From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), yesterday, said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have eliminated 48 insurgents, including six top commanders of the terrorists group, in the past two weeks, in the North East.
The DHQ also said that 3,858 terrorists and their families surrendered to troops in the theatre of operation.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, made the disclosure while reviewing the progress of the ongoing military campaign against insurgency, yesterday, in Abuja.
He said the troops took the battle to Boko Haram terrorists/Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) enclaves with more coordinated operations. He said the Air Component of OPHK, on July 11, conducted air interdiction operation, at Tumbum Jaki and Tumbum Murhu, near the Lake Chad, in Borno, killing more than 21 terrorists.
Onyeuko disclosed that the six terrorists’ commanders surrendered to troops at Gwoza. He listed the surrendered commanders as Malam Mala Hassan (Wali), Ali Madagali (Munzur), Musa Bashir (Chief Anur), Buba Dahiru (Munzur), Jafar Hamma (Kaid) and Abbali Polisawa.
“Also, about 3,858 Boko Haram terrorists and their families surrendered between July 1 and July 14, comprising 505 males, 1,042 females and 2,311 children,” he said.
The spokesman said the troops also neutralised unspecified number of terrorists in different encounters at Gamage village in Dikwa Local Government Area, Dikwa – Gamborou-Ngala road, Pulka – Gwale road in Borno, during the period.
He said several terrorists’ logistics suppliers/collaborators have been arrested with different items at various locations within the theatre.
“Among them were two women, namely; Hauwa Gambo and Khadija Dirsa. Consequently, troops neutralised 42 terrorists, arrested 10, captured 17 AK47 rifles, one QTC rifle, 1 RPG bomb, one RPG tube, five hand grenades, 120 rounds of 5.5mm and 54 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition,” he said
Onyeuko listed other items to include 151 rounds of 7.62mm NATO; 60 rounds of 12.7 108mm, two ammo links, five Dane guns, eight rounds of fabricated 7.62mm ammunition, one smoke grenade, two locally made explosives, 23 empty AK47 magazines, and five FN magazines.
He said the surrendered terrorists and their families were being profiled and documented, while recovered items and apprehended suspected terrorists had been handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action.
Onyeuko also said soldiers on anti bunkering operations in the Niger Delta destroyed 109 illegal refining sites and arrested 24 oil thieves in the last two weeks. He said the soldiers recovered over N2.7 billion stolen crude, comprising over 4.2 million litres of crude oil, two million litres of AGO and 30,000 litres of DPK.
He said the soldiers from Operation Delta Safe, also, discovered and destroyed 34 wooden boats, 150 storage tanks, 119 ovens, 104 dugout pits, 27 pumping machines, one weapon, one speed boat, 13 vehicles and seven outboard engines.
Onyeuko said the soldiers achieved the feat while on operation Octopus Grip conducted in creeks, towns and communities in the Niger Delta region of Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers states.
The DMO spokesman, at a media briefing on the update of military operations, conducted between June 30-July 14 said 3,858 Boko Haram terrorists and their families surrendered to troops fighting the counter insurgency war. The surrendered persons include 505 male, 1,042 female and 2,311 children.
He also said six high calibre of Commanders of the terrorists ground surrendered to troops. He gave the names of the commanders to include Mallam Mala Hassan (WALI), Ali Madagali (Munzue), Musa Bashir (Chief Anur), Buba Dahiru (Munzur), Jafar Hamma (Kaid) and Abbali Nakib Polisawa.
Within the period under review, Onyeuko said soldiers killed several terrorists, arrested some logistics suppliers/collaborators with various items at various logistics towns within the theatre.