Military recovers over N350m from terrorist financiers in North-East – Commander

The outgoing Theatre Commander of the North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Abubakar Abdulsalam, has revealed that more than N350 million was intercepted from terrorist financiers during his tenure.

Abdulsalam disclosed this on Tuesday at a press briefing held at the headquarters of the Joint Task Force in Maiduguri, Borno State, as part of activities marking his exit from the theatre.

He said: “When I assumed this command on April 28 last year, the mandate given by the Army Headquarters was very clear, and that was to facilitate the restoration of normalcy in the North-East so that socio-economic activities can thrive.”

According to him, the command measured its progress through the restoration of essential services, reopening of markets and major supply routes, reopening of schools and the return of displaced persons to their ancestral communities.

Abdulsalam said: “Together and collectively, we have seen over 7,000 displaced families return to their ancestral communities, and today, communities that were hitherto abandoned for years have now been reoccupied.

“No fewer than 300 explosive devices were discovered and safely detonated from April 25 to date.

“Furthermore, over N350m from terrorist financiers was intercepted, with no fewer than 758 terrorist logistics collaborators captured.”

He added that more than 3,000 people had been voluntarily repatriated from Cameroon in a dignified manner.

“The National Youth Service Corps Orientation Camp has returned to Maiduguri after more than 13 years.

“WAEC and NECO examinations are now being written in communities like Banki and Gwoza, while trade routes have been opened and local markets have come back to life,” he said.

Abdulsalam also disclosed that troops had recorded significant operational successes, including the neutralisation of more than 1,200 JAS and ISWAP terrorists, among them several notable leaders.

“As of the last count, over 216 top-ranking terrorist leaders have been taken out,” he said.

“Troops have also recovered over 500 assorted weapons and more than 25,000 rounds of various calibres,” he added.

The outgoing commander said the theatre had also witnessed an unprecedented wave of terrorist surrenders, particularly this year, attributing the development to sustained military pressure and the provision of dignity pathways through non-kinetic efforts.

Abdulsalam commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, and the Borno State Government for their support throughout his tenure.

He said: “I wish to first express my sincere appreciation to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his strategic leadership and for enhancing the welfare and combat capacity of the Armed Forces.

“I also extend my gratitude to the Chief of Defence Staff, General OO Oluyede, CFR, for his guidance and for facilitating strategic international partnerships.

“My special appreciation goes to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General W. Shaibu, NAM, for his continuous direction and for reinforcing the Theatre with additional troops, equipment and combat enablers.

“To the Borno State Government, I thank His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, for his unwavering support to this Theatre, particularly the provision of critical combat enablers, which include MRAPs, long-range surveillance cameras and drones, among others,” he said.