Tackling Insecurity: Troops rescue 320 kidnapped victims, kill 221 terrorists in February

The Defence headquarters has said that combined offensives by the military against terrorists and other criminal elements across the country in the month of February, resulted in the rescue of 320 kidnapped victims while 221 terrorists were killed 

Troops arrested a total of 674 terrorists, bandits, Kidnapping gang members as well as perpetrators of oil theft

Director of Defence Media Operations, Major Gen Markus Kangye who made the s known, stated that during the encounters, troops recovered various assorted weapons, ammunition including 146 AK-47 rifles, 87 fabricated rifles and 36 assorted Dane guns and 6140 assorted ammunition.

He said troops in the Niger Delta discovered and destroyed destroyed 156 illegal refining sites, and 114 wooden boats among others. Troops also denied the oil theft of 1,790,934 litres of crude oil, 402,936 litres of AGO, 600 litres of DPK and 9,175 litres of PMS. 

"Troops neutralized 3 criminals and arrested 122 persons involved in crude oil theft. Furthermore, troops recovered 28 assorted arms and 548 assorted ammunition 

Giving details of the operations, Major Gen Kangye said, "In the North East, troops of Operation Hadin Kai neutralized 75 terrorists, arrested 71 suspects and rescued 75 kidnapped hostages. 

"Additionally, troops recorded 152 surrendered BH/ISWAP terrorists’ combatants and their families. Troops recovered 49 AK-47 rifles,15 fabricated rifles, 9 dane guns, 4 assorted arms, 1,896 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 227 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 23 assorted ammunition.

In the North West, Troops of Operation Fasan Yamma neutralized 88 terrorists, arrested 31 suspects and rescued 136 kidnaped hostages. 51 AK-47 rifles, 13 fabricated guns, 4 Dane guns, 3 assorted arms, 1,410 rounds of 7.62mm special, 194 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 30 assorted ammunition.

"Troops of Operation Whirl Punch neutralized 34 terrorists, arrested 124 suspects and rescued 57 kidnap hostages. They recovered 26 AK-47 rifles, 11 dane guns, 13 fabricated rifles 3 assorted arms, 616 rounds of 7.62mm special, 85 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 25 assorted ammunition

"In North Central, troops of Operation Whirl Stroke neutralized 5 terrorists, arrested 172 suspects and rescued 16 kidnap hostages. Additionally, troops recovered 6 AK-47 rifles, 5 fabricated guns, 2 assorted arms and 605 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.

"In the South South, troops of Operation Delta Safe maintained the momentum against the activities of crude oil thieves and continued to find and destroyed illegal refining sites as well as arrest the perpetrators of oil theft. 

Troops the South East region, Operation Udoka conducted offensive operations against IPOB/ESN as well as other criminal activities in the region during the month and achieved tremendous successes.

"Troops neutralized 4 terrorists, arrested 24, while 10 kidnapped hostages were rescued. They also recovered 3 AK-47 rifles, 9 pump action guns, 18 assorted arms, 235 live cartridges and 525 assorted ammunition.