Troops Arrest 3 High-Profile Terrorists, Kill 212 Others In 1 Week

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has reported significant successes in counter-terrorism operations across various theatres in Nigeria. Troops arrested three high-profile terrorist leaders, 269 other suspects, and neutralized 212 extremists within a week.

Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, disclosed this in a statement, highlighting that the arrests were made in the North-Central and North-West regions. He also revealed that 152 hostages were rescued during the operations.

Arrested High-Profile Terrorists

Among the arrested terrorist leaders were Hamisu Sale (aka Master) and Abubakar Muhammad, apprehended during separate operations in the North-Central region. “The duo are cooperating and providing valuable intelligence on the terror network,” Buba stated.

In the North-West region, troops arrested another notorious terrorist leader, Bako Wurgi, linked to the murder of a Sokoto monarch and known to be an ally of infamous terrorist Bello Turji. Buba confirmed that Wurgi succumbed to gunshot injuries sustained during a firefight but not before providing critical intelligence that aided ongoing operations.

Neutralizations and Arrests

During the week, troops neutralized 212 terrorists and arrested 272 individuals linked to various crimes. Additionally, 45 suspected oil thieves were apprehended, and stolen crude oil worth ₦1.19 billion was recovered.

Recovered Weapons and Ammunition

Troops seized an array of weapons and ammunition, including:

• 247 assorted weapons: RPGs, AK47 rifles, FN rifles, locally made pistols, and more.
• 6,174 rounds of assorted ammunition: 7.62mm special, NATO rounds, live cartridges, and others.
• Additional items: 70 AK47 magazines, 51 motorcycles, 8 vehicles, 103 mobile phones, and communication devices.

Operations in the Niger Delta

In the Niger Delta, troops destroyed 61 illegal refining sites, 35 crude oil cooking ovens, 27 dugout pits, and 51 storage tanks. They also recovered:

• 940,372 litres of stolen crude oil.
• 252,000 litres of illegally refined diesel (AGO).
• 132 litres of petrol (PMS).

Other seized items included 35 boats, five speedboats, five receivers, and 59 drums.

Assurance of Continued Efforts

Major General Buba reiterated the military’s commitment to achieving sustainable peace and ensuring that terrorists are held accountable for acts of aggression against citizens.

“These operations reflect the determination of our troops to restore peace and stability across the nation. We remain steadfast in our mission to protect lives and property,” he said.

The Defence Headquarters assured Nigerians that the armed forces would intensify their efforts to counter terrorism, oil theft, and other criminal activities, paving the way for a more secure nation.