Nigerian military conducts 7,062 operations, kills 1,487 terrorists

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said the military conducted 7,062 security operations across the country in July and August, neutralising 1,487 terrorists and insurgents and rescuing 777 kidnapped victims.

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The Director of Defence Information (DDI), Samaila Uba, a Major General, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at the Joint Security News Briefing by security and law enforcement agencies.

Mr Uba said the operations were conducted through coordinated land, air and maritime efforts targeting terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, arms trafficking, oil theft and other criminal activities.

He said troops also arrested 354 suspects, recovered 91 firearms, 1,331 rounds of ammunition and 44 improvised explosive devices during the operations.

According to him, the military’s operations are aimed at degrading criminal capabilities, disrupting logistics networks, rescuing victims and protecting communities and critical national infrastructure.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria remain committed to defeating all forms of criminality threatening national security,” he said.

Mr Uba said the troops sustained offensive operations across all six geopolitical zones in response to emerging threats, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery and attacks on communities.

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He said the operations also focused on countering separatist violence, disrupting crude oil theft and illegal refining, and dismantling criminal networks and their support structures.

He said the military recorded significant gains in the North-east, where troops of Operation HADIN KAI neutralised 309 Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province fighters and arrested several suspected collaborators and logistics facilitators.

The defence spokesperson said troops also rescued hundreds of persons held in terrorist enclaves, while sustained pressure compelled terrorist fighters and their families to surrender in several locations.

He said the military’s operations in other theatres also resulted in the rescue of hundreds of kidnapped victims and the disruption of terrorist and criminal movements.

He said the armed forces also recorded notable successes through intelligence-led operations, targeted raids, clearance operations and coordinated rescue missions.

He said the air component maintained consistent combat support and reconnaissance for ground formations, enhancing the military’s ability to locate and engage hostile elements.

“On the non-kinetic front, nine dialogue and peace-building initiatives were undertaken, alongside 15 stakeholder engagement meetings with traditional and religious leaders,” he said.

Mr Uba added that the military issued 137 press releases during the period and identified and countered 13 instances of misinformation.

He said no major border or transnational security incident, critical infrastructure vandalism, prison break or threat to pipelines, railways and highways was recorded during the reporting period.

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The DDI said the operational successes reflected the value of joint military operations, inter-agency cooperation and community support.

He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and provide timely and actionable intelligence to security agencies to support ongoing operations.

Mr Uba also acknowledged the support and strategic guidance of President Bola Tinubu, the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, in strengthening military capacity and operational effectiveness.

He commended military personnel and other security agencies for their sacrifices, while urging the media to continue to report security matters accurately and responsibly.

(NAN)