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By Francesca Hangeior

The Defence Headquarters has said that troops on operations across the country neutralized 10 terrorist leaders and 964 fighters in February.

The troops also arrested 621 terrorists, and rescued 466 kidnap victims, while 1,157 Boko Haram terrorists and their members of their families surrendered to troops.

The military high command said this through the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Edward Buba, at a briefing at the Defence Headquarters Abuja on Thursday, February 29.

The Defence spokesperson also said troops recovered 1,573 weapons, 23,345 ammunitions, 8,993,245 litres of stolen crude oil, 1,062,635 litres of diesel, 18,950 litres of kerosene, and 45,950 litres of petrol.

Giving details of the success of troops in the different battlefields across the country, Gen. Buba said troops of Operation HADIN KAI in the northeast killed 242 terrorists neutralized, arrested 57 suspects, and rescued 42 kidnap victims. He also said 1,157 Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters and their families surrendered to the troops.

“Troops also covered 198 AK47 rifles, 61 fabricated, 30 dane guns, 45 assorted arms, 3,692 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 1,854 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 339 assorted ammunitions,” Buba said.
On troops’ successes in the North Central zone, the military high command said troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN and Operation WHIRL STROKE killed 131 terrorists, arrested 254 suspects and rescued 72 kidnap victims.

He said the troops also recovered 113 rifles, 205 fabricated and assorted weapons, and 5, 619 ammunition.

Speaking on troops’ successes in the northeast in February, the military high command said troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI and Operation While Punch killed 495 terrorists, arrested 241 others, and rescued 333 kidnap victims.

He said: “Notable terrorist warlords killed during the month of February in Operation Hadarin Daji are ASHIRU and KACHAMBI, neutralized early Feb 24 by troops in conjunction with vigilantes around Faru, Maradun local government area of Zamfara State, DOGON RAƘUMI neutralized by troops on February 3, during operation in Ƙungurki area of Ƙaura Namoda LGA.

“Others are Sulen NAGALA, LAUSHI and BANGIS neutralized on February 11 during an encounter at Gandaya area of Bingi District of Maru, MALAM was eliminated on 18 February 18 along Koluwai Road in Zurmi LGA, Alhaji BALDU, Baban YARA and Alhaji KABIRU killed on February 24 during rival gang clash in Hayin Alhaji area of Tsafe LGA.”

On operation DELTA SAFE in the South-South, Gen. Buba said troops killed 10 terrorists and neutralized and arrested 359 oil thieves and other suspected violent extremists.

The Defence spokesperson said troops in the South East Operation UDO KA in February killed 106 terrorists, arrested 69 suspects, and rescued 19 kidnap victims.

He said troops also recovered 19 AK47 rifles, 46 pump action guns, 1,717 rounds of 7.62mm special, 586 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 864 live cartridges, 263 assorted ammunitions, and 60 other equipment.