- The Nigerian military eliminated 8,034 terrorists and arrested 11,623 suspected criminals between January and December 2024 during various operations
- Major General Edward Buba reported significant recoveries, including over 8,216 weapons and 53.1 million liters of stolen crude oil
The Nigerian military announced on Thursday that its troops across various theatres of operations eliminated 8,034 terrorists between January and December 2024.
The operations also led to the arrest of 11,623 suspected criminals and the rescue of 6,376 kidnapped hostages during the same period.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, disclosed this at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja during a press briefing on the military’s annual achievements.
He noted that troops faced diverse threats in five active theatres of operations nationwide but maintained a heightened state of readiness to counter terrorist aggression and insecurity.
Buba detailed the significant recoveries made by the troops, including 8,216 weapons and 211,459 rounds of ammunition.
He further revealed that operations against oil theft resulted in the denial of over ₦57 billion to criminal syndicates within the past 11 months.
Key Recoveries by the Military:
- Weapons: 4,053 AK-47 rifles, 1,123 locally fabricated guns, 731 Dane guns, and 240 pump-action guns.
- Ammunition: 120,247 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 41,515 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 5,373 cartridges, 1,940 assorted arms, and 25,664 assorted ammunitions.
- Crude Oil and Fuel: 53.1 million liters of stolen crude oil, 9.1 million liters of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), 90,595 liters of Dual-Purpose Kerosene (DPK), and 156,095 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
According to Buba, the military’s proactive efforts were instrumental in addressing security challenges and preventing further terrorist activities. “The troops have adopted a high level of alertness to safeguard the nation from insecurity. “