*says Bello Turji is ‘a dead man walking’
By Augustine Aminu
Nigeria’s fight against terrorism recorded significant success in 2024, with the military executing over 1,000 terrorist leaders alongside numerous field commanders and combatants across the country.
This milestone was announced by Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, during a press briefing at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
The General detailed the extensive operations carried out by the Nigerian Armed Forces from January to December 2024, emphasizing the military’s determination to restore peace and stability.
“Notable among those neutralized in the course of the year were Dutse Mainasara Idda, Mallam Saleh Umaru, Mohammed Amadu, Chinemerem (aka Bam Bam), Jeremiah Uzuoma (aka Escoba), Tochukwu Awo (aka Ojoto), and Egwuatu, amongst others,” Buba disclosed.
In addition to the elimination of key figures, the troops neutralized a total of 10,937 terrorists, arrested 12,538 suspects, and rescued 7,063 hostages.
The Director described these achievements as a “crushing blow” to terrorist organizations operating within Nigeria.
The military also made significant recoveries, including 8,815 weapons and 228,004 rounds of ammunition. The breakdown included 4,332 AK-47 rifles, 1,244 locally fabricated guns, and various other arms and ammunition. Furthermore, the troops disrupted oil theft operations, recovering over 56 million liters of stolen crude oil and saving the nation an estimated ₦68 billion.
General Buba emphasized that these successes have significantly degraded the operational capabilities of terrorist groups. He commended the troops for their resilience and called for continued support from citizens to ensure sustained victories.
In the same development, The Nigerian Defence Headquarters, DHQ, has vowed that notorious bandit kingpin Bello Turji will be “wiped out” soon in 2025. The DHQ described Turji, who has been a nuisance in the Northwest region of the country, as a “dead man walking” and that he will meet his death soon, like many others before him.
Responding to questions raised about an unverified viral video of Turji calling out the DHQ spokesman, Major General Edward Buba, the DHQ urged Nigerians not to give in to terrorists’ propaganda, assuring that he and others will be wiped out soon as the military moves to intensify its operations in the new year.
“You think that the terrorists will be happy that we are hitting them hard? Of course not. All the terrorist leaders that we saw before him that were championing themselves as leaders, where are they today? I assure you that those of them that are leaders today, commanders, or whatever they call themselves, just watch out, we will wipe them all,” Buba charged.
He recalled that in the last 12 months, troops were confronted by several threats across the country, ranging from armed banditry, kidnapping for ransom, crude oil theft, violent extremism, insurgency, as well as terrorism, among others. “Several of these threats adversely affected innocent citizens and disrupted peace and security in the country,” he acknowledged.
“Troops’ war effort was therefore designed and crafted to defeat and destroy the terrorists as well as dismantle their terror infrastructure across the country. Accordingly, troops continued relentless and painful pressure on the terrorist enclaves, hideouts, and strongholds as an incentive to defeating the terrorists.
“Troops are focused on increasingly delivering tangible benefits of their operations for the benefit of citizens. Additionally, troops seek to continue to heighten collaboration with neighboring countries and regional bodies in order to tackle the menace of terrorism.
“Meanwhile, the armed forces assure that many of what was witnessed in the outgoing year are indicative of a major defeat of the terrorists in 2025. Importantly, troops in the battlefield are in high spirits, fully committed, devoted, and believe in the justness of the cause. Troops will be going the extra mile in the new year to get the job done,” the DHQ stated.
The Director of Defence Media Operations added that the war is not for the armed forces alone. He called for an all-citizens’ support toward winning the war.
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