From Atiku Sarki, Abuja
The Armed Forces of Nigeria have assured their determination to destroy terrorist networks and their infrastructures across the country.
In a statement signed and issued to Triumph correspondent on Friday in Abuja by the Director of Defence Media Operations at the Defence Head Quarters, Major General Edward Buba said troops are eliminating more and more terrorist commanders and combatants on the battlefield through ongoing operations across the country.
According to him, “The armed forces is indeed determined and remains focused to destroy terrorist networks and infrastructures across the country.”
Major General Buba noted that during the week under review, troops neutralised 118 and arrested 97 persons.
His troops also arrested 18 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 96 kidnapped hostages.
In the South-South, he said, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of N793,257,250.00 only.
Furthermore, troops recovered 87 assorted weapons and 2,244 assorted ammunition.
The breakdown, he said, includes the following: one PKT gun, one PKM, one RPG, one auto pistol, 43 AK47 rifles, 14 fabricated rifles, 14 Dane guns, 5 pump action guns, 6 AK47 magazines, and briefing radios.
Others he said, are:1,715 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 505 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 8 rounds of 9mm ammo, 14 live cartridges, 89 empty cases of 7.62mm ammo, 10 vehicles, 33 motorcycles, 50 mobile phones and the sum of N778,560.00 only amongst other items.
The Defence Media Operations further explained that the troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 4 dugout pits, 48 boats, 3 speedboats, 156 drums and 34 storage tanks.
Other items recovered include 28 cooking ovens, 8 vehicles, one motorcycle, one tricycle and 44 illegal refining sites.
Troops recovered 602,200 litres of stolen crude oil, 64,900 litres of illegally refined AGO, 1and 2,690 litres of PMS.
He believed that troops were a good place to win the war against terrorists
“Indeed, the armed forces would continue to innovate and develop new strategies to defend the country and protect citizens from the perpetrators of insecurity,” he further assured.
