In a relentless drive to dismantle terrorist strongholds and neutralize insurgency threats, Nigerian military forces have eliminated 358 terrorists and taken 431 individuals into custody throughout January 2025.
This was disclosed in an official communique issued on Friday by Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, emphasizing the sustained operational intensity aimed at dismantling terror networks and their affiliates
nationwide.
In addition to its counter-terrorism efforts, troops successfully apprehended 59 individuals implicated in illicit oil bunkering, a scourge that has long plagued the nation’s economy. Furthermore, 249 abducted individuals were liberated
from captivity, marking a significant victory in safeguarding civilian populations from nefarious elements.
The military’s crackdown on oil-related crimes in the South-South region prevented the illegal siphoning of petroleum resources valued at over N2 billion, dealing a major blow to economic saboteurs.
The high-intensity operations led to the retrieval of 370 firearms and a staggering 4,972 rounds of ammunition from insurgents and criminal syndicates. The recovered cache includes:
– 105 AK-47 rifles
– 25 locally engineered firearms
– 32 dane guns
– 23 pump-action shotguns
– 3,066 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition
– 758 rounds of 7.62mm NATO-standard rounds
– 980 shotgun cartridges
– 72 assorted arms
– 500 units of mixed ammunition
Reaffirming its commitment to national security, the Nigerian Armed Forces declared that ongoing military offensives will persist with unwavering intensity until terrorist factions and their enablers are decisively crushed.
The statement underscored that military personnel remain resolute in fostering an environment where law-abiding citizens can thrive without fear, ensuring that criminal entities have no sanctuary within the nation’s borders.