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The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has announced that troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria neutralised 102 terrorists and other criminal elements, arrested 345 suspects and rescued 393 kidnapped victims during coordinated military operations carried out across the country in July.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed the figures on Friday during the monthly operational briefing in Abuja, describing the achievements as evidence of sustained pressure on criminal groups nationwide.
According to Onoja, the operations were conducted in collaboration with other security agencies and local vigilante groups, leading to the surrender of 57 insurgents and their family members, while troops also recovered 59 firearms and 1,811 rounds of ammunition.
He said military offensives across the North-East, North-West, North-Central, South-South and South-East significantly weakened the operational capacity of terrorists, kidnappers, armed militias, secessionist groups and other violent criminals.
In the North-East, troops of Operation Hadin Kai recorded notable victories against Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists, including the elimination of senior terrorist commander and propaganda leader, Abu Salim al-Barnawi, during a counter-offensive in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.
The military also dismantled terrorist logistics networks, arrested suspected collaborators, rescued abducted persons and recorded additional surrenders by insurgents as a result of sustained military pressure.
Onoja said troops under Operation Fansan Yamma in the North-West rescued 191 kidnapped victims, neutralised 33 terrorists and arrested 66 suspects during operations across Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
He added that security forces successfully foiled several kidnap attempts, recovered weapons and components used for improvised explosive devices, and freed numerous captives from terrorist enclaves.
Operations Savannah Shield, Enduring Peace and Whirl Stroke also recorded successes in the North-Central by intensifying operations against kidnappers, armed militias and illegal arms traffickers, leading to more arrests, rescues and the recovery of weapons.
In the South-South, troops of Operation Delta Safe dismantled 18 illegal crude oil refining sites, recovered over 250,500 litres of stolen petroleum products and arrested suspected kidnappers and economic saboteurs.
The defence spokesman said anti-crude oil theft operations equally disrupted illegal refining activities in Rivers State and other parts of the Niger Delta, dealing a major blow to economic sabotage.
In the South-East, troops of Operation Udo Ka arrested 26 suspected criminals, rescued 10 civilians and recovered assorted weapons and ammunition during operations targeting criminal gangs and secessionist agitators.
Onoja also disclosed that the Air Component of the Armed Forces carried out precision air strikes against terrorist positions, including successful operations in Niger State that disrupted planned attacks and supported the rescue of victims.
Beyond combat operations, he said the military strengthened civil-military relations through peace-building initiatives, medical outreach programmes and community development projects in various operational areas.
He noted that the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, commended troops for their professionalism and praised the growing collaboration between the Armed Forces, other security agencies and local vigilante groups.
The CDS particularly applauded the successful rescue of 44 pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State without any ransom or concession to the abductors.
Reaffirming the military's commitment to safeguarding lives and property, Onoja urged Nigerians to continue supporting security agencies with credible intelligence through the toll-free emergency line 193 to enhance ongoing operations across the country.
