The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said its troops deployed for internal operations across the country rescued 89 kidnapped hostages, killed 38 terrorists and arrested 30 terrorists collaborators and 175 gunmen.
The director Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, in a statement on Thursday said the troops also arrested 20 kidnappers and 17 pipeline vandals in the week long operation.
He said the troops further destroyed 39 illegal oil refining sites, 72 dugout pits, 65 wooden boats, 70 storage tanks and 119 cooking ovens.
General Buba said the troops recovered 1,247,700 litres of stolen crude oil, 132,500 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil, 57,450 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosine and 800 litres of Premium Motor Spirit.
He said the troops denied the oil theft saboteours the sum of N607bn being the value of seizures.
He noted that troops in the week long operation also recovered 38 assorted weapons and 186 ammunition.
He listed recovered items to include; 14 AK 47 rifles, one G3 rifle, one PKT, three AK47 rifle loaded with 23 rounds of 7.62mm special, one SMG, 10 dane gun, five locally fabricated pistols, two fabricated weapon, two double barrel guns, one locally made revolver, three locally fabricated pistols, 151 rounds of 7.62mm special, five rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 16 rounds of 9mm ammo, 16 rounds 5.56 x 45mm ammo, 5 rounds of 7.62mm special (refilled), 12 AK47 magazines, one G3 rifle magazine, one FN rifle magazine, one magazine containing 30 rounds of 7.62mm special and 7 empty cases of 7.62mm special.
Others include; 33 motorcycles, 30 mobile phones, four tricycles, four motorola HH radios, four vehicles, 10 bags of fertilizers, 73 livestock, seven cutlasses, one magazine pouch, two solar panels, 10 litres of PMS, Nigerian Police uniform, two gas cylinders, one power bank, one pair of woodland and desert camouflages each.
Troops also recovered the sum of N2.5bn
cash within the period.
He reiterated that the military will continue to take great measures to prevent civilian casualties, adding that “protecting civilians remains a vital part of own objective to promote greater security for all Nigerian.”
He commended “the uncommon cooperation, collaboration and support received from citizens across the country” adding that such is greatly assisting military operations to yield expected results.
He said “Nigerians are speaking up, and the military is doing something about it.”
He assured that the military would sustain it’s offensive until the criminals quit.
“The military would do what it knows to do best. Therefore, “Know Something, Say Something, and Military will do Something”, he assured.