The Defence headquarters has insisted that the armed forces will continue to fulfil its mission of hunting and destroying terrorists and their cohorts across the country in the most professional manner unless they choose between the two choices open to them which is “get ready to be killed, die or surrender’.

Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba while making this known, said “Since the beginning of the year, several terrorists and their leaders have been killed or badly injured owing to offensive actions by both land and air forces. Troops are continuing their actions even at this very moment and we are proud of them and appreciate their brave conduct.

“Even though it might not seem that way due to recent events across the country, the fact remains that, our goal is to restore peace and security for citizens to have an enjoyable life. We will continue to do that in spite of the current circumstances. Troops will continue fighting with great effort, determination and sacrifice to bring about great results.

Towards this end, he said, “For instance, in the month of January 2024, troop’s neutralized 266 terrorists arrested 463 violent extremists/insurgents and rescued 116 kidnapped hostages. Troops recovered 447 assorted weapons and 6,697 assorted ammunitions.

“In the month of January 24, troops operating in the Niger Delta denied oil theft of the estimated sum of over N2.825billion (Two Billion Eight Hundred and Twenty One Million Five Hundred and Three Thousand and Nine Hundred Sixty Two Naira (N2,821,503,962.00).

“In the month of January, troops recovered 237 AK47 rifles, 26 locally fabricated guns, 18 pump action guns, 55 Dane guns, 6, 807 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 421 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 16 rounds of 9mm and 506 live cartridges.

Others are 1,832,150 litres of stolen crude oil, 523,799 litres of illegally refined AGO, 16,716 litres of DPK and 5,200 litres of PMS amongst other item.

Speaking on operations in the last one week, Gen Buba said, “Troops neutralized 105 terrorist and arrested 140 of them while also arresting 26 perpetrators of oil theft.

Troops and rescued 86 kidnapped hostages and denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of over N220. 83million (Two Hundred and Twenty Million Eight Hundred and Thirty Nine Thousand and Five Hundred Naira (N220, 839,500.00)”

“Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 18 illegal refining sites, 9 dugout pits, 19 boats, 21 storage tanks, 8 vehicles, 35 cooking ovens, 3 pump machines and troops recovered 157,300 litres of stolen crude oil, 23,750 litres of illegally refined AGO and 1,050 litres of DPK.

“Troops recovered 208 assorted weapons and 5,332 assorted ammunition comprising 95 AK47 rifles, one assault rifle, 39 locally fabricated guns, 34 Dane guns, 14 pump action guns, 4 fabricated pistol, 3 fabricated pump action gun, one fabricated revolver pistol, 2 fabricated double barrel guns and locally fabricated arty pieces.

“Others are: 3,830 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 640 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 265 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 98 rounds of 7.62 x 51mm ammo, 62 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammo, 64 rounds of 9mm ammo, 359 live cartridges, 8 magazines, 6 mobile phones and the sum of N383,200.00 amongst other items.

END.