The military during various operations across the country in 2023 killed a total of 6,886 terrorists and other criminal elements.

Also, a total of 6,970 suspects were arrested and 4,488 kidnapped citizens were rescued across the country.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen Buba Edward, disclosed this in Abuja on Friday while briefing journalists on the activities of the troops across the country in 2023.

He noted that the efforts of the troops in the year led to the recovery of 100 million litres of stolen crude oil and 60 million litres of diesel.

Buba said, ‘’During the period, troops neutralised 6,886 terrorists and other criminal elements. Troops arrested 6,970 suspects, rescued 4,488 kidnapped hostages as well as recovered 3,320 assorted weapons and 39,075 assorted ammunition.

“Additionally, troops recovered 100,316,600 litres of crude oil, 60,339,426 litres of AGO, 3,465,450 litres of DPK, and 3,544,990 litres of PMS.”

Giving an analysis of the threats witnessed in 2023, Buba noted that banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, oil theft, secessionist agitations, and farmers-herders clashes were  top.

He said the threat dynamics were, however, defined along geo-political zones with some permeating across the regional lines.

Buba said kidnapping, armed robbery, communal clashes and cattle rustling were common across the six geopolitical zones.

He said, “The predominant threat in the North-Central and North-West regions is armed banditry/terrorism while the Boko Haram terrorists/Islamic State West African Province lingering insurgency remained the main threat in the North-East region.

“The major threat in the South-East and South-West was the secessionist agitations of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra and the Yoruba Nation respectively.

END.