The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said troops conducting internal security operations across the country rescued more than 70 kidnap victims in one week and arrested a wanted terrorist kingpin in Niger State.
The military also reported the surrender of 19 terrorist fighters and their family members in Borno State as well as the recovery of arms and ammunition during operations against terrorists and kidnappers across the country.
The Director of Defence Media Operations Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja disclosed these developments in a statement detailing the military’s operational successes between October 16 and 22.
Among the rescued victims were 27 villagers abducted in Gamji community Katsina State and 29 residents rescued after terrorists attempted to abduct farmers in Mariga Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State.
In the North East Onoja said 19 terrorist fighters and their family members surrendered to troops in Bama Konduga Mafa and Gwoza LGAs of Borno State during the period under review.
He said troops also arrested a female suspected collaborator at Ngurusoye in Bama LGA on October 22 while she was allegedly escorting a woman to a terrorist enclave.
According to him troops on October 18 intercepted a resident of Monguno LGA who had escaped after being abducted alongside 11 others around Minati in Kukawa LGA on October 17.
‘Efforts are ongoing to rescue the remaining victims’ he said.
Onoja added that troops on October 22 intercepted another abductee who had escaped from Chikide village on the Mandara Mountains along the Guduf-Bubayagwa axis in Gwoza LGA.
The victim was subsequently handed over to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp office in Gwoza.
The military spokesman also disclosed that troops recovered eight AK-47 rifles two pump-action guns 300 rounds of PKT ammunition two rocket-propelled grenade bombs and chargers a handheld radio and a motorcycle following a terrorist attack on a military location in Mairari Guzamala LGA of Borno State.
In the North West Onoja said troops rescued 27 villagers comprising 15 men and 12 women on October 16 after responding to a distress call from Gamji community in Sabuwa LGA of Katsina State.
Terrorists reportedly abducted the villagers before troops intervened.
In another operation troops between October 16 and 17 tracked kidnappers who had demanded a ransom for a resident abducted at Fanyabo village in Tudun Wada LGA of Kano State.
The kidnappers were traced to Yan Taburmi in Falgore Forest where troops neutralised two of them and rescued the victim.
‘Troops searched the area and recovered Ten Million Naira (?10000000.00) suspected to be the ransom paid by the family’ Onoja said.
He added that the family received the money and the rescued victim in the presence of the district head the head of the local security group and the divisional police officer.
Troops also arrested a suspected terrorist collaborator at Anguwan Kwanni in Sokoto town on October 18 he said.
In the North Central Onoja said troops of Operation Savannah Shield rescued 29 residents who fled into nearby bushes after terrorists on seven motorcycles attempted to abduct farmers in Magaji Mai Kadarko village Bangi District Mariga LGA of Niger State on October 15.
He however said the attackers killed one resident before the troops arrived.
The military spokesman further disclosed that troops arrested a wanted terrorist kingpin and his accomplice at the kingpin’s residence in Mokwa town Niger State on October 18.
During the operation troops recovered four mobile phones and an undisclosed sum of money while efforts continued to apprehend other identified accomplices.
Onoja said troops on October 16 also ambushed kidnappers transporting victims from Kwara State into Kogi State along the route between Okoloke and Isanlu-Esa communities in Yagba West LGA.
The kidnappers were forced to abandon five victims who were subsequently rescued and handed over to community leaders.
In Nasarawa State troops working with local security groups rescued a herder abducted at Kabusu in Karu LGA on October 17.
The victim was found tied up and abandoned under a tree along the Gurku-Kawu grazing route.
Onoja said troops on October 19 pursued attackers who had assaulted a commercial bus along the Ayere-Kabba Road in Ijumu LGA of Kogi State.
The attackers were forced to withdraw allowing troops to rescue 11 passengers. The driver and two other passengers who sustained injuries were evacuated for medical attention.
In Taraba State troops on October 19 raided the hideout of the suspected second-in-command to a gang leader allegedly terrorising the area in Kufai Ahmadu community Takum LGA.
‘During the operation troops neutralised the suspect and recovered a pistol 16 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition and charms’ he said.