715 terrorists killed, 465 hostages rescued in April – DHQ

The Nigerian Defence Headquarters, on Thursday, said troops killed over 715 terrorists in April, while 465 kidnapped hostages were freed in the same month.

The Director of Defence Media Operation, Maj-Gen Edward Buba, disclosed these during a bi-weekly media briefing in Abuja.

Buba stressed the non-negotiable defeat of terrorist groups to prevent further harm to citizens.

He also said the military achieved the feat through coordinated ground and air operations.

According to him, operations in April included ambushes, raids, and fighting patrols, with aerial assets identifying and targeting terrorist leaders and their bases.

He said, “The synchronised strikes between the ground and air forces during the period under review resulted in over 715 terrorists neutralised.

“During the process, troops arrested 146 persons and rescued 465 kidnapped hostages.

“Furthermore, troops recovered 937 assorted weapons, 23,034 assorted ammunition, and denied the oil theft of an estimated sum over N2 billion (N2,572,397,190),” he said.

He listed some of the engagements of the troops and the successes they recorded in the fourth month of the year.

“On April 13, 2024, during the airstrikes, three senior terrorist commanders (Ali Dawud, Bakura Fallujah, and Mallam Ari) were neutralised at Kolleram Village along Lake Chad.

“Additionally, on April 15, 2024, the enclave of terrorist commander, Babaru, in Kankara LGA of Katsina State was destroyed. On April 19, 2024, the terrorist hideout belonging to a senior terrorist commander, Kamilu Buzaru, in Danmusa LGA of Katsina State was decimated.

“Similarly, on April 20, 2024, a gathering of senior terrorist commanders, Ado Ailero and Kamilu Buzaru in Danmusa LGA of Katsina State was disrupted by airstrikes. Battle Damage Assessment of all these strikes revealed that several terrorist combatants and their commanders were neutralised,” he added.

In the North-East, the military spokesperson reported that Operation Hadin Kai troops conducted missions in the Sambisa Forest, Timbuktu Triangle, and the Tumbus around Lake Chad, resulting in the elimination of 248 terrorists, the arrest of 422 and the rescue of 163 kidnapped hostages.

Additionally, he said 714 Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists, along with their families, surrendered, with recovered items including 208 AK-47 rifles, 34 fabricated guns, 45 Dane guns, and various caches of ammunition.

In the North-Central area, he said Operation Safe Haven neutralised 32 terrorists, arrested 148, and rescued 35 kidnap victims, seizing weapons and ammunition.

Maj-General Buba said Operation Whirl Stroke targeted criminal strongholds, killed 60 terrorists, arrested 99, and rescued 57 hostages, with arms and ammunition also recovered.

In the North-East, Operation Hadarin Daji, he said, continued efforts against terrorists, killing 297, apprehending 141, and rescuing 143 hostages, with significant weapon and ammunition recoveries.

In the South-South, the Operation Delta Safe operations, according to him, targeted violent extremists, crude oil theft, and illegal refining, resulting in killings, arrests, and significant recoveries as well as successes of Operation UDO KA in the South-East.