ABUJA, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian troops rescued more than 60 victims of abduction during various anti-terror operations conducted nationwide in the past week, the military said Saturday.
Michael Onoja, spokesman for the Nigerian military, told the media that at least 20 terror suspects surrendered to troops and 44 suspected family members of terrorists were arrested during operations conducted between Sept. 18 and 24 against terrorism, kidnapping, arms trafficking, oil theft and other security threats across Africa's most populous country.
During the operations, troops disrupted the movement of suspected terrorists transporting a large number of kidnapped victims around Bazama, a town in the Sakaba Local Government Area of northwestern Kebbi State, Onoja said. The disruption forced the terrorists to abandon their captives, enabling more than 60 kidnapped victims to escape.
Onoja said troops also intercepted 44 suspected family members of terrorists, including 13 women and 31 children, at Konduga in Bama Local Government Area of northeastern Borno State, during one of the operations. Suspected terrorist informants, collaborators and logistics suppliers were also apprehended during the period, he added.
In the Niger Delta region, troops uncovered about 182,000 liters of suspected stolen crude oil in the creeks of Rivers State, while also discovering eight dugout pits, five of which contained suspected stolen crude oil, as well as hoses allegedly used to transport crude oil illegally.
According to Onoja, the operation followed an earlier discovery of about 87,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil at illegal refining sites in Rivers State in early September.
Nigerian troops would continue to put pressure on terrorist groups and protect communities within their area of responsibility, Onoja added.
