The Nigerian Army has reported a significant victory in its fight against terrorism by eliminating a notorious terrorist leader, Mai Hijabi, in Jigawa State. This achievement was highlighted during a press briefing by the Defence Headquarters, which shared updates on recent military operations across the country.
According to Major General Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, the army has made substantial progress in dismantling terrorist groups. In the latest operations, troops neutralized 165 terrorists, apprehended 238 suspects, and rescued 188 individuals who had been kidnapped.
General Buba emphasized that the military’s actions have greatly weakened the combat capabilities of these terror organizations. Mai Hijabi, a key commander in the region, was reported to have been killed during the operations.
Beyond counter-terrorism efforts, the army has also focused on tackling oil theft in the Niger Delta. Troops arrested 35 suspected oil thieves and prevented oil theft worth around N688 million. In these operations, they discovered and destroyed illegal refining sites, storage tanks, and confiscated a large quantity of stolen crude oil.
In total, the military seized 153 assorted weapons and over 2,000 rounds of ammunition, including various rifles and handguns.
In the North East, the army’s Operation Hadin Kai led to the neutralization of 83 terrorists, the arrest of 56 suspects, and the rescue of 50 kidnapped victims while recovering a cache of weapons. Meanwhile, in the North Central and North West regions, troops also took down 19 and 47 violent extremists, respectively.
Air support played a crucial role, with airstrikes targeting terrorist hideouts, resulting in more enemy casualties and destruction of their supplies.
General Buba reassured the public that the military is committed to winning the war against terrorism and is continually assessing its strategies to enhance security for citizens. He also cautioned against making threats or inflammatory statements regarding military operations, underscoring the army’s dedication to ensuring peace and safety across the nation.
