The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) declared that the military have successfully dealt with 185 terrorists and kidnappers and detained 212 individuals involved in various criminal activities throughout Nigeria in the past week.
Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, disclosed this information in a statement released from Abuja on Friday.
Mr. Buba further mentioned that the troops also detained 44 individuals engaged in oil theft and rescued 71 hostages who had been kidnapped.

Moreover, the military recovered 224 diverse weapons and 2,337 ammunitions during these operations.
These weapons include 113 AK47 rifles, one G3 rifle, one PKT gun, 44 locally fabricated guns, seven primed IEDs, 1,382 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 387 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 74 rounds of 9mm ammo, 23 K2 rounds ammo, and 111 live cartridges.
Additionally, the recovery comprised of 5,410 empty cases of 7.62mm special, six empty cases of cartridges, two magazines loaded with 60 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 21 magazines, one pistol magazine, two bandoliers, two vehicles, 22 motorcycles, 47 mobile phones, 11 HH radios, and the sum of N2.3 million alongside other items, as stated by Mr. Buba.
In the North East region, troops from Operation Hadin Kai countered 45 terrorists, arrested eight Boko Haram/ISWAP members, rescued 18 kidnapped hostages, and seized a large cache of arms and ammunition.
Moreover, a considerable number of 133 terrorists, including four adult males, 48 adult females, and 81 children, surrendered to the troops between Jan. 24 and Jan. 28 in the theater of operations, as reported by Mr. Buba.
Furthermore, 129 individuals suspected to be family members of the terrorists, composed of five adult males, 47 adult females, and 74 children, surrendered to the troops in Bama and Maiduguri local councils of Borno between Jan. 24 and Jan. 29.
In the North Central region, troops from Operation Safe Haven eliminated 17 insurgents, apprehended 64 violent extremists in Mangu and Bassa Local Government Areas of Plateau, and rescued three kidnapped hostages.
Similarly, troops from Operation Whirl Stroke neutralized seven insurgents, arrested three violent extremists, and recovered various categories of arms and ammunition in Benue.
In the North West, soldiers from Operation Hadarin Daji neutralized 65 insurgents, apprehended 18 individuals, and rescued 39 kidnapped hostages. Furthermore, they recovered a significant cache of arms, as reported by Mr. Buba.
The air component conducted an air interdiction on terrorists at the hiding place of a notorious kingpin known as Alhaji Daradu in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State, where numerous terrorists were neutralized, and their logistics were destroyed.
Additionally, troops from Operation Whrl Punch continued their operations against terrorists and kidnappers in Niger, Kogi, and FCT, resulting in the arrest of 30 insurgents and the rescue of two kidnapped hostages. Air interdiction was also carried out on a large movement of terrorists within Birni Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, leading to the neutralization of several of them.
In the South-South region, troops from Operation Delta Safe sustained their efforts against crude oil thieves by destroying multiple illegal refining sites and recovering stolen products. They discovered and demolished 12 dugout pits, 61 boats, 56 storage tanks, 13 vehicles, 78 cooking ovens, four pump machines, and 51 illegal refining sites. The troops also confiscated 815,980 liters of stolen crude oil, 163,675 liters of illegally refined AGO, and 1,750 liters of DPK.
In the South East, troops of Operation UDO KA neutralized 18 insurgents, arrested 36 individuals, rescued eight hostages, and recovered a substantial cache of arms.
In the South West, soldiers from Operation AWATSE detained 12 suspected armed robbers and cultists in Ikorodu and Ijebu Igbo Local Government Areas of Lagos and Ogun States, respectively.
Mr. Buba emphasized the military’s understanding of the gravity of the threat being faced and the significant progress being made in the ongoing battle against insurgency.
He expressed that countering insurgency is not merely a short-term endeavor but rather a prolonged effort, and the troops are consistently and progressively confronting the terrorists with every passing day.
In conclusion, he affirmed that substantial efforts have already been made, and continuous actions are being taken to ensure peace and security across the country.