The Defence Headquarters says troops of Operation Hadin Kai neutralised 485 terrorists, apprehended 370 suspects and rescued 595 kidnapped victims during operations in the North-East in the second quarter.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, made this known while addressing a news conference on the operational activities of the Armed Forces for the second quarter, on Wednesday in Abuja.
Onoja said the troops sustained coordinated land and air offensives, intelligence-led operations and targeted raids that significantly degraded the operational capabilities of Boko Haram, ISWAP and other criminal elements across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.
He said troops also facilitated the surrender of 38 insurgents and their family members during the period, describing the achievements as evidence of the military’s commitment to restoring peace and stability.
According to him, within June alone, troops neutralised 76 terrorists, arrested 97 suspects, rescued 465 kidnapped victims and facilitated the surrender of 11 insurgents and their families.
He said one of the most significant operations occurred on June 6, when troops carried out a multi-axis assault on terrorist enclaves in the Mandara Mountains in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno.
The defence spokesman said the operation led to the rescue of 360 civilians, mainly women and children, who had been held captive since their abduction from Ngoshe on March 3.
“All the rescued civilians were evacuated to the General Hospital in Gwoza for immediate medical attention,” he said.
Onoja added that troops evacuated 27 surrendered terrorists and their family members from the Jimini area of Gwoza on June 21 for medical care and profiling.
He added that another operation on June 24 rescued 53 civilians and recovered eight hijacked vehicles.
He said troops also repelled multiple terrorist attacks during the month, including an attempted attack on Buratai community, where one AK-47 rifle and more than 200 rounds of ammunition were recovered.
According to him, another planned attack on Rijang community in Lamurde Local Government Area of Adamawa was foiled on June 27, leading to the neutralisation of one terrorist and the recovery of three AK-47 rifles, four magazines and ammunition.
Onoja said troops also neutralised five suspected kidnappers in Magumeri Local Government Area of Borno on June 28 while recovering weapons during a follow-up operation.
He said intelligence-driven operations equally led to the arrest of several terrorist collaborators, including a key suspect whose confession enabled troops to apprehend another logistics facilitator linked to terrorists operating in the Sambisa Forest.
He further disclosed that troops successfully rescued seven schoolchildren and a teacher abducted from Government Secondary School, Lassa, in Askira-Uba Local Government Area after engaging the fleeing terrorists.
Onoja, however, said one soldier and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force lost their lives during the rescue operation.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Armed Forces to sustaining offensive operations until terrorism and other security threats were decisively defeated across the country. (NAN)
