The Director Defence Media Operations, Bernard Onyeuko on Thursday said over 5,890 suspected terrorists have surrendered to troops in the North East in the past weeks.
Out of the figure, he said 900 surrendered on Wednesday.
He added that a total of 565 suspected terrorists who have profiled were have been handed over to the Borno state government.
Onyeuko disclosed this while giving an update on the operations of the military between August 12 and September 2 in Abuja.
He said, “In the past few weeks, more than 5,890 terrorists comprising foot soldiers and their commanders have surrendered with their families to own troops in the North East Zone.
“A total of 565 BHT’s comprising 3 Commanders, 4 Amirs, 5 Nakibs and 5 cattle rustling specialists, out of the surrendered BHTs and their family members were handed over to the Borno State Government in Maiduguri for further management after thorough profiling. Yesterday 900 terrorists surrendered.
“Also, no fewer than 48 of the terrorists, 20 arrested including fighters and commanders were neutralized and their logistic base and facilities including 3 gun trucks were destroyed in the process.
“A cumulative total of 52 assorted arms and 1,977 rounds of 7.62mm assorted calibre ammunition including AK-47 and FN rifles with magazines, hand grenades, commando mortar guns, locally fabricated rifles, Dushka anti-aircraft guns, Dane guns and Nigerian Police rifles among other items were recovered from surrendered terrorists and operations within the period. “
He also said a total of 7 terrorists collaborators/informants and logistics suppliers were arrested and handed over to appropriate prosecuting agencies for necessary actions.
Onyeuko also said in the North west, troops of operation Hadarin Daji sustained their operations against the bandits’, kidnappers and other criminal elements in the zone.
He said troops within the period arrested criminal informants/collaborators whose activities have been causing setbacks for troops’ operations in the zone.
Onyeuko noted that a total of 15 armed bandits and 2 armed robbers were neutralized, 13 bandits informants arrested, 15 motorcycles, 2 AK 47 rifles were recovered.
Onyeuko added that 33 kidnap victims were rescued, 66 criminal elements arrested and some vandalized railway tracks were recovered within the period.
He said , “The operations that led to the significant results were carried out at Gidan Zuma village under Kwatarkwashi District and Bakinwa in Gusau LGA; Matuzgi and Gora Namaye village in Maradun LGA of Zamfara State; and along Gurbi – Shimfida Road in Jibia LGA of Katsina State. Other locations where significant results were recorded include; Magam village in Tangaza LGA of Sokoto State, Faskari Town and Batsari/Ruma general area in Batsari LGA and Jibia Town in Jibia LGA of Katsina State. “
He, however said, the Armed Forces’ operations had yielded significant results notwithstanding some negative incidents of the past week.
According to him, this was evident in the reduction of the spate of incidents recorded; the massive surrendering of terrorists in the North East as well as reduction in IPOB/ESN activities in the South East and economic sabotage in the South-South and South West zones of the Country.
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