Military Kills 4,000 Suspects, Seizes 80,000 Rounds of Ammunition

The military yesterday tendered its report card in the last one
year, in the efforts to keep Nigeria safe, saying it killed 4,000
suspects, including terror commanders of ISWAP and Boko Haram, as
well as seizing 80,000 rounds of ammunition, 234 assorted rifles
and 45 grenades in 2020.

It also expressed the determination to adopt new operational
tactics against Boko Haram terrorists and bandits in 2021.

According to it, the ammunition mopped up was part of the over
one million arms and ammunition circulating in Nigeria while the
bandits were killed between March and December.

Also yesterday, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) raised the
alarm over alleged smuggling of sophisticated weapons into the
country through northern borders.

Reviewing the success recorded in the war against insurgency and
armed banditry in 2020, the Coordinator of the Directorate of
Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Major General John Enenche, during
the weekly media briefing in Abuja, said a total of 1,385 rounds of
ammunition, 45 grenades as well as 95 assorted rifles were
recovered from Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters in the North-east.

“In addition, several gun trucks were captured, while some
others were destroyed during air strikes,” he said.

In the North-west, troops recovered a total of 6,951 rounds of
ammunition and 120 assorted rifles from bandits.

In the North-central, a total of 105 assorted rifles as well as
513 rounds of ammunition were recovered.

Troops also arrested a total of 53 pirates and 25 trucks as well
as recovered 23 rifles, 65,330 rounds of ammunition in the
South-south.

In the South-west, troops of Operation Awatse, recovered a total
of 3,594 rounds of ammunition and 14 assorted rifles.

“Within the period under review, a cumulative total of 8,890,300
litres of stolen Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and 33,516,00 litres of
DPK were impounded by troops of Operation Delta Safe.

“In the same vein, the gallant troops immobilised a total of 185
illegal refining sites, 85 dugout pits and 163 metal storage tanks
within the period. “Troops impounded a cumulative total of 31,236.8
barrels of stolen crude oil as well as 12,272,652 litres of stolen
PMS from oil thieves in the zone,” he added.

Giving further details on the killing of suspected insurgents
and bandits, Eneche stated that the 4,000 criminal elements were
killed in combined ground and aerial assaults.

“In summary, the Armed Forces of Nigeria from 18 March to 30
December 2020, neutralised 2,403 criminal elements across the
country.

“This is in addition to scores of other terrorists and armed
bandits killed during air strikes.

“Equally, 1,805 insurgents and terrorists, including commanders,
were killed by the troops aside scores killed by air raids and
attacks”, he said.

The military also listed the rescuing of 344 pupils of
Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, in Katsina State, as
one of its major achievements within the year.

Troops also rescued a total of 864 kidnapped victims nationwide
while a total of 1,250 other suspects, including family members of
the Darul Salam sect, were arrested within the year.

According to him, within the period under review, troops engaged
in series of land, maritime and air operations, involving both
kinetic and non-kinetic activities nationwide.

“Others were maritime operations involving anti-piracy,
anti-illegal bunkering, anti-crude oil theft and anti-pipeline
vandalism operations as well as other duties such as anti-smuggling
operations,” he said.

He explained that a comprehensive air operations, including air
patrols, intelligence surveillance reconnaissance missions,
offensive air strikes, air interdictions, search and rescue
operations as well as close air support and air cover for ground
troops were part of the strategies adopted to in protecting the
country and its people.

“The high command of the Nigerian military wishes to thank the
general public for their support and further solicit their
cooperation towards providing credible and timely information that
will facilitate proactive engagements in our operations.

“The military high command also commends all the gallant troops
of the armed forces and personnel of other security agencies
involved in various operations across the country for their
resilience, doggedness and commitment,” he said.

Eneche, also spoke on plans by the military to change strategy
in fighting Boko Haram and bandits in 2021.

However, hinted that the military will not continue with the
current operational tactics against the Boko Haram terrorists and
bandits in 2021.

Eneche said this number is outside those killed during various
airstrikes, that were not documented.

The military yesterday tendered its report card in the last one
year, in the efforts to keep Nigeria safe, saying it killed 4,000
suspects, including terror commanders of ISWAP and Boko Haram, as
well as seizing 80,000 rounds of ammunition, 234 assorted rifles
and 45 grenades in 2020.

It also expressed the determination to adopt new operational
tactics against Boko Haram terrorists and bandits in 2021.

According to it, the ammunition mopped up was part of the over
one million arms and ammunition circulating in Nigeria while the
bandits were killed between March and December.

Also yesterday, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) raised the
alarm over alleged smuggling of sophisticated weapons into the
country through northern borders.

Reviewing the success recorded in the war against insurgency and
armed banditry in 2020, the Coordinator of the Directorate of
Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Major General John Enenche, during
the weekly media briefing in Abuja, said a total of 1,385 rounds of
ammunition, 45 grenades as well as 95 assorted rifles were
recovered from Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters in the North-east.

“In addition, several gun trucks were captured, while some
others were destroyed during air strikes,” he said.

In the North-west, troops recovered a total of 6,951 rounds of
ammunition and 120 assorted rifles from bandits.

In the North-central, a total of 105 assorted rifles as well as
513 rounds of ammunition were recovered.

Troops also arrested a total of 53 pirates and 25 trucks as well
as recovered 23 rifles, 65,330 rounds of ammunition in the
South-south.

In the South-west, troops of Operation Awatse, recovered a total
of 3,594 rounds of ammunition and 14 assorted rifles.

“Within the period under review, a cumulative total of 8,890,300
litres of stolen Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and 33,516,00 litres of
DPK were impounded by troops of Operation Delta Safe.

“In the same vein, the gallant troops immobilised a total of 185
illegal refining sites, 85 dugout pits and 163 metal storage tanks
within the period. “Troops impounded a cumulative total of 31,236.8
barrels of stolen crude oil as well as 12,272,652 litres of stolen
PMS from oil thieves in the zone,” he added.

Giving further details on the killing of suspected insurgents
and bandits, Eneche stated that the 4,000 criminal elements were
killed in combined ground and aerial assaults.

“In summary, the Armed Forces of Nigeria from 18 March to 30
December 2020, neutralised 2,403 criminal elements across the
country.

“This is in addition to scores of other terrorists and armed
bandits killed during air strikes.

“Equally, 1,805 insurgents and terrorists, including commanders,
were killed by the troops aside scores killed by air raids and
attacks”, he said.

The military also listed the rescuing of 344 pupils of
Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, in Katsina State, as
one of its major achievements within the year.

Troops also rescued a total of 864 kidnapped victims nationwide
while a total of 1,250 other suspects, including family members of
the Darul Salam sect, were arrested within the year.

According to him, within the period under review, troops engaged
in series of land, maritime and air operations, involving both
kinetic and non-kinetic activities nationwide.

“Others were maritime operations involving anti-piracy,
anti-illegal bunkering, anti-crude oil theft and anti-pipeline
vandalism operations as well as other duties such as anti-smuggling
operations,” he said.

He explained that a comprehensive air operations, including air
patrols, intelligence surveillance reconnaissance missions,
offensive air strikes, air interdictions, search and rescue
operations as well as close air support and air cover for ground
troops were part of the strategies adopted to in protecting the
country and its people.

“The high command of the Nigerian military wishes to thank the
general public for their support and further solicit their
cooperation towards providing credible and timely information that
will facilitate proactive engagements in our operations.

“The military high command also commends all the gallant troops
of the armed forces and personnel of other security agencies
involved in various operations across the country for their
resilience, doggedness and commitment,” he said.

Eneche, also spoke on plans by the military to change strategy
in fighting Boko Haram and bandits in 2021.

However, hinted that the military will not continue with the
current operational tactics against the Boko Haram terrorists and
bandits in 2021.

Eneche said this number is outside those killed during various
airstrikes, that were not documented.