Nigerian troops neutralized 217 terrorists, arrested 574 suspects, and rescued 320 hostages in February. They recovered weapons, thwarted N2.1 billion in oil theft, and remain committed to national security.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has announced that troops of the armed forces, engaged in internal operations across the country, neutralized 217 terrorists and apprehended 574 others in the month of February.

This was disclosed by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, detailing the military’s operational achievements.

In addition to eliminating threats, 320 kidnapped hostages were successfully rescued by the troops, while 152 Boko Haram/ISWAP combatants and their families voluntarily surrendered.

The military also reported a significant haul of recovered weapons and ammunition, with a total of 296 assorted weapons and 7,245 rounds of ammunition seized during various operations. The recovered weapons included 159 AK-47 rifles, 54 locally fabricated guns, 36 Dane guns, 19 pump-action guns, and a large cache of ammunition consisting of 4,836 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 1,506 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, 235 cartridges, 28 assorted arms, and 668 assorted ammunition.

Maj. Gen. Kangye highlighted that the armed forces conducted joint operations in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), other security agencies, and hybrid forces to enhance security and combat terrorism. These operations included fighting and confidence-building patrols, raids, ambushes, clearances, and search and rescue missions.

“In the course of these operations, several terrorists were neutralized, their collaborators apprehended, kidnapped victims rescued, and surrendered terrorists received,” he stated.

He further noted that troops also apprehended gunrunners, oil theft perpetrators, and other violent extremists as part of ongoing security efforts. Military aviation units conducted multiple close air support operations, armed reconnaissance patrols, and air interdiction missions to support ground operations.

One of the key successes highlighted was the military’s efforts in curbing oil theft, with operations thwarting illegal activities valued at approximately N2.1 billion. Security forces arrested 122 perpetrators involved in oil-related crimes and recovered 1.7 million litres of stolen crude oil, 402,936 litres of illegally refined diesel, and 600 litres of DPK.

Maj. Gen. Kangye assured that all arrested individuals, recovered items, and rescued hostages had been handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action.

The defence spokesman emphasized that these successes were a result of the relentless dedication of troops deployed in conflict zones across Nigeria. He reaffirmed the military’s commitment to safeguarding the lives and property of all Nigerians, ensuring national security remains a top priority.