Abuja: Nigerian Army troops have killed 10 terrorists, arrested suspects and freed kidnap victims in a sweeping 24-hour counter-insurgency operation spanning multiple theatres across the Northeast, the military said.
A credible Army Headquarters source said the successes were recorded during ongoing operations, including Operation Hadin Kai, Operation Fansan Yamma, Operation UDO KA and Operation OPEP.
In the North-East, he said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai thwarted an infiltration attempt by fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province at Bitta in Borno.
He said the troops forced the insurgents to retreat after they encountered coordinated spoiling attacks and superior firepower.
He said the attempted infiltration followed recent attacks on troops’ positions at Banki and Azir Bridge, both of which were repelled.
In a statement by the Military Information of OPHK, Lt Col. Sani Uba on Saturday, the repeated failed assaults represented another significant setback for the insurgents within 24 hours and highlighted sustained pressure by troops across the theatre.
The source said the troops, while conducting an ambush along the Kirawa–Gakara axis in Gwoza Local Government Area (LGA), engaged suspected terrorist logistics suppliers, forcing them to abandon supplies and flee with possible gunshot wounds.
“Items recovered at the scene included four bicycles and seven bags of groundnuts believed to be meant for insurgents.
“In Yunusari Local Government In a related development, in Yunusari Local Government Area of Yobe, troops, working with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, arrested a suspected ISWAP/JAS spy during patrol operations. Under Operation Fansan Yamma, the troops conducted an offensive on terrorist camps in Shinkafi LGA of Zamfara, where one terrorist was neutralised while troops recovered an AK-47 rifle, ammunition and a motorcycle.
“Similarly, under Operation UDO KA in Obubra LGA of Cross River, troops engaged armed criminals and neutralised nine terrorists. They also uncovered a local gun-making factory, recovering three AK-47 magazines, 10 locally made double-barrel guns and weapon fabrication tools, while the facility was destroyed on site,” he said.
The source confirmed that troops also apprehended two suspected ammunition couriers transporting 192 rounds of ammunition, and additional searches by troops led to the recovery of locally fabricated weapons and mortar tubes.
Troops rescued five civilians from terrorist captivity in separate actions. Additionally, four victims who escaped from terrorist control were assisted by troops in Faskari LGA of Katsina State, ensuring their safe recovery.
According to him, in Wase LGA of Plateau, troops rescued another kidnapped victim during pursuit operations, following the terrorists’ flight under pressure from advancing troops. He commended the troops for their resilience and urged them to sustain the operational momentum against terrorist and criminal elements across the country.
