The Nigerian military, through its various operations across the country from January to December 2024, neutralized 8,034 terrorists, arrested 11,623 suspects, and rescued 6,376 kidnapped victims.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, disclosed this in a briefing, detailing the achievements of troops in counter-terrorism and anti-crime operations. He revealed that the troops also recovered 8,216 weapons and 211,459 rounds of ammunition.
Key Weapon Recoveries:
AK-47 Rifles: 4,053
Locally Fabricated Guns: 1,123
Dane Guns: 731
Pump Action Guns: 240
7.62mm Special Ammo: 120,247 rounds
7.62mm NATO Ammo: 41,515 rounds
Assorted Arms: 1,940
Assorted Ammunition: 25,664
Anti-Oil Theft Operations:
The military’s fight against oil theft resulted in:
Crude Oil Recovered: 53,101,430 liters
Illegally Refined AGO: 9,179,181 liters
DPK: 90,595 liters
PMS: 156,095 liters
Estimated Loss Prevented: Over ₦57 billion
Regional Operations Overview:
North-East (Operation Hadin Kai):
Neutralized: 2,918 terrorists
Arrests: 2,285 suspects
Rescued: 1,496 hostages
Surrenders: 257 terrorists and their families
Weapons Recovered:
1,682 AK-47 rifles
39,612 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo
11,931 assorted ammunition
North-Central (Operation Safe Haven):
Neutralized: 411 violent extremists
Arrests: 1,859 suspects
Rescued: 927 hostages
Weapons Recovered:
238 AK-47 rifles
18,324 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo
North-West (Operation Hadarin Daji):
Neutralized: 2,646 terrorists
Arrests: 1,654 suspects
Rescued: 2,339 hostages
Weapons Recovered:
1,341 AK-47 rifles
29,068 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo
Niger Delta (Operation Delta Safe):
Neutralized: 78 terrorists
Arrests: 2,176 involved in crude oil theft
Rescued: 73 hostages
Recoveries:
524 assorted weapons
12,974 rounds of ammunition
1,880 wooden boats destroyed
South-East (Operation Udoka):
Neutralized: 666 IPOB/ESN terrorists
Arrests: 893 suspects
Rescued: 323 hostages
Weapons Recovered:
144 AK-47 rifles
8,000 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo
Major General Buba noted that these operations have significantly weakened terrorist capabilities, restored peace in several regions, and created an environment conducive to socio-economic activities. He emphasized that the military is improving operational efficiency and remains committed to ensuring citizens’ safety.
He also called for greater transparency from International Oil Companies (IOCs) and accurate metering in the oil sector, while urging local communities to support military efforts against crude oil theft.
“These sustained operations have put terrorists on the defensive, limiting their ability to harm citizens. The armed forces continue to explore strategies to guarantee peace and security nationwide,” Buba concluded.
