Nigerian Military Intensifies Crackdown on Terrorists and Criminals, Rescues 157 Hostages
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
The Armed Forces of Nigeria have reported significant gains in their ongoing operations across the country, as they continue to disrupt terrorist activities and dismantle criminal networks.
According to the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, who gave a rundown of troops operations across theatres, troops have successfully neutralised 96 terrorists and arrested 227 others within the past week.
According to him, five leaders of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), were eliminated.
One of the key highlights of the week’s operations was the capture of notorious terrorist commander Usman Maisaje in the North Central region.
Maisaje is a close associate of a high-profile terrorist leader, Kachalla Boka. His arrest has yielded valuable intelligence, aiding ongoing military efforts to dismantle terrorist cells.
Beyond the fight against terrorism, the military’s operations in the South-South region struck a major blow to the illicit oil trade. Troops disrupted oil theft worth over ₦712 million, destroying 60 illegal refining sites, 48 boats, and numerous storage facilities.
They also recovered over 712,000 liters of stolen crude oil and 76,800 liters of illegally refined diesel.
During the week, the military rescued 157 kidnapped hostages while also apprehending 45 individuals involved in oil theft.
A significant cache of arms and ammunition, including 50 AK-47 rifles, 16 fabricated rifles, and over 1,400 rounds of various calibers of ammunition, was also recovered.
The Armed Forces reaffirmed their commitment to intensifying operations, aiming to degrade terrorist networks and deny them the resources they need to operate.
Major General Buba emphasized that the military remains resolute in its mission to protect Nigeria’s territorial integrity and ensure the safety of its citizens.
“The military will not relent on its plan to eliminate terrorists and destroy the infrastructure that supports them. We will increasingly degrade their capabilities through our operations,” Buba stated.
As these efforts continue, the military has called for greater cooperation from the public in providing actionable intelligence, which remains critical in achieving long-term peace and stability across the nation.
