The Defence Headquarters has said that a total of 2,403 terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements in the country were killed by the military in 2020.
The DHQ said a total of 864 kidnap victims were rescued by troops across theatres of operation in the year under review.
These figures were disclosed by the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, John Enenche, during the weekly media briefing at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
He said the figures given are outside those killed during various undocumented airstrikes.
Also, within this year, a total of 9,684,797 liters of stolen Automotive Gas Oil, 33,516,000 liters of Dual Purpose Kerosene were recovered; 1,910 criminal elements were arrested alongside the recovery of large cache of arms, ammunition and equipment.
Additionally, a total of 46,581.8 barrels of stolen crude oil and 22,881,257 liters of stolen Premium Motor Spirit were recovered by troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
Enenche also hinted that the Military will change its tactics against Boko Haram terrorists and bandits come 2021.
He said, “the efforts and sacrifices of the gallant officers and men of the Military as well as other security agencies that conduct these operations have been progressive. Within the period under review, troops engaged in series of land, maritime and air operations, involving both kinetic and non-kinetic activities across the country.
“The land operations conducted among others across the various theatres of operation include; clearance, ambush, raid, picketing, cordon and search operations as well as artillery bombardments and aggressive patrols. Others were maritime operations involving anti-piracy, anti-illegal bunkering, anti-crude oil theft and anti-pipeline vandalism operations as well as other duties such as anti-smuggling operations.
“Furthermore, comprehensive air operations including air patrols, Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance missions, offensive air strikes, air interdictions, search and rescue operations as well as close air support and air cover for ground troops.”
