The Defence Headquarters has reported the elimination of 101 terrorists and the arrest of Usman Maisaje, a terrorist commander, along with 182 other suspects, during military operations conducted across the country over the past week.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major-General Edward Buba, disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja. Buba revealed that Maisaje was a key associate of Kachalla Boka, a high-profile terrorist leader.
He noted that the arrest has yielded valuable intelligence, with Maisaje cooperating by providing information to aid further operations.
Buba said the troops recovered 71 weapons and 1,463 rounds of ammunition, including 50 AK-47 rifles, 16 fabricated rifles, five dane guns, five pump-action guns, and 16 AK-47 magazines.
“Others are 784 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 403 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 164 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammo, 53 rounds of 9mm ammo, 67 live cartridges, one Baofeng radio, 19 vehicles, 23 motorcycles, and 35 mobile phones, among other items,” he added.
In the North-East, troops under Operation Hadin Kai killed 54 terrorists, arrested 71 suspects, and rescued 39 hostages. A further 74 terrorists—comprising seven adult males, 17 adult females, and 44 children—surrendered. Airstrikes targeted terrorists in Bukar Meram near Tumbuns, destroying their structures and logistics.
In the North-Central region, troops of Operations Safe Haven and Whirl Stroke killed 12 extremists, arrested 42 suspects, and rescued 56 hostages.
Similarly, troops of Operations Hadarin Daji and Whirl Punch in the North-West eliminated 28 terrorists, apprehended 57 suspects, and rescued 44 hostages, while recovering a large cache of weapons.
Air operations in Kaduna State also targeted terrorist enclaves linked to notorious kingpin Malam Yaddi, killing several terrorists.
In the Niger Delta, troops of Operation Delta Safe dismantled 60 illegal refining sites, destroying four dugout pits, 48 boats, 52 drums, and 38 storage tanks.
Troops also seized 712,535 litres of stolen crude oil and 76,800 litres of illegally refined diesel, arresting 45 suspects involved in oil theft.
In the South-East, Operation Udo Ka neutralised seven terrorists, arrested 12 extremists, and rescued 18 hostages.
“The military will not relent on its plan to kill terrorists and destroy the infrastructure that supports them. We will increasingly degrade the terrorist military capability and effectiveness through our operations,” Buba affirmed.
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