Darul Salam terrorists will be a thing of the past – DHQ

The Defence Headquarters has expressed optimism that the terrorist group, Darul Salam will soon be a thing of the past to Nigeria.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. John Enenche, said this while fielding questions from journalists while giving update on the operations of the Armed Forces on Friday in Abuja, The Punch said.

Enenche noted that the military was working with all stakeholders to put an end to the operations of the group in the northern part of the country, a NAN report said.

He added that the Defence Headquarters was determined to deploy both kinetic and non-kinetic means to rid the nation of the group and other forms of criminal elements.

According to him, no fewer than 410 members of Darul Salam terrorist group surrendered to the troops of Operation Whirl Stroke during an encounter at Uttu in Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State in August.

He said the terrorists who surrendered included women and children.

“The group, I can assure you that in no distant time, will go into extinction.

“We are putting pressure on them, as all hands are on deck and we are getting good information; and we are tracking them with those that are suspected to be collaborators that fence them.

“So that is where we are now, and like I always say, it is not always good for me to say this where they are or not, or to tell you that we are sending troops to anywhere, but we are on top of it.

“We are not assuming at all, because it is a group that their own motivation is based on ideology and what is difficult to kill kinetically is ideology. So ideology can be defeated by all stakeholders, particularly those that speak to their conscience, (or) that speak and touch their mind.”

Troops kill 16 insurgents, arrest 25 suspects

Meanwhile, troops of Operation Lafiya Dole have reportedly killed 16 Boko Haram insurgents during encounters with the criminals in various locations in Borno and Yobe states.

On September 10, the personnel in conjunction with the Civilian Joint Task Force on patrol engaged Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists at Kassa Kura in Maiduguri town during which two insurgents were reportedly eliminated.

The encounter also led to the recovery of a large cache of weapons, Enenche disclosed in Abuja on Friday.

Speaking on the ongoing military operations across the nation at a media briefing, the coordinator explained that three insurgents were killed at Ngurosoye village in Bama Local Government Area and Dalori Gari in Maiduguri, during an ambush by the troops.

He stated, “In the same vein, on September 11, 2020, troops on patrols at various locations in Borno State encountered ambushes and attacks by BHT/ISWAP fighters. In all, troops with superior firepower overwhelmed the terrorists and repelled them. The operations led to the killing of five terrorists as others fled with various degrees of gunshot wounds.”

According to him, the operatives equally repelled terrorists’ attacks at Ngala and Baga towns and recovered various categories of arms and ammunition while two additional fighters were killed.

In another development, the troops in conjunction with local vigilantes on September 14 conducted cordon and search operations at Gashua Local Government Area of Yobe State, where four insurgents were neutralised, while seven were arrested, in addition to three others apprehended on September 13 at the College of Agriculture in Gujba LGA.

“It is also worthy to mention that the wife and son of one of BHT’s (Boko Haram) high profile member, Abdulrahman Abdullahi, had been earlier arrested by troops in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State on September 7,” Enenche noted.

The military further explained that troops of Operation Salama, an internal security outfit in Jigawa State, raided the residence of a suspected bandit at Kabaka Village in Gwiwa LGA of the state.

During the raid, troops arrested his wife and four others while two AK47 rifles, five magazines and 149 rounds of ammunition were recovered.

A total of 25 suspects were also apprehended by troops in Plateau State while one locally fabricated pistol loaded with one round of 9mm ammunition was recovered during the operation.