The Nigerian military killed 43 terrorists and detained 76 others in the country’s South-South geopolitical zone.

 

Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, announced this in a statement made accessible to journalists.

 

According to him, the military also apprehended 29 oil thieves and freed 27 abducted captives.

 

The military official stated that forces seized 81 different weapons and 2,150 different rounds of ammunition.

 

The breakdown of the recovered arms is as follows: “One NSVT AA gun, one GPMG, one PKMG, 36 AK47 rifles, one RPG 7 tube, 2 AGL bombs, 4 pump action guns, 4 locally fabricated guns, 8 Dane guns, 3 shotguns, one cut-to-short dane gun, 2 beretta pistols, one damaged AK47 rifle, 2 RPG chargers, wooden stock of AK47 rifles, LMG magazine, 8 bandoliers and 42 magazines.

 

Others are 272 belted rounds of 7.62 x 51mm, 268 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm, 557 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm special, 1000 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 3 rounds of 12.7 x 108mm, 6 rounds of 9mm ammo, one AA ammo, 74 live cartridges, empty cases of 7.62mm special ammo, 2 vehicles, 25 motorcycles, 21 mobile phones, 6 baofeng radios and the sum of N1,266,920.00 only amongst other items.”

 

Buba further stated that forces in the Niger Delta area uncovered and destroyed 7 dugout trenches, 13 boats, 23 storage tanks, 2 barges, and 4 vehicles.

 

“Other items recovered include 15 cooking ovens, 2 pump machines and 16 illegal refining sites. Troops recovered 139,045 litres of stolen crude oil, 25,115 litres of illegally refined AGO and 5,200 litres of DPK.

 

“The Armed Forces will always be mindful of the threat by kidnapping gangs and terrorists across the country,” he said.

 

Buba stated that the military will continuously evaluate internal protocols in order to cope with recognised threats.