1,506 terrorists surrendered in two weeks –DHQ

The Defence Headquarters on Thursday said no fewer than 201 kidnapped Nigerians were rescued by troops, while 1,506 terrorists surrendered to the military during various operations in the last two weeks.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Musa Danmadami, said the abductees were rescued during clearance operations conducted on terrorists’ hideouts in different locations in Borno and Kaduna states.

Danmadami made the disclose on Thursday in Abuja while briefing select journalists  on the activities of the military between March 9 and March 23.

He said, “On March 14, 2023, troops conducted clearance operations at terrorist enclaves within the Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State. The troops rescued 49 kidnapped civilians, comprising 26 adults and 23 children.

“Also, troops neutralised 13 Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists, arrested six logistics suppliers, and rescued 119 abducted civilians.

“In another development, troops conducted search-and-rescue operations at suspected kidnappers’ hideouts at Moyaladi, Miya, and Gaya villages in the Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State and Modori and Gurusulu villages in the Yunusari Local Government Area of Yobe State. Following the operation, four suspected kidnappers were arrested and six kidnapped victims were rescued.”

Danmadami added that the troops of Operation Whirlstroke neutralised 14 terrorists, arrested 12 terrorist logistics suppliers, and rescued 16 abducted civilians.

He added that during the operations “a total of 1,506 Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists and members of their families, comprising 154 adult males, 514 adult females, and 838 children, surrendered to their troops at a different location within the theatre of operation.”

He noted that cumulatively, within the period under review, troops in the North-West zone recovered 14 AK-47 rifles, 1 PKT MG, 1 RPG-7 tube, 15 magazines, 7 pump-action guns, 139 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm link ammunition, 218 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, and 47 rounds of PKT ammunition.

Speaking on the activities of troops in the South-East, he said troops eliminated seven criminals and arrested 32 Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network criminals.