ABUJA – The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), on Thursday, said that over 37 terrorists have been killed by its troops in the past 14 days.

Brigadier General Benard Onyeuko, Director of Defence Media Operations (DDMO), made the disclosure in Abuja, while briefing journalists on the successes of military op­erations across the country in the last two weeks.

General Onyeuko said that the troops also received weap­ons, made arrests as well as rescues.

The DDMO said, “The Armed Forces of Nigeria have continued to maintain increased vigour and aggres­sive posture throughout all its operations in the various theatres.

“This is coupled with the Chief of Defence Staff’s non-kinetic engagements across the country between July, 16 and 29.

“Consequently today’s brief will entail a summary of our kinetic and non-kinetic ac­tivities in the various theatres across the country that yielded attendant results within the period under review.

“The operational engage­ments of Operation Hadarin Daji within the period in focus include clearance, search and rescue as well as extensive air operations to dominate the airspace and provide close air support for ground troops. These operations were con­ducted concurrently in dif­ferent locations of the North West zone; only incidents with significant results are high­lighted.

“Within the period, our troops responded to distress calls of bandits and armed militia groups’ attacks on civilians at Hanutaru and Dansadau villages in Maru LGA of Zamfara State along Gusau-Sokoto Road. Troops also carried out rescue oper­ations within the period at Bakori LGA of Katsina State; Eldabala village in Tangaza LGA and along Lamba Baku­ra-Dogo Karfe Road in Sokoto State.

“Consequently, no fewer than 14 armed bandits were neutralised. Also, a total of 36 kidnapped victims were res­cued within the period and troops assisted one of the vic­tims to safe delivery of a baby during one of the encounters.

“A total of 7 AK-47 rifles, six motorcycles, assorted military and police uniforms, six vehicles and four machet­es, among other items, were recovered within the period. Also, a total of 24 criminal el­ements were intercepted and arrested, including 16 bandits’ informants/collaborators and an impostor by name Faisal Saidu who paraded himself as Lance Corporal Saidu Abu­bakar.

“Furthermore, a total of 223 rustled livestock were recov­ered during the period.

“Within the period, troops of Operation Hadin Kai con­ducted several land and air op­erations at different locations of the theatre. These include robust clearance, ambush and road piquet operations as well as comprehensive air patrols to dominate the general area and neutralise terrorists as well as frustrate other crimi­nal elements.

The DDMO also said, “Cu­mulatively, the operations led to the neutralisation of 16 BHT/ISWAPs as well as arrest of 29 of them, while 40 civilians were rescued. BHT and their families, five female adults and 12 children, were arrested at FOB Mayanti and Darajamel on July 15. Troops also recovered one General Purpose Machine Gun, four AK-47 rifles, 50 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and one belt containing 296 rounds of 7.62mm NATO am­munition, accessories for mak­ing IED, among other items.

“In Operation Safe Hav­en, troops conducted sever­al kinetic and non-kinetic operations concurrently at various locations in Plateau, Bauchi and Kaduna states. Within this period, troops responded to distress calls of armed bandits’ attacks on civilians, as well as incidents of kidnap, armed robbery and farmland destructions by herders’ cattle.”