismantling terrorist groups, and disrupting criminal activities nationwide.