By Linus Aleke
The Defence Headquarters on Thursday said that the coordinated air and artillery bombardments of the Nigerian troops across all theatre of operations is yielding the desired results as no fewer than one thousand, one hundred and fifty-eight (1,158), terrorists and their families surrendered to troops in less than one month.
This is even as eighty-five (85), terrorists were sent to an early graves, one hundred and nineteen were apprehended and seven hundred and eighty-eight (788), civilians were rescued from captivity, within the period.
Director, Defence Media Operations, (DMO), Major General Benard Onyeuko made this disclosure while briefing the Defence correspondent on the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s operational activities.
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General Onyeuko also revealed that the Commander of Operation Safe Haven handed over a total of 517 small arms and light weapons recovered from bandits and other criminal elements to the Coordinator North Central Zone of the National Centre for the control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, at its Headquarters in Jos.
According to him, “A total number of 1,158 terrorists and their families surrendered to troops of Operation Hadin Kai within the period under review comprising 164 men, 367 women and 627 children. Also, troops neutralized 23 terrorists, rescued 619 civilians and arrested 19 terrorists. All surrendered Boko Haram Terrorists, recovered items, rescued civilians and captured terrorists have been handed over to appropriate authorities for further actions”.
On Operation Safe Haven, he said, “troops also carried out series of community engagements, sensitization programme and civil-military cooperation’s activities to engage relevant civil society in a non-kinetic approach in resolving lingering security challenges which has recorded a huge successes in curtailing banditry and other criminals related activities in the theatre of operation. In another development, on 21 April 2022, the Commander of Operation Safe Haven at its Headquarters in Jos handed over a total of 517 small arms and light weapons recovered from bandits and other criminal elements to the Coordinator North Central Zone of the National Centre for the control of Small Arms and Light Weapons. The Commander commended troops for their resilience and successes recorded at stamping out criminal activities and the recovery of numerous illicit weapons. He also commended the spirited citizens who gave actionable information to the troops that led to the huge success recorded”.
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He gave the breakdown of the weapons handed to the appropriate authorities to include, 26 AK 47 rifles, 1 FN, 2 Barreta rifles, 3G3 rifles, 6 Barreta pistols, 1 Harris Bing pistols and 1 SMG.
Others he added include 183 locally fabricated rifles, 163 dane guns, 102 locally fabricated pistols, 19 locally fabricated SMGs, 6 single barrel guns and pump action gun.
On the successes of troops of Operation Hadarin Daji, General Onyeuko said that troops also rescued 179 civilians, neutralized 62 terrorists and apprehended 100 terrorists.
All recovered items, rescued and apprehended terrorists he said were handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action.
