The Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies have recounted their victories in their sustained major operations across various parts of the country.
The attendant results from their operations was made known today in a press release by the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. John Enenche.
The update covered operations carried out between 30th October and 4th November, 2020, in the North West, North East, North Central and South South geopolitical zones.
In the North West, the engagement of troops of operation Hadarin Daji, and operation Sahel Sanity saw to the withdrawal and neutralization and arrest of bandits including the rescue of nursing mothers and their infants kidnapped by the bandits. Regrettably, however, one brave soldier paid the ultimate price in an attempt to save one of the rescued mothers in the heat of the encounter.
In the North East zone, the land component of Operation Lafiya Dole, under its subsidiary, Fire Ball, has recorded appreciable success as several terrorists were neutralized and many others arrested with caches of arms and ammunition. Thanks to comprehensive ground and air operations as well as superior fire power and support from the Air Task Force, terrorists” attacks on troops’ location at Army Super Camp, Damboa , Borno State were repelled and twenty two insurgents were neutralized.
Within the period under focus, the Air Component of Operation Lafiya Dole conducted several air operations involving both offensive and support missions. With the use of a force package of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and helicopter gunships, the Air Task Force (ATF) conducted Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance missions over various locations in the North East, which revealed terrorists’ activities and their hideouts. This enabled the ATF to execute interdictions and strikes on the identified location , causing devastating hits on the terrorists’ hideouts at Madu and Garin Maloma villages in Borno State, the resultant effect being the neutralization of the insurgents, and utter destruction of their structures and logistics.
The story of success is not different in the North Central and South-South geopolitical zones, where where troops of Sector 2 Operation Whirl Punch and Operation Delta Safe have sustained the aggressive fight to curtail activities of armed bandits and crude oil theft respectively.
In the North Central zone, the troops have repelled the attacks of armed bandits at Bassa village in Shiroro Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State. In the course of the encounter, several bandits have been neutralized. In addition, troops of Headquarters Command Army Records in Lokoja, in conjunction with Defence Intelligence Agency operatives, arrested four suspected criminals with three locally made guns at Auko village along Lokoja-Abuja highway in Kogi LGA of Kogi state.
In another development , between 29th October and 3rd November 2020, Headquarters Operation Safe Haven conducted extensive Civil Military Cooperation activities with a view to cultivating cordial relations with the various ethnic groups in Plateau and Kaduna States. They fostered security meetings with stakeholders from Foka and Ungwar Doruwa villages in Karu LGA of Kaduna State, and Gero village in Jos South LGA of Plateau State. Meetings were also held with heads of security agencies and local government chairmen. In addition, peace meetings were also held with representatives of Fulani, Irigwa, Berom, Hausa, Afizere and Rukuba communities in Jos South and Bassa LGAs of Plateau State, and Godo-Godo District of Jama’a LGA of Kaduna State. These meetings were in continuation of peace and reconciliation efforts among the various ethnic groups in the zone, and focused extensive on farmers/herders clashes, kidnapping, farm encroachment/destruction and other sunset challenges in the states. The troops commissioned five boreholes in Angwan Rana, Kurmin Masara, Boko and Zikpak; a solar energy panel project in Sabon Kauru, and clinics Kauru, Zangon-Kataf and Jama’a LGAs in Kaduna State . Also commissioned in Jama’a LGA was a newly renovated administrative block at the Government Secondary School, Gidan Waya. Consequent upon these gestures, the locals are requested to cooperate with the security agencies, by availing them with the required information which will be useful to the collective objectives of the Armed Forces, of taking out criminal elements from the zone.
In the South-South zone, Operation Delta Safe has recorded significant successes. Of note, during the period under focus, is the discovery and consequent swift immobilization of three illegal refineries, containing tanks loaded with illegally refined oil products around Orutoru in Bonny LGA of Rivers State. Furthermore, troops in conjunction with local vigilante arrested five suspected cultists at Jesse community in Ethiope West LGA of Delta State. Also, whole on patrol, they arrested a suspected armed robber with locally made pistol at Igbudu market in Warri South LGA.
In another development, a collaboration of operatives of Operation Calm Waters II and Operation Swift Response has led to a reduction in criminality. Forward Operating Base IBAKA gunboats, while on routine patrol around Utan Iyata intercepted and arrested two wooden boats lade with 326 50kg bags of foreign rice susoected to be smuggled in from Cameroon. Also intercepted was a small sized wooden boat laden with products suspected to be Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) along Mbo River, being smuggled to the Republic of Cameroon. Other items retrieved from the boat include a pumping machine and two 40HP Yamaha engines. All items have been handed over to the appropriate prosecuting agency for necessary action.
‘Deducing from the above successes’, the statement reads, ‘ it is clear that troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, working with other security agencies remain resolute and committed in their endeavour to end banditry, insurgence and other sundry crimes in the country.
The statement also expressed the commendation of the Military High Command to all gallant troops of the Armed Forces and personel of other security agencies involved in various operations across the country , for their commitment, determination and dedication. By the statement, they are equally encouraged to remain firm and decisive in curtailing the activities of all criminal elements in the country.
While the statement assures members of the general public that the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies will continue to tackle security challenges and ensure that normalcy is attained in all the geopolitical zones of the country, it also highly solicits their support in the area of providing credible information to assist their ( Armed Forces) operations.
