The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has revealed that Nigerian troops achieved significant successes in 2024, neutralizing 8,034 terrorists, arresting 11,623 others, and rescuing 6,376 hostages during operations across the country. These efforts were part of ongoing military operations in five major theatres of internal security.
At the biweekly military operations update, Major General Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, outlined the achievements. He said, “Between January and December 2024, our troops recovered 8,216 weapons, 211,459 rounds of ammunition, and stolen crude oil worth over ₦57 billion.”
The recovered weapons included:
- 4,053 AK-47 rifles
- 1,123 locally fabricated guns
- 731 dane guns
- 240 pump-action guns
Additionally, troops confiscated 120,247 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 41,515 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, and 25,664 assorted rounds of other calibers.
Fighting Oil Theft
The military also made significant progress in combating oil theft, recovering vast quantities of stolen and illegally refined petroleum products:
- 53.1 million liters of crude oil
- 9.2 million liters of illegally refined diesel (AGO)
- 90,595 liters of kerosene (DPK)
- 156,095 liters of premium motor spirit (PMS)
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These efforts are part of a broader campaign to disrupt criminal networks in Nigeria’s oil-producing regions.
Major General Buba assured Nigerians that the military remains steadfast in its commitment to maintaining security and dismantling terrorist operations. He said, “The military is increasingly creating conditions in which terrorists cannot carry out acts of terror or harm citizens.”
He also emphasized that the armed forces are constantly evaluating strategies to enhance operational effectiveness. “On the whole, the armed forces is on an upward trajectory to winning the war. We are committed to ensuring the safety of all Nigerians,” he added.