September 30, (THEWILL) – The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Thursday said troops deployed across the country killed over 343 terrorists and armed bandits between September 2 and 30, 2021.
The troops also arrested 103 armed bandits and terrorists, recovering large caches of arms and ammunition within the period.
The acting director, Defence Media Operations, Brig-Gen Bernard Onyeuko, made these known during updates of ‘Armed Forces of Nigeria Operations’ in Abuja. He said 2,783 terrorists and their families surrendered within the period under review.
Despite attacks on civil settlements, the director said troops sustained operations across various theatres yielded significant results.
He said troops in the north east theatre had several encounters with terrorists in different locations, adding that 85 BHT/ISWAP were killed while 43, including collaborators, were arrested.
He said the troops recovered 121 assorted weapons including SMG, HK21 guns, AK-47 and locally-made rifles with magazines, 3,372 rounds of 7.62mm NATO/Special ammunition, locally made pistols and smooth body grenades, RPG-7 bombs as well as 12,250 bags of fertilizers and 178 rustled livestock among several other items.
In the North West, he said 240 armed bandits were neutralised, 125 assorted arms including AK-47 and FN rifles and Dane guns as well as 1,166 rounds of 7.62mm special/NATO ammunition, 1,304 livestock and 54 motorcycles among other items were recovered within the period.
The director said troops also arrested 47 armed bandits, informants and bandits’ collaborators terrorising the region. He added that 53 armed bandits were killed during air bombardments on criminal enclaves in different locations including Magami and Dansadau forests in Zamfara state.
He also said troops of Operation Whirl Stroke killed 15 armed bandits and recovered 23 AK-47 rifles with magazines as well as 66 rounds of 7.62mm special and 39mm ammunition.
In addition, troops of Operation Safe Haven arrested 15 criminals, recovered 14 locally fabricated rifles, 27 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 14 cartridges and 44 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, among others.
Onyeuko said the troops of Operation Thunder Strike/Whirl Punch killed 83 armed bandits in different raids in Kaduna state.
He said the Nigerian armed forces and other security agencies will not rest on their oars in the fight against criminality in all parts of the country.
