The Director of Defense Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, said that, especially in the north of the country, the troops rescued 109 hostages from groups, which are considered terrorist, and captured 16 alleged criminals involved in oil theft.

In the area of the Niger delta, the regular forces destroyed 71 canoes and 36 boats, the military chief told local media, adding that in these combats, they recovered numerous weapons and ammunition of various types.

Buba pointed out that the ongoing counter-insurgency and anti-terrorist operations throughout the country are fundamental to the government troops’ efforts to achieve peace and ensure that violent extremist groups do not find a safe haven in this territory.

For several years, the Nigerian Army has fought against Boko Haram and the Islamic State in the West African Province. Both organizations have tried to o impose a radical Islamist State in the country, which has a Muslim majority in the north and a Christian majority in the south.

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