Troops Neutralize 65 Terrorists’ Leaders, Commanders in Q3 2024
By Ewache Ajefu
The Nigeria Military High Command has said sixty-five(65) Terrorists’ Leaders and Commanders in the third quarter of 2024.
Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba disclosed this while briefing Defence Correspondents at the Defence Headquarters(DHQ) Thursday in Abuja.
“Troops offensive actions culminated in the neutralization of over 65 notable terrorist leaders, commanders and combatants across all theatres of operations and significant terrorist leaders were eliminated from the battlefield”, Major General Buba said.
According to him, they include: Munzir Arika, Sani Dilla (Dan Hausawan Jubillaram), Ameer Modu, Matawal Bitrus, Thomas Benedict, Mohammed Sani, Rimamy (aka Omo), Terkimbi Injoko, Jacob Uzege, Ibn Kasir, Kachalla Ɗan Baleri, Kachallah Halilu Jimmare (Buzu), Kachalla Dan Ali Garin Fadama, Kachalla Dan Mani Na Inna, Kachalla Basiru Zakarriya and ofem Emmanuel Igwe among others.
He noted that the armed forces prioritised the killing of terrorist leadership and destruction of terrorist network in its ongoing counter terrorism and counter insurgency operations across the country, stressing that troops are effectively attacking the terrorist leaders, commanders, combatants, as well as their rank and file operatives.
He said within the period under review, troops conducted synchronised bombardments by the air force and ground forces, that significantly diminished terror military capabilities and cohesion.
Meanwhile, in the third quarter of this year, Buba said troops neutralized 1,937 terrorists, arrested 2,782 suspected terrorists and other criminal elements as well as rescued 1,854 kidnapped hostages.
He added that troops also recovered 1,304 weapons, 43,347 ammunitions and denied the oil theft of an estimated sum over N13 Bn (N13,081,605,534.00) only.
Breakdown for the period includes and not limited to the following: 688 AK47 rifles, 32,945 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 9,677 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 191 assorted arms and 8,292 assorted ammo.
Others are 12,143,870 litres of stolen crude oil, 2,623,216 litres of illegally refined AGO, 6,970 litres of DPK and 31,450 litres of PMS amongst other item. Accordingly , the nations daily crude oil production output is at an all time high with the nations daily target in sight.
He said troops are keeping the pressure on the terrorist until they are totally defeated. The military is focussed on dismantling the terror infrastructure of these terror groups as well as destroying their will to fight.
“Accordingly, we are attacking any threat we identify, and removing it. The war objective is to destroy these groups, decapitate them, and erode their ability to rage terror attacks against citizens”, he said.
