The Nigerian Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said that soldiers of the Nigerian military arrested no fewer than 18 suspected terrorists in the Abuja Municipal Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.

The Defence Headquarters which made this known on Thursday stated that the suspected terrorists were arrested during operations conducted on February 14 in the nation’s capital.

Abuja Municipal Area Council serves as the central hub of Nigeria’s capital, hosting the seat of power – Presidential Villa, embassies and various prominent government, private, and international entities.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, while speaking during a press briefing on the activities of the troops across the country in Abuja, said that charms and bulletproof vests were among other items recovered from the arrested suspected terrorists.

Buba said, “Arrest of Suspected Violent Extremists/Terrorists: On February 14, 2024, troops in separate operations arrested 18 suspected violent extremists in AMAC of FCT Abuja. During the operations, troops recovered a bulletproof vest, a substance suspected to be cannabis, assorted charms, and the sum of N9,000.00 amongst others.”

He said that in total, 244 terrorists were arrested while 286 were killed in operations conducted between February 13, and 22, of this year.

According to Buba, “During the week under review, troops neutralised 286 arrested 244 of them, and rescued 122 kidnapped hostages. Furthermore, troops recovered 587 assorted weapons and 7,943 assorted ammunition.

“The breakdown is as follows: 207 AK47 rifles, 56 locally fabricated guns, 17 pump action guns, 10 locally fabricated pistols, 22 Dane guns, one FN rifle, 6 double barrel automatic pump action, 2 double barrel guns, 2 x 36 hand grenades, and 10 IEDs.

“Others are 4,088 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 2,529 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 138 rounds of 9mm ammo, 39 rounds of 7.62mm refilled ammo, 331 P445 rounds of 7.62mm special, 180 rounds 5.5mm ammo, 2 PKT link of 7.62mm special, 445 live cartridges, 67 magazines, 6 HH radios,14 vehicles, 32 motorcycles, 34 mobile phones and the sum of N4,876,950.00 amongst other items.”

Buba added that in the operations against oil thieves in the country, crude oil worth N2.5 billion was recovered, while 83 suspects were arrested during the period under review.

He said that “In the SS, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of N2,565,479,720.00 only. Troops also arrested 83 perpetrators of oil theft. Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and discovered and destroyed 134 dugout pits, 79 boats and 116 storage tanks.

“Other items recovered include 149 cooking ovens, one speedboat, 11 vehicles, 8 motorcycles, and 74 illegal refining sites. Troops recovered 2,947,770 litres of stolen crude oil, 251,800 litres of illegally refined AGO, 6,125 litres of DPK, and 6,790 litres of PMS.”

Buba, who also highlighted the Nigerian military’s efforts in combating terrorists and bandits, stressed the need for good governance to contain the widespread insecurity in the country.

“We have eliminated several terrorists, their leaders and commanders. Troops are continually going after the terrorist and dislodging them from their hideouts. In spite of all these, it would appear that there is more to be done to win this war outside the use of military pressure.

“Accordingly, we must now win this war by changing the conditions that make the insurgents willing to fight. We must also win the war by increasing support for the government at various levels through heart and mind projects indicative of good governance,” Buba said.

Recall that the Defence Headquarters in January said that troops of the Nigerian military killed 43 suspected terrorists and arrested 115 others during the operations conducted in the first week of the year.

The Defence Headquarters had also said that from January to December 2023, troops killed a total of 6,886 terrorists and other suspected criminals, while a total of 6,970 terrorists and other suspects were arrested.