At least 165 suspected gunmen were killed in different military operations across Nigeria over the past week, an official said Thursday.
Edward Buba, the military’s chief spokesman, told reporters at a bi-weekly press briefing in the capital Abuja that 238 others were apprehended during the period. The troops located criminal groups’ hideouts, destroyed their logistics bases, and recorded successful operations across the theater commands in the West African country.
“Our role in the ongoing war is clear, and we are winning the war. The military is not oblivious to some security challenges citizens face in certain quarters and is reassessing operations in those areas to secure better and protect citizens,” Buba said. “Troops recognize the urgency to ensure peace and security for all citizens in the country.”
During the period, 188 civilians held hostages by criminal gangs were rescued by troops, the official said, noting that 153 assorted weapons and over 2,000 assorted ammunitions were also recovered.
The Nigerian armed forces are “working on new strategies to better protect the nation and citizens,” Buba told reporters.
Earlier this month, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu declared “an unfinished business” in the country’s security situation, which, he said, the government forces were committed to ending as quickly as possible.
The security situation has so far seriously affected food production, as local farmers find it difficult to assess their farms due to the nefarious activities of bandits or gunmen, who often kidnap citizens for ransom.
With the ongoing security operations, Nigerians will soon experience a leap in food production and a downward spiral in food costs, Tinubu said during a national broadcast on October 1.
