The Defence Headquarters of the Nigerian Army, has announced that troops eliminated a notorious terrorist commander and gunrunner, Abu Mosaje, along with 96 other terrorists across the country within the last week.
In a statement released on Friday in Abuja, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, revealed that ongoing counter-terrorism operations have intensified nationwide.
The military, he said, is not only targeting terrorists but also dismantling their network of collaborators, informants, and support systems.
According to Buba, Abu Mosaje was killed during an operation in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
He added that troops also arrested Babangida Usman, a wanted kidnap kingpin, in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
“Furthermore, troops arrested another notorious gunrunner and his son identified as Timothy Yusuf and Timothy Obadiah,” Buba disclosed.
He further noted that in the South-East, troops apprehended seven IPOB/ESN operatives, including a notorious kidnapper and informants, in Enugu North and Ehime Mbano Local Government Areas of Enugu and Imo States.
“Nevertheless, during the week under review, troops neutralised 79 and arrested 224 persons. Troops also arrested 28 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 67 kidnapped hostages,” he stated.
The statement highlighted that troops in the South-South denied oil thieves an estimated N747 million in revenue during the week.
They also destroyed 215 crude oil cooking ovens, 26 dugout pits, 29 boats, 62 storage tanks, 20 drums, and 42 illegal refining sites.
Recovered items included one barge, one tugboat, two pumping machines, two speedboats, nine outboard engines, two vehicles, 21 motorcycles, 11 mobile phones, and eight additional vehicles.
Troops also confiscated 842,685 liters of stolen crude oil, 12,340 liters of illegally refined AGO, and 200 liters of DPK.
“Furthermore, across all the theatres of operations, troops recovered 104 assorted weapons and 1,953 assorted ammunition,” the statement read.
The army spokespman provided a breakdown of the seized arms, which included 53 AK-47 rifles, 25 fabricated rifles, one FN rifle, 11 Dane guns, two pump-action guns, one fabricated SMG, seven RPG bombs, four IEDs, and 30 magazines.
Other items recovered were 1,186 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 417 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, 49 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition, 190 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammunition, 12 live cartridges, three bandoliers, one baofeng device, 35 motorcycles, and 22 mobile phones.
“Overall, troops remain steadfast in the destruction of terrorists across the country and remain committed to creating conditions in which the safety and security of citizens is guaranteed,” Buba affirmed.
