Crime

Military Reports: 9,303 Terrorists Killed, 9,562 Fighters Surrender Over One Year

Published by Tope Fakinlede on June 7th, 2024.

Military Reports: 9,303 Terrorists Killed, 9,562 Fighters Surrender Over One Year

By SUMAILA OGBAJE

Over the past year, security forces have killed 9,303 terrorists, arrested 6,998 individuals, and witnessed the surrender of 9,562 Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters and their families.

Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, shared these figures during a joint briefing by Security, Defence, and Response agencies, organized by the Strategic Communications Interagency Policy Committee under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in Abuja on Thursday.

Buba reported that troops rescued 4,641 hostages and apprehended 1,437 suspected oil thieves during this period. In the Niger Delta Region, 363 criminals were killed, and 245 kidnap victims were rescued.

The Nigerian Police Force, within the same timeframe, arrested 4,796 armed robbery suspects, 3,068 kidnapping suspects, and 2,474 individuals for rape or sexual crimes. Additionally, 1,213 were detained for unlawful firearm possession, 3,523 suspected cultists, 3,381 individuals for murder/homicide, and 13,382 for other offenses.

Buba also noted that the Police rescued 1,713 kidnap victims, recovered 1,465 vehicles/motorcycles, 2,566 firearms, and 19,310 rounds of ammunition. Over the past year, the Police prosecuted 29,052 cases, resulting in 16,200 convictions. He detailed the breakdown as follows: 7,675 cases conclusively dispensed, 11,376 suspects currently on trial, 51 cases on appeal, and 16,200 convictions.

Additionally, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) foiled 48 attack/kidnap attempts on schools and dismantled 1,975 illegal mining sites across the country. They also uncovered and dismantled 165 illegal local refineries.

The Nigeria Customs Service reported generating about N4 trillion in revenue and made significant seizures, including over 21,000 pump-action cartridges, 440 pump-action rifles, and 228,741 rounds of ammunition. They also recovered suicide jackets and lethal weapons, thwarting potential attacks, and disrupted criminal activities involving 50,000 liters of illicit petr

oleum products.