The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, made this known in an update on military operations on Friday in Abuja.

Kangye said the successes underscored the military’s resolve to dismantle criminal networks and restore peace nationwide.

He said troops eliminated five notorious terror leaders, such as Yellow Danbokolo, Amir Dunkei, Kachalla Nagomma, Gurmu, and Ali Yar Daribiyar, during intensified offensives in the North East and North West regions.

“In total, 578 suspected terrorists, kidnappers and other criminal elements were arrested, while 134 kidnapped victims were rescued and reunited with their families,” he said.

Kangye also revealed that a wanted terrorists’ commander, Ibn Ali, alongside 151 terrorists and their families, surrendered to troops during clearance operations in the North East.

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He added that troops had, in a sting operation, apprehended a number of high-profile suspects, including gunrunners, kidnappers, cultists, and extremist figures.

According to him, they include Yakubu Jubril, Abubakar Yahaya, Isiya Sani, Haruna Abdullahi, Ali Abba, Mallam Aminu Idris, Mohammed Hamisu (aka Mamiyo or Officer Mohammed), Shuaibu Bulama, Isah Abdullahi, and Abdullahi Mohammed.

“Also arrested were suspected cult kingpin Prince Justin Ishimiri and an extremist cell leader, Liamdoo Douglas Adekpe (aka Bajor),” he said.

On the economic front, Kangye said that troops under Operation Delta Safe foiled oil theft and sabotage activities amounting to over N1.31 billion in the Niger Delta.

He added that the troops recovered 974,976 litres of stolen crude oil; 269,257 litres of illegally refined diesel (AGO); 1,759 litres of dual-purpose kerosene (DPK) and 3,447 litres of petrol (PMS).

“Troops also discovered and destroyed 126 cooking ovens, 107 dugout pits, 73 illegal refining sites, 39 boats, 83 storage tanks, 88 drums, and 35 vehicles used in crude oil theft.

“A total of 285 suspects were arrested, with large quantities of arms, ammunition, and explosives recovered,” he added.

Kangye said the armed forces, under the strategic guidance of the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, remained committed to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty in line with the rules of engagement and respect for human rights.

According to him, the military is executing intelligence-led operations, grounded in professionalism and patriotism.

“The tide is turning against the enemies of the state, and we will sustain the momentum,” he said.

Source: NAN

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The defence chief confirmed the development during a visit to Governor Dauda Lawal in Government House, Gusau on Friday.

He said Halilu and a score of his followers were neutralised during an encounter with troops deployed to Mayanci general area in Maru local government.

He congratulated Zamfara people over the killing of the notorious bandits’ leader and assured them of more efforts to eliminate banditry in the North-West region.

“I am using this medium to congratulate Governor Dauda Lawal and good people of Zamfara for the great success recorded.

“Killing of Kachalla Halilu is just the beginning; more bandits will be killed in Zamfara by the ongoing security operations.

“I commend our gallant troops for their dedication and hard work in the ongoing operations in this state,” Musa said.

The defence chief noted that the ongoing military operations was part of the federal government’s strategies towards ending banditry in the North-West region.

“My visit to Zamfara today is to convey President Bola Tinubu’s readiness to fight banditry and other security challenges in Zamfara.

“More troops of security personnel will be deployed to Zamfara, they are to be supported with more weapons, security helicopters and vehicles to aide their operations,” he assured.

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Musa commended Governor Lawal for his support to the security agencies in the fight against insecurity.

He appealed to the people of the state to continue to give necessary support in form of credible intelligence to security agencies to enable them discharge their duties diligently.

According to him, without support from the communities, “we cannot succeed”.

He, however, cautioned people of the state against rendering any kind of support to bandits, “as that will jeopardise the successes being recorded by the troops”.

“You should avoid conniving with bandits to destroy your state and Nigeria as a whole.”

Responding, Governor Lawal described the CDS’ visit to the state as very fundamental and apt.

“This is timely, we are happy to receive you today, this visit boost our morale, infact, it increases our confidence in the security agencies.

“Since my inception, our administration has been  collaborating and supporting the security agencies; this is with a view to securing our dear state.

“We appreciate the ongoing operations by the security agencies, we are ready to support them to succeed,” the governor assured.

Governor Lawal noted with dismay how Zamfara had become an epic centre of banditry activities in the North-West region.

“If we are able to join hands and tackle banditry activities in Zamfara, all other security challenges in the North-West will be easily addressed,” Lawal added.

The defence chief, who later addressed military personnel at the 1 Brigade Command, Gusau, commended the troops for the successes being recorded in the ongoing operations in the state.

“I want to commend you particularly for yesterday’s operation which recorded tremendous success.

“Scores of bandits were killed, over 30 motorcycles and weapons were recovered from them.

“I am here to encourage you to do more, as soldiers, you may not have all what you need.

“We must finish the war we have started, we must end this war, I believe we can do it,” Musa said.

He, however, expressed sadness over the four soldiers killed during an encounter with bandits along Gusau-Tsafe road on Thursday.

“I am very bitter about the killing of those soldiers by the bandits. This is not acceptable. Enough is enough,” he said.

During the visit, the CDS and troops observed one minute silence for the soul of the deceased army personnel.

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The Acting Deputy Director, Army Relations, 1 Division Nigerian Army, Lt.-Col. Musa Yahaya, said this in a statement on Sunday in Kaduna.

Yahaya said the troops neutralised the insurgents in continuation of the operations by 1 Division Nigerian Army, to rid the area of responsibility of violent extremists, insurgents and criminal elements.

“The highly motivated troops in coordinated offensives in Kaduna and Niger states cleared insurgents and violent extremists from several hideouts neutralising many and making significant recoveries.”

He said the troops on Dec. 23, set out to clear the remnant of insurgents in Niger.

The troops, he said, made contact at Madawaki in Shiroro local government area of the state and neutralised two insurgents with others fleeing with gunshot wounds, adding that the troops recovered two AK-47 rifles, two AK-47 magazines and one motorcycle.

“Troops proceeded to the camp of eliminated insurgents leader, Ali Kachalla, where his foot soldiers cowardly absconded on troops’ approach.

“Search of the camp led to the rescue of 13 kidnap victims, all males,” he said, adding that the victims revealed that they had been abducted in Niger on October 13, 2023.

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He said troops also recovered items including an international passport suspected to belong to a high profile affiliate of the insurgents, and a few military and warlike accessories.

Yahaya said the rescued persons had been referred to a military medical facility for medical attention and subsequently reunited with their families.

He said the troops also projected to another insurgents’ deserted camp dominated by insurgent leader, Alhaji Laye.

He said the troops searched the abandoned makeshift tents and recovered four AK-47 Rifle magazines.

“The camp was destroyed and troops returned to Madawaki where an insurgent storehouse was discovered with assorted soft drinks, cartons of bottle water, milk and energy drinks.

“Other items discovered in the storehouse were generator and food stuff. The items and the camp were destroyed”.

On operation in Kaduna State, Yahaya said the troops had neutralised three insurgents at Maidaro in Birnin Gwari LGA on December 23, and recovered one AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 rifle magazine, one dane gun and two motorcycles.

In Kidandan – Yadi general area of Birnin Gwari – troops offensive also led  to the destruction of insurgents camp, where the troops neutralised five insurgents and recovered 12 motorcycles.

Similarly, the troops operating at the Kachia axis while responding to a kidnap incident on December 21, successfully launched an ambush along Maro Junction and made contact with the kidnappers.

He said the troops neutralised three insurgents in the fire fight that ensued, while others escaped with gunshot wounds, adding that the troops rescued one kidnapped victim, and recovered N50,000, two mobile phones, one motorcycle and two cutlasses.

“The rescued victim was rushed to a nearby military hospital for treatment, his dispossessed items returned to him and reunited with his family.

“In the early hours of December 24, acting on credible intelligence, troops of 1 Division ambushed insurgents at Kwanar Batero in Kaduna State and neutralised one terrorist.

“Items recovered include one AK-47 rifle, one magazine, five  rounds of 7.62 mm, three  motorcycles and one baofeng radio,” he said.

Yahaya quoted the General Officer Commanding 1 Division, Nigerian Army and Force Commander Operation, Whirl Punch, Maj.-Gen. Valentine Okoro, as expressing satisfaction over the successes recorded in the operations.

Okoro lauded the troops for the feat and charged them to continue to deny all insurgents and criminal elements in the area freedom of action.

Source: NAN

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They are Machika, Haro, Dan Muhammadu and Ali Alhaji Alheri, popularly called Kachalla Ali Kawaje.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, made this known in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

Buba said that Machika was a top terrorist bomb expert and younger brother of notorious terrorist (Dogo Gide) while Haro and Dan Muhammadu were specialist in kidnapping and assault operations respectively.

He said a synchronised strike between air and ground forces aimed at the same target on December 11, killed Kachalla Kawaje, a renowned terrorist leader responsible for the abduction of the students of Federal University Gusau, Zamfara.

He added that Kachalla was neutralised in Munya Local Government Area of Niger along with many of his foot soldiers.

According to him, the military was fast closing in on others and they would equally suffer the same fate.

Buba said that air assets conducted aggressive air flights on confirmed locations active with the movement of terrorist commanders and their foot soldiers.

He added that the strikes carried out resulted in the killing of over 38 terrorist commanders and their foot soldiers, while 159 others were arrested.

“The armed forces is hunting down prominent terrorist leaders and  engaging them wherever they are hiding.

“The military will continue to take the fight to the terrorists and their cohorts until they are destroyed or surrendered.”

In the South East, Buba said the troops, in conjunction with other security agencies, on Wednesday apprehended a prominent commander of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, and its armed affiliate the Eastern Security Network, ESN.

He said the commander, one Mr Uchechukwu Akpa, was arrested together with three other sub- commanders, namely Udoka Anthony Ude, Ikechukwu Ulanta, and Ezennaya Udeigewere.

According to him, the trio were arrested after a raid on their hideout at Christ the King Catholic Church, Ameta Mgbowo, in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State.

“They gathered to plot to take over the leadership of IPOB/ESN Auto Pilot Command, Enugu State Chapter, from the apprehended former Commander, known as “Chocho”. They also planned to attack troops locations.

“During the raid, Mr. Akpa sustained a gunshot wound while trying to escape. He was the Second in Command to Chocho, a notorious IPOB/ESN leader currently in custody.

“Subsequently, another raid connected with the arrest was conducted on December 14 where troops recovered one AK 47 Rifle, Two AK 47 Magazine, 25 rounds of 7.62mm NATO special ammunition and one Pump action rifle.

“The operations of the week in focus, equally resulted in the arrest of 66 perpetrators of oil theft and the  rescued of 89 kidnapped hostages,” he said.

Buba said the troops in the Niger Delta area destroyed 15 dugout pits, 25 boats, 74 storage tanks, 14 vehicles, 115 cooking ovens, 13 reservoirs, 10 cooling systems, 10 receivers, three pumping machines and 64 illegal refining sites during the week.

He added that troops recovered 357,350 litres of stolen crude oil, 185,300 litres of illegally refined AGO and 20,600 litres of PMS.

Source: NAN

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