The Defence Headquarters has said military troops in various operations across Nigeria rescued 117 hostages and arrested 150 suspected criminals, comprising terrorists, oil thieves, and other wanted persons, during psst week.
Disclosing this in a statement, Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Markus Kangye, said that the successes came after renewed operational strategies, which have improved security and allowed farmers to return to their farming fields without hindrance. He assured that the momentum would be sustained throughout the farming season and beyond.
Kangye said troops in the north east arrested 11 terrorist collaborators, rescued five hostages, and recorded the surrender of one fighter linked to the Abu Ayuba syndicate in Kwayari village, Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State on August 20.
He said that numerous ammunition, logistics supplies, illicit drugs, vehicles, motorcycles, and the sum of ₦70,050 were recovered, while improvised explosive devices were safely detonated in Abadam, Gwoza, and Mobbar LGAs.
Also, in the North West, troops arrested 35 suspected terrorists and rescued 76 hostages during clearance operations.
In the South East, nine suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) were arrested in operations across Imo, Enugu, Abia, and Anambra States.
Kangye said that troops in the South South arrested 48 suspects, including 33 oil thieves, and destroyed 12 illegal refining sites. Recovered products were valued at ₦443,153,650 and included 294,5Delta00 litres of stolen crude oil and 188,450 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
Troops further discovered 13 crude oil cooking ovens, 19 dugout pits, eight boats, 16 storage tanks, pumping machines, and other items.
