The Nigerian army says it has made some success in the fight against terrorist and every form of insurgency in the country.
Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Thursday announced troops of Operation HADIN KAI in the North-east have killed 29 terrorists, arrested 55 and rescued 52 civilians in the last two weeks.
This progress is coming just few days after President Muhammadu Buhari’s ‘full freedom’ order to security agencies to tackle insecurity.
The military high command said airstrikes by Nigerian Air Force fighter jets neutralised a key Islamic State of West Africa Province Commander Alhaji Modu (aka Bem Bem) and 20 of his fighters at Degbawa near Mandara Mountains in Gwoza local government area of Borno state.
Following the killing of innocent citizens by terrorists in Kaduna, Plateau and Sokoto in quick succession about a week ago, President Buhari had ordered the security forces to give the criminals a bloody nose.
“We have given security forces full freedom to deal with, and bring to end this madness. I condemn these barbaric attacks on the country. I wish to assure the states of all possible support from the government of the federation.
“My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly,” Buhari was quoted to have said in a statement by a presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu.
But the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor told media executives Tuesday the order was only “reechoing the previous orders” of the president, adding the president never gave a half order before now.
Announcing the latest efforts at nipping the rising insecurity in the bud at a bi-weekly news briefing of the DHQ in Abuja, Director Defence Media Operations (DMO) Major-General Benard Onyeuko said a high-profile terrorist leader who had been on the wanted list of the military, Alhaji Abdulkareem Lawal (aka Abdulkareem Boss) and 27 of his foot soldiers, were also killed by another airstrikes at Rudu forest in Katsina state.
He said a total of One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Five (1,755) Boko Haram terrorists’ members and their families comprising of 280 males, 523 females and 952 children surrendered to troops at different location within the week under review.
According to him, all surrendered terrorists and their families were profiled and handed over to relevant authority.
General Onyeuko also said troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI in the North West Zone on routine patrol, arrested 5 suspected foreign bandits named, Muritala Wada, Saminu Sani, Shamisu Adamu, Salisu Saadu and Usman Ibrahim at Jibia in Jibia local government area of Katsina state.
He said troops, in conjunction with the Civilian Joint Task Force, also arrested terrorist logistics suppliers on August 6, 2022 at Buni Yadi general area.
He gave the names as Hussain Dungus, Ali Bulama Jidda and Mallam Ali Abuna.
The items recovered from the suspects, according to the defence spokesman, include the sum of One Million Seven Hundred and Ninety-Three Thousand Seven Hundred naira (1,793,700.00) only, large quantity of assorted food stuffs, 3 handsets, 2 bicycles and other sundries.
“Furthermore, between 31 July and 2 August 2022, troops arrested one Mallam Yahaya a notorious bandit informant who has been on the tracking list of the Department of State Security for collaborating with bandits on the numerous attacks in Sabon Brini general area of Sokoto state,” he said.
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