Military Operations Across Nigeria Yield Major Successes: 101 Terrorists Killed, 157 Hostages Rescued

Defence Headquarters announced that troops eliminated 101 terrorists and captured 183 individuals, including Usman Maisaje, a terrorist commander, during various operations nationwide in the past week. Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, provided this update on Friday in Abuja.

According to Buba, Maisaje, who was closely linked to the wanted terrorist leader Kachalla Boka, has been cooperating with military forces and providing valuable intelligence for future operations. The army also rescued 157 kidnapped individuals.

During these operations, the military seized a significant cache of weaponry, including 50 AK-47 rifles, 16 fabricated rifles, five Dane guns, five pump-action guns, 16 AK-47 magazines, and 1,463 rounds of various ammunition types. Other recovered items included a Baofeng radio, 19 vehicles, 23 motorcycles, 35 mobile phones, and various supplies.

Buba detailed the success of Operation Hadin Kai forces in the Northeast, where 54 terrorists were killed, 71 suspects captured, and 39 hostages freed within the past week. Additionally, 74 terrorists, comprising seven adult males, 17 adult females, and 44 children, surrendered in the operations area.

He mentioned that air interdiction missions targeted terrorist hideouts in Bukar Meram near Tumbuns, neutralizing several militants and destroying their infrastructure and supplies.

In the North Central region, forces from Operations Safe Haven and Whirl Stroke neutralized 12 extremists, arrested 42, and rescued 56 abducted captives. Meanwhile, in the Northwest, Operations Hadarin Daji and Whirl Punch led to the elimination of 28 terrorists, arrest of 57 suspects, release of 44 hostages, and discovery of a substantial weapons cache. Air interdictions also targeted terrorists in Jan Birnin, Birni Gwari area, and notorious leader Malam Yaddi, resulting in multiple casualties.

Buba also reported that Operation Delta Safe dismantled 60 illegal refining sites in the Niger Delta, along with 48 boats, 52 drums, 38 storage tanks, and four trenches. The military recovered 55 cooking ovens, two speedboats, a tricycle, six mobile phones, and several vehicles. Additionally, 45 suspects were arrested for oil theft, with 712,535 liters of stolen crude oil and 76,800 liters of illegally refined diesel recovered.