The Nigerian Army announced that nationwide operations carried out between November 29 and December 1 resulted in the killing of eight terrorists, arrest of 51 suspects, rescue of 27 victims and recovery of weapons, ammunition and other illegal items.
According to the statement by the army posted via X on Tuesday, the operations involved troops deployed across the North East, North Central, North West and South-South, with the activities targeting terrorist groups, kidnappers, traffickers, illegal miners and other criminal elements.
The Army explained that in Borno State, troops of 151 Task Force Battalion, 152 Task Force Battalion and 192 Battalion “neutralized four ISWAP/JAS terrorists in ambush and clearance operations.” The recovered items included “three AK-47 rifles, four AK-47 magazines containing 70 rounds of 7.62mm, 31 rounds of 12.7mm, 171 rounds of 7.62x54mm linked, 183 rounds of 7.62x51mm NATO, an AK-47 working part and a Baofeng radio.” It added that no victims were rescued during these activities, though troops “responded effectively to infiltration attempts around Chibok.”
Across Plateau, Taraba, Benue, Kogi and Kaduna States, troops under Operation WHIRL STROKE and Operation ENDURING PEACE rescued a total of 20 victims. These included “3 victims in Panyam, 1 in Zaki-Biam, 6 adult females and 1 minor (7 total) in Tsanyawa/Kankia, 4 victims in Yagba West, 1 victim in Odo Eri, 2 victims in Sanga LGA and 2 adult females in Isoko North.”
During the same operations, troops arrested several suspects, including “2 suspected kidnappers in Panyam, 4 human traffickers in Sardauna, 3 extremist collaborators in Ukum, 13 illegal miners in Lau, 2 cultists in Delta and 1 gunrunner in Plateau.” The Army noted that, combined with “25 drug suspects arrested in Bayelsa and Rivers,” the total number of suspects detained across the regions stood at 51.
In Taraba State, the Army reported that troops also “neutralized 4 violent extremists and recovered one fabricated AK-47 rifle, three Dane guns, 25 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and two motorcycles” during a response to a communal clash in Karim Lamido. In Delta State, troops recovered “one locally made pistol, two cartridges and five mobile phones” while arresting two suspected cult members. Additionally, 76 rustled cattle were recovered in Plateau State and returned to their owners.
In the South-South, anti-oil theft operations led to the shutdown of “an illegal refining site with about 1,000 litres of stolen crude.” Joint actions with the NDLEA resulted in the arrest of “25 drug-related suspects.”
The statement also disclosed that troops in Kaduna State intercepted vehicles transporting explosives, including “5,000kg of gelatine explosives, 3,000m of cordtex fuse, 10 electric detonators and 1,000m of connecting wire.” Investigations into the movement of the materials are ongoing in collaboration with other security agencies.
One of the significant breakthroughs highlighted in the release was the arrest of a suspected gunrunner, Shuaibu Isah, also known as Alhaji. According to the Army, he had been attempting to receive “1,000 rounds of ammunition” from accomplices who are still being trailed.
Reaffirming its position, the Nigerian Army stated that it remains committed to protecting the country, adding that it aims to ensure that “terrorists, criminals and their collaborators have no safe haven.”
Ademide Adebayo
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