Military records 73% drop in attacks, kills 217 suspects in October

The Defence Headquarters says attacks across military operational theatres dropped by 73.3 per cent in October, even as troops killed more than 217 terrorists and criminals during the month.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed this on Friday in Abuja while briefing journalists on military operations across the country.

Onoja said troops recorded 98 attacks in October, compared with 367 in September, representing a reduction of 269 incidents.

He attributed the decline to sustained military operations across the various theatres.

A breakdown of the October figures showed that Operation Enduring Peace recorded the highest number of attacks with 29, followed by Operation Hadin Kai with 27 and Operation Fansan Yamma with 24.

Operation Whirl Stroke recorded 12 attacks, while Operation Udo Ka recorded four. Operations Delta Safe and Savannah Shield recorded one attack each.

In September, Operation Enduring Peace recorded 147 attacks, Operation Fansan Yamma 115, Operation Whirl Stroke 55, Operation Hadin Kai 33, Operation Savannah Shield 13 and Operation Udo Ka four, while Operation Delta Safe recorded none.

Despite the decline in attacks, Onoja said troops killed over 217 terrorists and criminals, arrested 333 suspects and rescued 349 kidnap victims during October.

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He added that 70 insurgents surrendered to troops, while security forces recovered 105 firearms and 3,174 rounds of ammunition.

The military also reported recovering 756,837 litres of stolen crude oil products and destroying 49 illegal refining sites during operations against crude oil theft.

Onoja said troops responded to attacks across the theatres, engaging assailants with superior firepower and tactical manoeuvres to repel them.

However, he expressed condolences to the government and people of Taraba State over the killing of civilians in terrorist attacks in Binari, Karim Lamido Local Government Area, on October 23.

He quoted the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, as assuring Nigerians that the military would intensify efforts to apprehend those responsible and bring them to justice.

Oluyede urged troops to remain disciplined, respect human rights and comply with the rules of engagement, warning against complacency as the festive season approaches.

He also called for stronger intelligence sharing and joint planning among security agencies, while urging community leaders and residents to report suspicious activities to security formations or through the military’s toll-free line, 193.