The military high command on Tuesday said no fewer than 16,171 terrorist fighters and their families dropped their weapons and surrendered to troops of Operation Hadin Kai in one year.
The military also revealed that troops across all operational theatres killed 10,937 terrorists, apprehended 12,538 and rescued 7,063 kidnapped victims in 12 months.
Also on Tuesday, the military high command vowed to eliminate notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji, and other terrorist leaders in the coming year and threatened to send to the grave terrorist leaders issuing threats to Nigerian communities.
Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, issued this threat while responding to question on viral video where bandit leader Turjithreatened to attack the elderly if the government forces fail to release his top hitmanin their custody within a given period, not exceeding 2025.
Meanwhile, in Katsina State, no fewer than 40 terrorists have been neutralised and 319 kidnapped victims rescued from the clutches of the criminals by police.
The State Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Abubakar Musa, disclosed this during an end-of-the-year celebration and award presentation organised by the command in Katsina.
Addressing a press conference on the operational activities of troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in one year, the Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba. said that troops of operation Hadin Kai killed over 3000 terrorists to top the chart in 2024, while troops of Operation Delta Safe killed only 78 felons.
He also revealed that troops of Operation Hadarin Daji killed over 2,900 terrorists, followed by troops of Operation Udoka with over 730, while Operations Whirl Punch, Whirl Stroke and Safe Haven killed 732, 600, and 447 respectively.
General Buba further disclosed that troops eliminated over a thousand notable terrorist leaders, commanders and combatants among others, during the course of the year.
According to him, “Some of those eliminated in the course of the year include: Dutse Mainasara Idda, Mallam Saleh Umaru, Mohammed Amadu, Chinemerem (aka Bam Bam), Jeremiah Uzuoma (aka Escoba), Tochukwu Awo (aka Ojoto) and Egwuatu amongst others.
“During the year, troops significantly degraded the military capabilities as well as the fighting capabilities of terrorist by neutralizing 10,937 terrorists, arresting 12,538 and rescuing 7,063 hostages.
“Furthermore, troops recovered 8,815 weapons, 228,004 ammunition and denied oil theft of an estimated sum over N68 bn (N68,453,376,040.00) only”.
Others, he said are 56,223,002 litres of stolen crude oil, 9,735,836 litres of illegally refined AGO, 95,595 litres of DPK and 156,527 litres of PMS amongst other items.
He added that troops will continue to collaborate with neighbouring countries and regional bodies in order to tackle the menace of terrorism.
He said that troops in the battlefield are in high spirits, and are fully committed and devoted to stamp out terrorism in Nigeria.
Appealing for the support of citizens and other critical stakeholders in the defenceand security sector, General Buba averred that the war is not for the armed forces alone, but for all citizens.
Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba while stating he would not engage in a war of words with the terrorist kingpin-Turji, General Bubatold Turji that he would be eliminated, just like other commanders before him.
Buba also described bandit kingpin Bello Turji as a “dead man walking”.
Earlier in a viral video, Bello Turji challenged the military to a fight, alleging that his fighters were targeting elderly people.
Turji also demanded the release of a terrorist kingpin arrested by the Nigerian troops, Baka Wurgi, threatening to unleash mayhem on residents of Zamfaracommunities in 2025 if the military continued to detain Wurgi.
The Director Defence Media Operation Major General Edward Buba responded to Turji’s viral video thus: “Indeed, Bello Turji is merely a dead man walking. It will be insulting to try to join issues and words with a terrorist.
“Before him, there were other terrorists who boasted that they would deal with security forces. Today they are all taken out. We will do the same with other terrorist leaders like him”.
On his part, the State Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Abubakar Musa said the 319 rescued kidnapped victims have been reunited with their families and loved ones, while the killing of the 40 terrorists had tackled their heinous operations in the state.
He noted that the command also recovered 2,081 rustled animals and handed them over to their rightful owners, thereby boosting the local economy of the state.
The commissioner of police added that the command’s operatives nabbed 199 suspected armed robbers and charged 23 major drug dealers to court within the period under review.
Musa said: “We have successfully arrested and prosecuted 32 suspected vandals, ensuring that those who seek to destroy our community’s property are brought to justice.
“Our diligent work has also led to the arrest of 89 suspected vehicle thieves and the recovery of over 27 vehicles and motorcycles, making our roads safer for everyone.”
He added that 573 other suspects were apprehended for criminal force, intimidation, and breach of trust, “demonstrating our commitment to tackling all forms of crime.”
Linus Aleke and Francis Sardauna
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