In a series of successful military operations across northern Nigeria, troops of the Nigerian Armed Forces killed 96 terrorists and apprehended 227 individuals involved in insurgency and criminal activities, according to the Defense Headquarters (DHQ). Among those arrested is a notorious terrorist commander, Usman Maisaje, a close associate of the wanted high-profile terrorist leader, Kachalla Boka.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Buba Edward, made the announcement in a statement released on Friday. He detailed the operations that resulted in significant achievements, including neutralizing key terrorist figures and foiling oil theft schemes worth hundreds of millions in the South-South region.
Usman Maisaje, the captured terrorist commander, is known for his close ties to Kachalla Boka, a wanted terrorist leader who has been a long-time target of Nigerian security forces. Buba emphasized that Maisaje’s arrest was a major breakthrough, providing crucial intelligence to aid future operations.
“Troops in the North Central operational theatre arrested a notorious terrorist commander identified as Usman Maisaje,” Buba said. “The arrested terrorist commander is a close associate of Kachalla Boka, a wanted high-profile terrorist leader. The arrest has been rewarding in intelligence value as he is cooperating and providing troops with much-needed intelligence for further operations.”
This intelligence has the potential to cripple further terrorist activities and disrupt the leadership of insurgent cells operating in northern Nigeria. The operation also resulted in the rescue of 157 hostages, some of whom had been held captive for months by the terrorists.
The past week’s military operations were a part of broader efforts by the Nigerian Armed Forces to address the rising threats of terrorism, banditry, and other criminal activities across various regions of the country. The successful neutralization of 96 terrorists is a significant blow to the insurgents’ capacity to wage further attacks on civilians and military targets.
Major General Buba also disclosed that during these operations, troops retrieved a large cache of weapons and ammunition, making it more difficult for terrorist factions to rearm and launch further attacks.
“The breakdown is as follows: 50 AK47 rifles, 16 fabricated rifles, 5 Dane guns, 5 pump-action guns, 5 locally made pistols, one revolver pistol, and 16 AK47 magazines. Others are 784 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 403 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 164 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammo, 53 rounds of 9mm ammo, 67 live cartridges, and one Baofeng radio,” Buba added.
This extensive weapons recovery further weakens the terrorists’ operational capacity and puts pressure on their dwindling resources.
In addition to the operations in the North, the Nigerian Armed Forces carried out significant anti-oil theft operations in the South-South, where oil theft and illegal refining activities have plagued the region for years.
Buba revealed that troops in the South-South successfully disrupted oil theft operations valued at an estimated N712 million and arrested 45 individuals suspected of engaging in oil theft. These operations are part of ongoing efforts to combat economic sabotage and environmental degradation caused by illegal oil bunkering and refining in the Niger Delta.
“Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 4 dugout pits, 48 boats, 52 drums, and 38 storage tanks,” Buba said. “Other items recovered include 55 cooking ovens, 2 speedboats, one tricycle, 6 mobile phones, 6 vehicles, and 60 illegal refining sites. Troops recovered 712,535 litres of stolen crude oil and 76,800 litres of illegally refined AGO (Automotive Gas Oil).”
The South-South region, home to Nigeria’s rich oil reserves, has long struggled with illegal refineries and oil theft syndicates, causing both environmental disasters and revenue losses for the country. The Nigerian military’s crackdown in this region aims to stem the tide of these illicit activities.
In addition to counter-terrorism and anti-oil theft operations, the military’s efforts to curb criminality and unrest continue to pay off. In the past week, the Nigerian Armed Forces also seized 71 firearms, 1,463 rounds of ammunition, and a range of other equipment used by criminals and insurgents alike.
Buba highlighted the extent of the seizures, which included:
- 50 AK47 rifles
- 16 fabricated rifles
- 5 Dane guns
- 5 pump-action guns
- 5 locally made pistols
- 1 revolver pistol
- 16 AK47 magazines
- 784 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition
- 403 rounds of 7.62mm NATO
- 164 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammunition
- 53 rounds of 9mm ammunition
- 67 live cartridges
- A Baofeng radio, 19 vehicles, 23 motorcycles, 35 mobile phones
- N4,087,630 and 46,000 CFA seized from suspects.
The results of these operations are a testament to the Nigerian Armed Forces’ ongoing commitment to maintaining national security and stability. The captured weapons, vehicles, and communication tools will likely further disrupt the operational capacity of terrorists, bandits, and oil thieves across the country.
As the military continues to gain ground, it is expected that more terrorist networks will be dismantled, leading to increased safety for civilians and better protection of Nigeria’s economic resources.
