’86 terrorists killed and scores of kidnapped victims rescued’ – Nigerian Military says

The Armed Forces of Nigeria says it has killed over 86 Boko Haram terrorists and other criminal elements in the country in its various operations within the last week.

Coordinator Defence Media Operations (DMO) Defence Headquarters, Maj. Gen. John Enenche, said this whilst briefing newsmen on the operational activities of the military across the country Friday, in Abuja.

He noted that the terrorist group whose activities in the past years had ravaged and devastated the north eastern part of the country, has been decapitated with the new vigour and zeal of the Nigerian military thereby reducing the group to resort into mere criminals.

Gen Enenche said, the military will redouble its efforts in making sure they have no significant value and are cripplingly incapacitated with the continued offensive and onslaught it will launch against the group.

“I want to assure the general public that the Nigerian military will reduce the current criminality activities of Boko haram and ISWAP to hoodlumism”.

This, he said can only be feasible if the general public has given its due cooperation by providing the credible information to the troops to succeed.

He assured that the military will not stop until the criminal activities of Boko Haram/ISWAP as well as other crime related issues have been reduced to the barest minimum in the country.

On the UN alleged security alert that Boko haram might attack Lagos and Abuja during the Covid- 19 pandemic period, Gen. Enenche said, the military is more than prepared to tackling any criminal activity before it happens.

Full text of the briefing reads below;

UPDATE ON ARMED FORCES OF NIGERIA OPERATIONS

1. In line with the resolve of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to update the general public regularly on its operations, I am to brief you this morning on our operations generally with emphasis on some of them. Let me stress that it is a joint effort of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force and other security agencies.

OPERATION LAFIYA DOLE

2. On 11 May 2020, eleven ISWAP fighters surrendered to troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE in Adamawa State. The repentant insurgents are being profiled for further action. This number of surrendered BHT/ISWAP fighters is an indication of the heat of our operational activities on the terrorists due to the renewed impetus in the theatre to end the criminality. There are indications that more terrorists are willing to surrender. One of such moves, was the dropping off of 72 family members of BHTs/ISWAP at the entrance of Ngala town in Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State on 10 May 2020 around 8.30pm, comprising 33 women and 39 children. All of them are in custody of troops for further action. It would be recalled that the De-radicalization, Rehabilitation and Reintegration programme for ex-fighters under Operation SAFE CORRIDOR has recorded tremendous success. So far, 280 clients have successfully undergone the programme and reintegrated into the society, 25 of this number were repatriated to Niger Republic. Presently, 603 clients are due to pass out in June 2020. Other fighters are hereby encouraged to come out of the bush/hideouts to surrender. The military High Command is using this medium to request parents, traditional rulers, community, opinion and religious leaders to urge their wards and children not to succumb to inducements by the BHT/ISWAP for recruitment into their fold because the temporarily surviving terrorists are now in dire need of fighters.
3. Meanwhile, on 9 May 2020 troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE at Uvaha High Ground Area in Limankara, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State neutralized 3 suicide bombers attempting to infiltrate the defence location. Similarity, troops of 144 Battalion, 82 Division task Force Battalion, 26 Task Force Brigade and 271 Task Force Tank Battalion neutralized 18 Boko Haram Terrorists within the past one week. These operations took place at Gamboru Ngala, Firgi Mubi – Kamale Road in Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State as well as Ngoshe near the Nigeria – Cameroon border. A total of 72 persons were also rescued from the Boko Haram Terrorists.
4. Also, on 9 May 2020, troops of 121 Task Force Battalion, at Pulka – Ngurosoye, near Bama town repelled BHT ambush and killed 20 terrorists, while on escort duty. Equally, on 13 May 2020, Operation LAFIYA DOLE troops killed 9 BHTs in an ambush at Mainok – Jakana axis in Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State. Two gun trucks mounted with anti aircraft gun were captured. In all 61 BHT/ISWAP criminals were neutralized in the Theatre, aside from those that escaped with gunshot wounds with narrow chances of survival.
5. In a swift operation, within this period, gallant Troop of Army Super Camp Mallam Fatori on 11 May 2020, conducted a clearance operation to Tumbun Fulani in Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State. Several terrorist were killed while their vehicles and logistics bases were destroyed.

OPERATION WHIRL STROKE

6. Troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE, on 12 May 2020, while responding to a distress call on suspected armed herdsmen infiltration at Agasha in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State neutralized 4 assailants. Troops recovered 2 AK-47 rifles, 4 magazines and 65 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition from them. The general public is hereby requested to continue to provide credible information to the Armed Forces of Nigeria, to facilitate our operations in this regard.
7. I am to warmly state that, the High Command of the Armed Forces of Nigeria congratulates the gallant troops for successes recorded and once more call on parents, traditional, opinion, community and religious leaders to advise their wards and subjects not to succumb to inducements by the terrorists, as the Armed Forces of Nigeria remains decisive to end the insurgency and other security challenges in the Country. Furthermore, the High Command wishes to thank the general public for their support and solicits for their cooperation towards providing credible and timely information that will facilitate proactive engagements in our operations.