The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has announced that troops neutralized several terrorists, apprehended 450 suspects, and rescued 180 kidnapped victims during various counter-insurgency and anti-banditry operations across the country in September.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja.

According to him, within the month under review, 39 terrorists voluntarily surrendered to the military, while troops recovered 63 assorted weapons and 4,475 rounds of ammunition.

Other recovered items included grenades, materials for improvised explosive devices (IEDs), communication gadgets, vehicles, motorcycles, and logistics supplies used by the terrorists.

In the North-East, Kangye said troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation HADIN KAI, sustained operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP elements in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States.

He explained that the operations led to the elimination of several terrorists and the arrest of 21 collaborators, informants, and sympathisers, with a large cache of arms and ammunition recovered in Konduga, Gwoza, Mafa, Monguno, Damboa, Biu, and Kukawa areas.

Troops also dismantled terrorist camps, intercepted logistics networks, and facilitated the safe return of displaced persons to their ancestral homes.

In the North-West, Kangye stated that troops under Operation FANSAN YAMMA carried out clearance and rescue missions in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, and Kaduna States.

He noted that the troops killed several bandits and arrested 46 suspects, including a notorious terrorist leader identified as Ali Saidu. Thirteen kidnapped victims were rescued during the operations, which also disrupted major bandit supply routes in Maradun, Isa, and Sabon Birni Local Government Areas.

Under Operation ENDURING PEACE, troops responded to distress calls and conducted clearance operations in Plateau and Kaduna States, where several extremists were neutralized, 12 suspects arrested, and four kidnapped victims rescued.

Similarly, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE neutralized criminals and apprehended six suspects in Benue, Taraba, Kogi, and Nasarawa States, as well as parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), rescuing two kidnapped victims.

In the South-East, Kangye said troops of Operation UDO KA neutralized several armed men and arrested four suspects. Weapons, ammunition, vehicles, and improvised explosive devices were recovered in Anambra and Imo States.

Kangye reaffirmed the commitment of the Armed Forces to restoring peace and stability across the country, stressing that troops are working in collaboration with other security agencies and Hybrid Forces.

“Our gallant troops will continue to sustain offensive operations and intelligence-driven missions until lasting peace is achieved in all troubled parts of Nigeria,” he said.