The Nigerian Defence Headquarters announced on Thursday that its troops had made significant gains against terrorist groups across multiple regions during the month of April.
In a biweekly media briefing in Abuja, the Director of Defence Media Operation, Maj-Gen Edward Buba, revealed that over 715 terrorists were neutralised through coordinated ground and air operations last month. These operations included ambushes, raids, fighting patrols, and aerial strikes targeting terrorist leaders and their bases.
Buba emphasised the military’s unwavering commitment to defeating terrorist organisations and preventing further harm to Nigerian citizens. “The synchronised strikes between the ground and air forces during the period under review resulted in over 715 terrorists neutralised,” he stated.
In addition to neutralising terrorists, military operations led to the arrest of 146 individuals and the rescue of 465 kidnapped hostages. The troops also recovered a substantial cache of weapons and ammunition, including 937 assorted weapons and 23,034 rounds of ammunition.
Buba highlighted some specific engagements and successes achieved by the troops. On April 13th, airstrikes near Lake Chad resulted in the neutralisation of three senior terrorist commanders – Ali Dawud, Bakura Fallujah, and Mallam Ari. Subsequent operations on April 15th and 19th led to the destruction of terrorist enclaves and hideouts in Katsina State, targeting commanders such as Babaru and Kamilu Buzaru.
In the North-East region, Operation Hadin Kai troops conducted missions in the Sambisa Forest, Timbuktu Triangle, and areas around Lake Chad, eliminating 248 terrorists, arresting 422, and rescuing 163 kidnapped hostages. Furthermore, 714 Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists, along with their families, surrendered to the military.
The Defence Headquarters also reported successes by other military operations, including Operation Safe Haven in the North-Central region, Operation Whirl Stroke, Operation Hadarin Daji in the North-East, Operation Delta Safe in the South-South, and Operation UDO KA in the South-East.
The Nigerian military’s sustained efforts against terrorist groups and criminal elements across the country have yielded significant results in April, with hundreds of terrorists neutralised, hostages rescued, and weapons and ammunition seized.
