The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has issued a stern warning to terrorists, urging them to surrender to troops or face imminent destruction. The DHQ emphasized that military pressure on terrorists in various theatres of operations would persist, as articulated in a statement by Maj. Gen. Buba Edward, the Director of Defence Media Operation.
The statement emphasized the relentless commitment of the armed forces to apply robust military pressure on terrorists, leading to significant casualties among their ranks. It urged terrorists and their associates to follow the example of those surrendering in the Northeast of the country to avoid inevitable destruction.
In the past week alone, the military reported substantial successes against terrorist elements. The operations resulted in the neutralization of 50 terrorists, the arrest of 122 others, and the apprehension of 49 individuals involved in oil theft. Furthermore, troops rescued 182 kidnapped hostages, and crude products worth N128 million were recovered from oil thieves in the South-South region.
In the Niger Delta area, troops took decisive actions, destroying 242 dugout pits, 49 boats, 78 storage tanks, one tricycle, 21 vehicles, 104 cooking ovens, 3 pumping machines, 7 outboard engines, and 49 illegal refining sites. The recovered items included 151,850 litres of stolen crude oil, 48,630 litres of illegally refined AGO, and 10,125 litres of DPK.
The military operations also led to the recovery of 66 assorted weapons and 11,474 assorted ammunition. The seized arsenal included various firearms, ammunition, explosive devices, and communication equipment. The DHQ highlighted the significant strides made in dismantling illegal activities and ensuring the security and well-being of the affected regions.