Linus Aleke, Abuja
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), yesterday said, troops of operation Hadarin Daji, deployed to Northwest, have recovered over 10 million naira from two bandits’ logistics suppliers in two weeks, as no fewer than 1332 terrorists and their family members surrendered to troops of operation Hadin Kai at different locations in Northeast theatre, within the same period.

Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Musa Danmadami, made this disclosure during the biweekly briefing on operations of the Nigerian military and other security agencies across the federation, at Defence Headquarters (DHQ) in Abuja.
Gen. Danmadami also revealed that no fewer than 21 criminals were killed, while, over 40 were arrested in the two zones within the same period.

This is even as the air interdiction by troops of the air component of Operations Hadin Kai foiled an attempt by terrorists to disrupt the 2023 elections, in the Northeast.

Giving details of how the money was recovered from the logistics suppliers, Gen. Danmadami said, that based on credible intelligence, troops on patrol at Gusau in Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State intercepted a female bandit collaborator who was en route Taraba State with the sum N1,093,000.00 only concealed in a cosmetic bag.

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He said the recovered sum was said to be for the purchase of arms and ammunition in Taraba State.
The military spokesperson said that in a related development, troops on patrol in Gusau town in Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State arrested a suspected bandit collaborator with the sum of N9,500,000.00 naira only.

“Consequently, within the weeks in review, troops in the North West zone recovered 7 AK47 rifles, 12 AK47 magazines, 158 rounds of 7.62mm special, one locally fabricated weapon, 4 Improvised Explosive Devices, 2 Dane guns, one motorcycle, one handheld radio, 9 bicycles, 39 rustled cows, 74 sheep and the sum of N10,595,580.00 only. Troops also neutralized 13 bandits as well as rescued 23 kidnapped victims,” he narrated.

All recovered items and rescued victims, he said were handed over to the appropriate authority for further action.

Also, troops while acting on credible intelligence, apprehended a Boko Haram Terrorists commander alongside his wife and 4 children at Gwoza town in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

The military disclosed that troops also arrested 35 suspected terrorists’ logistics suppliers and recovered 120 pieces of bread, cutlasses, two axe, knives, three wrist watches, bundles of wrappers, cooking pots, assorted food items, packets of mosquito coil, 5 cartons of fish, 5 bags of fish, 2 sacks of baobab seeds, 7 mobile phones, a substance suspected to be cannabis, sets of cooking utensils, one sack of metal fragments and the sum of N36,250.00.

He said: “cumulatively, within the last two weeks, troops recovered 10 AK47 rifles, one LMG, 7 rounds of 5.56 ammo, one LMG link containing 111 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 200 rounds of LMG ammo, 46 rounds of 7.62mm special, 12 rounds of refilled 7.62mm special, 2 Dane guns, 4 AK47 magazines loaded with 102 rounds of 7.62mm special, 24 AK 47 magazines,1 36 hand grenade and 1 motorcycle.

Troops equally neutralized 8 terrorists, arrested 35 terrorist logistics suppliers and rescued 19 civilians while a total of 1,332 terrorists and their family members comprising 222 adult males, 411 adult females and 699 children surrendered to troops at different locations within the theatre of Operations”.

He, however, hinted that all recovered items, rescued civilians, and apprehended suspects have been handed over to the appropriate authority for further action while surrendered terrorists and members of their families are being profiled for further action.