The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said troops operating across the country killed 69 suspected terrorists, rescued more than 360 kidnapped victims and arrested 49 suspects during military operations conducted within the past week.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed this while giving an update on ongoing security operations across the various theatres.
Onoja said troops also intensified operations against crude oil theft and other forms of economic sabotage in the Niger Delta, where three illegal refining sites were dismantled and about 251,600 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and petroleum products recovered.
He added that 12 dug-out pits and reservoirs used for storing illegally obtained petroleum products were destroyed.
The military spokesman, however, said one soldier was killed during the operations, while another sustained injuries.
Giving details of operations in the North-East, Onoja said troops of Operation Hadin Kai foiled an attempt by suspected terrorists to abduct civilians along the Buratai-Kamuya Road in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State on July 31.
According to him, troops pursued the suspects towards Mangari-Dora and rescued 31 people comprising 22 men, five women and four children.
Four vehicles and a motorcycle allegedly belonging to the attackers were also recovered.
The military said a suspected terrorist informant was arrested at Garaha Market in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State on the same day.
On August 1, troops conducting clearance operations around Amuda Bridge in Gwoza LGA rescued two women and two children who the military said had been held in a terrorist enclave since the 2023 farming season.
The victims were subsequently handed over to the community head of Ngoshe.
Onoja added that several relatives of suspected terrorists surrendered or were intercepted between August 2 and 4 in Gwoza, Konduga and Bama LGAs.
He said another group of 20 people also surrendered to troops at Kwuari in Konduga.
…Logistics Suppliers Arrested
The DHQ said troops arrested two suspected terrorist logistics suppliers in Monguno LGA on August 3 and recovered food and other provisions allegedly intended for terrorists operating around Kukawa.