By Folusho Alade, Abuja
...Over 1,000 notable terrorists taken down during 2024 Military operations, 4,332 AK47 rifles recovered-DDMO
...Bello Turji is a dead man walking – DDMO
The Defence Headquarters, DHQ, Abuja has declared that the Armed Forces of Nigeria has no other alternatives in the fight against terrorism and Insurgency aside total victory.
Speaking Tuesday ,31st December 2024 to Defense correspondence in Abuja, Director , Defense Media Operations,DDMO, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba asserted that the Armed Forces’ victory against terrorists and insurgents come 2025 is not negotiable.
In his words: “Watch out in 2025, victory against the terrorists is not negotiable,”
According to General Buba during the 2024 year-long campaign against terrorism and Insurgency the Armed Forces of Nigeria neutralized over 1,000 notable terrorist leaders, commanders and combatants.
The DDMO also vowed that notorious bandit kingpin Bello Turji will be “wiped out” soon in 2025.
According to DDMO, Bello Turji, the notorious bandit leader operating in the Northwest region of the country, is a “dead man walking” and will meet his death soon like many others before him.
Maj.Gen. Edward Buba also urged Nigerians not to give in to terrorists’ propaganda in response to a viral video of Bello Turji calling out the military and General Buba .
He however assured Nigerians that Bello Turji and others will be wiped out soon as the military moves to intensify its operations in the new year.
Buba disclosed that during the course of the year under review the troops also recovered over 4,332 AK47 rifles .
According Gen. Buba, , notable terrorist figures such as Dutse Mainasara Idda, Mallam Saleh Umaru, Mohammed Amadu, Chinemerem (aka Bam Bam), Jeremiah Uzuoma (aka Escoba), Tochukwu Awo (aka Ojoto), and Egwuatu were among those eliminated.
He said, ”Over the last 12 months, troops were confronted by several threats across the country ranging from armed banditry, kidnapping for ransom, crude oil theft, violent extremism, insurgency as well as terrorism among others. Several of these threats adversely affected innocent citizens and disrupted peace and security in the country.
“Troops war effort was therefore designed and crafted to defeat and destroy the terrorist as well as dismantle their terror infrastructure across the country. Accordingly, troops continued, relentless, and painful pressure on the terrorist enclaves, hideouts and strongholds as an incentive to defeating the terrorist.
Maj-Gen Buba also noted that, “during the year 2024 under review troops
significantly degraded the military capabilities as well as the fighting capabilities of terrorist by neutralizing 10,937 terrorists, arresting 12,538 and rescuing 7,063 hostages.
Furthermore, troops recovered 8,815 weapons, 228,004 ammunition and denied the oil theft of an estimated sum over #68 billion (N68,453,376,040.00) only.
“The breakdown of the recoveries are as follows: 4,332 AK47 rifles, 1,244 locally fabricated guns, 838 dane guns, 259 pump action guns, 128,496 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 45,445 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 5,103 cartridges, 2,131 assorted arms and 29,176 assorted ammunitions. Others are: 56,223,002 litres of stolen crude oil, 9,735,836 litres of illegally refined AGO, 95,595 litres of DPK and 156,527 litres of PMS amongst other item.” he said.
”The military’s relentless operations led to the neutralization of 10,937 terrorists, the arrest of 12,538 suspects, and the rescue of 7,063 hostages. These efforts have significantly degraded the operational and fighting capabilities of terrorist groups, dismantling their infrastructure and disrupting their activities nationwide.
“Additionally, troops recovered an arsenal of 8,815 weapons, including 4,332 AK-47 rifles, 1,244 locally fabricated guns, 838 Dane guns, and 259 pump-action guns. They also seized 228,004 rounds of various ammunition types and recovered millions of liters of stolen and illegally refined petroleum products, denying oil thieves over ₦68 billion.”
While reiterating the resolution of the military to achieve total victory in the fight against terrorism , the Defense Operations spokesperson emphasized the need for citizens’ support to sustain the momentum.
“The war is not for the armed forces alone but for all citizens. Buba said
“Troops will be going the extra mile in the new year to get the job done,”
The military therefore urges for more citizens support in order to win the war.”
As the nation steps into a new year, the armed forces are optimistic that the gains made in 2024 will pave the way for greater victories against terrorism, ensuring a safer and more secure Nigeria for all,” Buba concluded.
