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The Nigerian military announced on Thursday it killed 133 terrorists in separatist operations in Borno State and across the North-West.
The Defence Headquarters revealed that troops on internal operations recovered two calibrated aircraft engines from a long-forgotten unidentified aircraft crash site in Borno State.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Markus Kangye, stated this while providing an operational update on military activities from January 3 to February 13, 2025.
He said , “Two calibrated aircraft engines from a longtime unidentified aircraft crashed site, one double-barrel cannon gun and 16 missiles were also recovered.”
During this period, Kangye said troops neutralised 75 terrorists, arrested 138 suspects, and rescued 46 hostages across various operations.
Kangye said troops also intensified their crackdown on oil theft, leading to the arrest of 36 suspected oil thieves and the recovery of stolen petroleum products valued at N646,189,690.
He added, “In the Niger Delta, troops recovered 497,152 litres of stolen crude oil, 142,000 litres of illegally refined AGO and 4,075 litres of PMS, destroyed 164 crude oil cooking ovens, 37 dugout pits, 19 boats, 16 storage tanks, 38 drums and 42 illegal refining sites.
“Other items recovered include; three pumping machines, four tricycles, seven motorcycles, five mobile phones and three vehicles among others.”
In the North-West, the military said it intensifief counterterrorism operations, neutralising 58 terrorists, arresting 11 suspects, and rescuing 16 kidnapped victims in a series of operations conducted between February 1 and 12, 2025.
According to the Defence Headquarters’ weekly media briefing, troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA launched multiple offensives across Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kebbi states, achieving significant gains in the fight against insurgency.
As part of its ongoing efforts, a notorious terrorist leader, Kachalla Mudi, and two of his associates surrendered on February 3 and 4 in Birnin Gwari and Igabi LGAs, Kaduna State, handing over one General Purpose Machine Gun, an AK-47 rifle, and a fabricated AK-47 rifle.
On February 4, troops on a fighting patrol in Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State, engaged terrorists in a fierce gunfight, neutralising five insurgents and successfully rescuing five kidnapped victims.
In Gusau LGA, Zamfara State, troops eliminated six terrorists and recovered four AK-47 rifles, two dane guns, 62 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, and two motorcycles.
Similarly, in Maradun LGA, Zamfara State, security forces killed eight terrorists and seized five AK-47 rifles, two fabricated rifles, a Dane gun, 83 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, two magazines, and a Baofeng radio.
Between February 4 and 6, troops responded to Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province activities in Sabon Birni and Talata Mafara in Zamfara State, Maru and Gumi in Sokoto State, as well as Sabuwa, Kafur, and Baure in Katsina State.
These operations led to the elimination of six terrorists and the rescue of four victims. Troops also recovered four AK-47 rifles, a fabricated rifle, 173 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, three magazines, and three motorcycles.
From February 4 to 9, security forces carried out extensive fighting patrols across Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, and Sokoto states, leading to the neutralisation of 18 terrorists and the rescue of six kidnapped hostages.
They also recovered 13 AK-47 rifles, three fabricated rifles, one GPMG, one RPG tube, 252 chain links of 12.7mm ammunition, 197 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 94 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, five magazines, three Baofeng radios, eight motorcycles, and 11 mobile phones.
Between February 7 and 9, intelligence-led operations resulted in the arrest of Muhada Muhammadu, also known as Yellow, a high-profile terrorist leader, along with four of his associates.
The arrests were carried out in Kauran Namoda, Shinkafi, and Bukkuyum LGAs of Zamfara State, as well as Binji and Birnin Kebbi LGAs in Sokoto and Kebbi States. Security forces also recovered N2,451,820 from the suspects.
In total, troops of Operation Fansan Yamma neutralised 58 terrorists, arrested 11 suspected terrorists, and rescued 16 kidnapped victims.
The troops also recovered 31 AK-47 rifles, nine fabricated rifles, two GPMGs, one RPG tube, 252 chain links of 12.7mm ammunition, 558 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 94 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, 12 magazines, five Baofeng radios, 13 motorcycles, 11 mobile phones, and cash amounting to N2,451,820.
The Defence Headquarters reaffirmed the military’s commitment to ensuring security in the region and urged citizens to provide timely intelligence to aid ongoing counterterrorism efforts.
