Troops of the Nigerian Army have neutralised five terrorists, rescued 11 kidnapped victims, and arrested 21 criminal suspects in a series of coordinated, intelligence-led operations across the country.
A credible source disclosed on Wednesday that the troops also recovered arms, ammunition, and other operational items during missions conducted between July 12 and July 14.
According to the source, troops of the 82 Division Task Force Battalion, working alongside the Civilian Joint Task Force and local hunters, ambushed and neutralised a terrorist at Ngoshe–Agapalwa in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
“Similarly, troops of I Brigade on patrol in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara also neutralised one terrorist and recovered a motorcycle,” the source said.
In a separate operation, troops of Operation Safe Haven neutralised two extremists and recovered weapons and a motorcycle in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The source further revealed that troops of Operation Whirl Stroke rescued 10 kidnapped victims in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State, while one other victim was rescued by troops of the Defence Headquarters Special Operations Battalion and Chief of Army Staff Intervention Battalion in Gudu Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
“Troops of the Nigerian Army also arrested 21 suspects across various states for terrorism, kidnapping, illegal bunkering, arms dealing, and cult-related activities,” the source added.
Those arrested include three suspected extremist collaborators in Kwara, two suspected kidnappers in Edo, an arms dealer in Kaduna, and 11 suspected cultists in Rivers. Additional arrests were made in Yobe, Rivers, and Bayelsa for logistics supply, illegal oil refining, and bunkering activities.
Recovered items include three AK-47 rifles, multiple magazines, 108 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, a Baofeng radio, several mobile phones, motorcycles, and materials linked to insurgent logistics operations.
The source also reported that troops of the 34 Artillery Brigade and 197 Special Forces Battalion uncovered and destroyed illegal refining sites in Rivers, Bayelsa, and Imo States. Over 370,000 litres of stolen crude oil and illegally refined products, along with cooking drums, reservoirs, and related equipment, were recovered.
According to the source, these operations underscore the Nigerian Army’s sustained commitment to dismantling terrorist networks, securing the population, and defending national sovereignty.
“The Nigerian Army continues to call on the public to support security agencies with credible information to sustain the momentum in the ongoing fight against criminal elements,” the source said.
(NAN)