[2:18 PM, 3/8/2025] ocheameh79@yahoo.com: The Defence Headquarters on Thursday said the land component of the Armed Forces conducted joint operations with the ONSA team, security agencies and hybrid forces between 27 February – 6 March 2025, which resulted to neutralization a total of 92 terrorists were neutralized while 111 suspected others vere arrested.
Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye disclosed this today 6th March 2025 at the biweekly press briefing at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja noting that the operations conducted include; fighting and confidence building patrols, raids, ambushes and clearance as well as search and rescue operations.
Maj. Gen Kangye added that troops also apprehended 18 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 75 kidnapped hostages
He said in the cause of the operations, they neutralized several terrorists, apprehended their collaborators, rescued kidnapped victims and received surrendered terrorists, gunrunners, oil theft collaborators and other violent extremists were also apprehended. The air component also, conducted several close air support, armed reconnaissance patrols as well as air interdiction missions.
In the South South, troops foiled oil theft estimated to the tune of about Five Hundred and Twenty One Million, Eight Hundred and Two Thousand, Three Hundred and Sixty Naira (N521,802,360.00) only.
The breakdown revealed: 452,396 litres of stolen crude oil, 224,175 litres of llegally refined Automotive Gas Oil and 1,920 litres of PMS. Additionally, troops discovered and destroyed 87 crude oil cooking ovens, 28 dugout pits, 23 boats.
33 storage tanks, 61 drums and 47 illegal refining sites. Other items recovered include 2 pumping machines, 3 tricycles, 5 motorcycles, 2 mobile phones and 6 vehicles among others.
In a related development, troops recovered 117 and 2,939 assorted weapons and ammunition respectively. These includes, 58 AK47 rifles, 21 locally fabricated guns, 26 dane guns, 7 pump action guns, 4 PKT guns, 2 GPMGs, one QJC W85 gun, one HK 21 gun, one 160 MG, 11 RPG bombs, 2 RPG tubes and one fabricated 60mm mortar. They also recovered quantity 2,278 rounds of assorted 7.62mm ammunition, 26 live cartridges, 64 rounds of 9mm ammo, 18 magazines, as well as other 8 assorted arms.
In North East, between 27 February – 5 March 2025, a total of 101 terrorists comprising 11 adult males, 39 adult females and 51 children surrendered to troops within the theatre of operation. one of the terrorists surrendered with one AK47 rifle and 7 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo. Between 25 February – 5 March 2025, troops in conjunction with Hybrid Forces, conducted offensive perations including ambushes, fightin patrols and clearance operations in Bama, Gwoza, Konduga, Monguno, Ngala, Kukawa and Mafa LGAs of Borno State as well as Gujba LGA of Yobe State. During the operations, over 25 terrorists were neutralized including a terrorists Commander Abba Alai (Amirul Khalid of Alafa), 14 were apprehended,while 7 kidnapped hostages were rescued.
They also recovered 19 Ak47 rifles, 7 dane guns, 4 PKT guns, one HK 21 gun, one QJC W85 gun, 2 GPMGs, one M60 MG, 11 RPG bombs, 2 RPG tubes,one fabricated 60mm mortar, 3 IEDs, 249 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 277 rounds of 12.7mm Special ammo, 20 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm x 5.56 x, 45mm ammo, 16 rounds of 7.62 x, 54mm ammo, 18 magazines and 12 motorcycles.
He added that from 26 February – 3 March 2025, troops in conjunction with Hybrid Force while on offensive patrol intercepted and arrested 13 terrorist collaborators in Biu, Chibok, Monguno, Hawul and Dikwa LGAs of Borno State.
One locally fabricated rifle, 106 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, one vehicle, 2 motorcycles, 4 mobile phones and the sum of N12,450.00 only were recovered from them.
On 1 March 2025, troops arrested 3 terrorists/herders in Chibok LGA Borno State as well as Fune LGA of Yobe State. They recovered 2 Ak47 rifles, 44 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 14 live cartridges, 2 magazines and the sum of N54,560.00 only.
Maj. General Kangye assured Nigerians of the gallant men and women of the Armed Forces of Nigeria will continue to carry out the constitutional responsibilities of protecting lives and properties of all Nigerians in line with rules of Engagement and Code of Conduct for Internal Security Operations.
[2:18 PM, 3/8/2025] ocheameh79@yahoo.com: Ex-Presidential Adviser Doyin Okupe Dies at 72 Following Cancer Struggle
Dr. Doyin Okupe, former presidential aide to Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, has died at the age of 72.
Okupe, a prominent physician and politician, passed away after a prolonged battle with cancer. Family sources confirmed that he had been seriously ill in recent weeks.
The former Labour Party chieftain and ally of Peter Obi was first diagnosed with prostate cancer 16 years ago and later developed sarcoma in his right shoulder. Despite receiving treatment in Israel in 2023, his health deteriorated.
Okupe’s death marks the loss of a significant voice in Nigeria’s political landscape.
