By Oso Abidemi
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), has announced the arrest of 147 suspected terrorists and other criminals across the country in the past week, alongside the rescue of 39 kidnapped victims.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja while briefing reporters on military operations carried out between September 15 and September 22.
According to him, troops of Operation Hadin Kai in the Northeast arrested 26 suspected collaborators of terrorist groups and rescued three kidnap victims. He said vehicles, motorcycles, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and large quantities of fabrics were also recovered.
Kangye further revealed that troops apprehended 80 terrorists, including two identified leaders – Abubakar Ahmadu and Saawuan Wuaiyolna. Wuaiyolna, he noted, belonged to a notorious syndicate already on the military’s wanted list.
In the Southsouth, troops intensified the fight against crude oil theft, arresting 19 suspected oil thieves and nine other criminals while rescuing nine kidnap victims.
“Troops also discovered and destroyed 16 illegal refining sites, 14 crude oil cooking ovens, seven dugout pits, 11 boats, and eight storage tanks,” Kangye said. He added that the operations prevented the theft of crude oil valued at N19.8 million.
The DHQ reiterated its commitment to dismantling terrorist networks, curbing oil theft, and restoring peace across the country.
