• Announce rescue of kidnapped victims, recovery of rustled cattle, smashing of illegal arms syndicates and illegal armed miners.

The Armed Forces of Nigeria on Thursday said that its troops successfully carried out various operations that led to the killing of Boko Haram/Islamic State in West Africa Province terrorists, bandits, arrest of suspected bandits and their collaborators, rescue of kidnapped victims, recovery of rustled cattle, smashing of illegal arms syndicates and illegal armed miners.

Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, told journalists in Abuja on Thursday that the recently repentant 601 Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists who graduated from Operation SAFE CORRIDOR are being received by their respective State Governments and are in the process of being finally reintegrated to their home communities.

General Enenche said that in order to ensure that they do not slip back to terrorist activities, “the Armed Forces of Nigeria, in conjunction with all stakeholders of the Operation; including traditional, religious and community leaders as well as families of graduated Clients, worked out the modalities to ensure this positive outcome.”

Enenche, who review Armed Forces of Nigeria activities between September 3 to 9, 2020, said that on September 3, “troops successfully repelled terrorists’ attacks on own troops and villages around Baga in Kukawa Local Government Area as well as Gajigana and Gajiram Towns in Nganzai Local Government Area of Borno State. During the encounters, troops neutralized a terrorist and recovered one PKT rifle and 2 AK-47 rifles. Also on same day, troops arrested 2 BHT/ISWAP elements at Kamuya village in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State and another named Usman Almajiri at Damaturu town in Yobe State.

“Relatedly, on 6 September 2020, troops acting on credible intelligence conducted raid operations at Hamdaga Makaranta Town in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State. In the process, 9 different Boko Haram/ISWAP structures identified during ISR missions in the location were cleared. Additionally, 5 of their fighters were killed during the raid; several others were neutralized by mop-up air strikes while escaping with various degrees of gunshot wounds. Interestingly, 7 kidnapped victims comprising 2 women and 5 children were rescued by troops during the operations.

“In another development, on same day, troops of 134 Special Forces Battalion repelled BHTs/ISWAP ambush along Magumeri and Gubio Towns in Borno State. During the encounter, troops killed one terrorist and recovered one gun truck, 2 AK 47 rifles, one Dushka AA Gun, one PKT gun and one MG.  Additionally, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE in conjunction with police and vigilantes, on 7 September 2020 raided the residence of suspected armed robbers and kidnappers at Garba Chede in Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State. During the raid, one armed robber was neutralized while one G3 rifle was recovered.”

In the Northwest region, General Enenche stated that troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI “neutralized 2 armed bandits at Samawa village in Bungudu Local Government of Zamfara State. Similarly, on the same day, a bandit named Sada surrendered 3 AK 47 rifles, one SMG and 2 magazines to troops of Forward Operating Base DANSADAU in Zamfara State. Also, within the period troops of Operation THUNDER STRIKE acting on credible intelligence successfully ambushed armed bandits at Jeka Da Rabi along Kaduna-Abuja Expressway in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State. During the ambush, troops neutralized 4 armed bandits and recovered one locally fabricated rifle along with 5 rounds of 9mm ammunition.

“Furthermore, troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI on 6 September 2020, arrested a bandit at Koha village in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State. Also, on 7 September 2020, troops of Forward Operating Base KEKUWUJE arrested 2 bandits’ couriers with the sum of One Million Five Hundred and Sixty Five Thousand, Five Hundred and Fifty Naira (N1,565,550.00) in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State. Similarly, same day, troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI in conjunction with vigilantes arrested a bandit informant in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State.

“Additionally, within this period, the Air Component of Operation THUNDER STRIKE neutralized several armed bandits and disrupted their camps in the Kuduru and Kwaimbana Forest areas of Kaduna State. This was achieved through separate air strikes carried on the heels of credible intelligence reports indicating that the 2 locations were being used as staging areas by the bandits. The attacks on the 2 forests hideout were executed after aerial reconnaissance missions observed significant number of armed bandits around some compounds in a small settlement within the forest.”

In the Northcentral region, General Enenche stated that “on 5 September 2020, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN raided hideouts of suspected Sara Suka criminals at Yantifa, New Market, Terminus and Bauchi road in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State. Troops apprehended 20 Sara Suka suspects at the location while two members of a syndicate specializing in the production of fake security agencies identity cards were also apprehended. Currently, all the arrested suspects are being profiled after which they will be handed over to the appropriate prosecuting agency for further action.

“In addition on 8 September 2020, troops of Operation Ayem Akpatuma III killed a militia leader Terwase Akwaza alias Gana during an encounter with troops around Gboko in Benue State. Forty members of his gang were also captured alongside arms and ammunition.”

The Defence Spokesperson noted that the efforts of the troops has helped to restore normalcy in the area which had hitherto crippled agricultural, social and economic lives of the people of this zone by bandit’s activities.