Security
Security Operations: Troops Arrest 333 Suspects, Recover 105 Firearms Nationwide
The Defence Headquarters says the military rescued 349 kidnapped persons, neutralised 217 terrorists and criminals, and arrested 333 suspects during nationwide operations in October.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed this on Friday during the monthly press briefing on military operations in Abuja.
Onoja said troops also recorded the surrender of 70 insurgents, recovered 105 firearms and 3,174 rounds of ammunition, and dismantled 49 illegal refining sites.
He explained that the operations, conducted between September 30 and October 30, involved sustained kinetic and non-kinetic efforts across the country’s security theatres.
According to him, troops, supported by the Air Component and other security agencies, repelled terrorist attacks, rescued abducted citizens and disrupted logistics, intelligence and arms trafficking networks.
He said one of the major operations resulted in the killing of a senior Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) leader, Abdussamad Ohida, in Owo Forest, Ondo, on October 2. He described Ohida as the deputy to the ISWAP leader in Central Nigeria, allegedly involved in planning large-scale attacks across several states.
Onoja said troops also repelled a major ISWAP attack on Kukawa, Borno, between October 6 and 7, neutralising 25 terrorists and recovering rifles, ammunition and explosive devices.
He further disclosed that the military rescued 20 abducted prospective NYSC members and other passengers in Imo following an attack on commercial buses along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway on October 7.
In the North-East, troops of Operation Hadin Kai neutralised 162 terrorists, rescued 39 kidnap victims, arrested 98 suspects and received the surrender of 68 insurgents, while disrupting supply and intelligence networks in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.
In the North-West, troops of Operation Fansan Yamma neutralised 18 terrorists, rescued 167 kidnap victims, arrested 10 suspects and recorded one surrender.
He said troops repelled an attack by Lakurawa terrorists in Maiyama Local Government Area of Kebbi State on October 7. The attackers, who arrived on more than 100 motorcycles and were armed with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), were engaged by troops, who neutralised 10 of them and recovered weapons.
Other rescue operations included the liberation of 27 villagers in Gamji community, Sabuwa LGA of Katsina State, on October 16, and nine abducted persons in Ghana Village, Malumfashi, on October 28.
In the North-Central, troops of Operation Savannah Shield neutralised three terrorists, rescued 29 kidnap victims, arrested three suspects and facilitated one surrender. The operations included the rescue of 18 persons in Kwara State and 29 in Mariga LGA of Niger State.
Similarly, troops of Operation Enduring Peace neutralised six criminals, rescued 13 kidnap victims and arrested 84 suspects across Plateau and Kaduna states. The operations included the rescue of two persons travelling to Jos and the arrest of suspected arms traffickers.
Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke neutralised 24 terrorists, rescued 68 kidnap victims and arrested 71 suspects across Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Taraba states.
The operations included the rescue of five victims along the Okoloke-Isanlu-Esa axis in Kogi State and 11 passengers along the Ayere-Kabba Road.
In the South-South, troops of Operation Delta Safe neutralised two criminals and arrested 45 suspects.
They also dismantled 49 illegal refining sites and recovered 756,837 litres of petroleum products in collaboration with Operation Delta Sentinel.
In the South-East, troops of Operation Udo Ka neutralised two terrorists, arrested 22 suspects and rescued 33 civilians. The operations included the arrest of five kidnappers in Imo State and the neutralisation of 10 terrorists in Anambra State.
Onoja said the military recorded 98 attacks across the various theatres of operation. Operation Enduring Peace recorded 29 attacks, Hadin Kai 27, Fansan Yamma 24, Whirl Stroke 12, Udo Ka four, while Delta Safe and Savannah Shield recorded one each.
He expressed condolences to the government and people of Taraba State over the killing of civilians during a terrorist attack on Binnari community in Karim-Lamido LGA on October 23. He assured that efforts were ongoing to apprehend those responsible.
The Defence Media Operations Director also listed civil-military cooperation projects undertaken by the military, including the construction of boreholes, healthcare facilities, school infrastructure, solar streetlights and community halls.
He added that the Nigerian Air Force had strengthened measures to mitigate civilian harm during operations.
Onoja urged troops to remain disciplined and respect human rights, particularly as the festive season approaches.
He also called on members of the public to provide timely and useful security information through the military’s toll-free line, 193.