The military high command, on Thursday, said troops neutralised 1,166 terrorists, arrested 1,096 criminals and rescued 721 kidnap victims.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Edward Buba, disclosed this at a media briefing in Abuja.

Giving an update on troops’ successes in August, Buba said several terrorist leaders and commanders were taken off the battlefield.

The terrorist leaders eliminated in the North East within the month, according to the Defence spokesman, are Munir Arika, Sani Dilla (aka Dan Hausawan Jibilarram), Ameer Modu, Dan Fulani Fari Fari, Bakoura Araina Chikin, Dungusu, Abu Darda and Abu Rijab.

He said troops also killed some terrorists’ leaders in the Northwest, among whom are Kachalla Dan Ali Garin Fadama, Kachalla Dan Mani Na Inna, Kachalla Basiru Zakariyya, Sani Baka Tsine, Inusa Zangon Kuzi, Ibrahim, Tukur and Kamilu Buzaru.

He said, “Additionally, troops recovered 391 weapons, 15,234 ammunitions and denied oil theft of an estimated sum of over five billion naira.

“The breakdown of recoveries in the month of August include 208 AK47 rifles, 54 locally fabricated guns, 53 dane guns, 36 pump action guns, 10, 452 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 1,991 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 293 cartridges, 42 assorted arms and 2,498 assorted ammunition.

“Others are 5,047,150 litres of stolen crude oil, 1,152,500 litres of illegally refined diesel, 320 litres of kerosene and 28,500 litres of petrol, amongst other items.”

He explained the reasons members of Boko Haram terrorists and their counterpart from Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) were coming out virtually on a daily basis to drop their arms.

It specifically disclosed that members of the two groups and other terror groups in the Northeast are getting less-motivated to fight due to superior firepower, which is being unleashed on them troops in every corner.

He insisted that the military would replicate the same fighting spirit in other theatres of operation, particularly in the Northwest and the North Central in order to bring lasting peace and safety to citizens.

Buba, a Major-General, explained that ongoing operations across the country have “Significantly diminished military capabilities of the terror groups and denied them the ability to carry out major attacks in different areas.

“The situation experienced mostly these days are low level skirmishes and attacks on soft targets. We are aware that we are dealing with a shrewd, ruthless and brutal enemy that must be stopped from their acts of terror.

“Accordingly, the armed forces are prepared to act with the relevant level of force that would be needed to dismantle these terror groups. Troop’s strategy is to undermine the abilities of these terror groups and create conditions wherethey cannot carry out acts of terror or harm citizens.

“Accordingly, the military has prioritised targeting the terrorist leaders, commanders, foot soldiers as well as their collaborators,” the senior military officer told journalists at the briefing.