By TOM CHIAHEMEN, Abuja –
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), has acknowledged the terrible impact of kidnappings on the families of those affected, with an assurance that the armed forces will work relentlessly to address the hurtful situation.
“Indeed, our hearts and thoughts go to their families and loved ones. We also recognize the fear that these kidnappings create among the citizenry, following recent events in the FCT,” Director of Defence Military Operation (DMO), Major-General Edward Buba, said in Abuja on Friday.
Briefing the media on the on-going military operations across the country, Buba assured that while troops probably do not have all the answers as at now, “citizens should be rest assured that the armed forces is working relentlessly to address the hurtful situation.
“Additionally, troop are synergizing with other security services and stakeholders to investigate and gather more intelligence on these kidnapping gangs, particularly around the FCT,” he said.
He disclosed that already, “troops have prioritized the areas of these kidnappings, increased both ground and air surveillance over the areas,” adding that technologies had also been deployed to more easily detect these kidnapping gangs in their hideouts and enclaves.”
According to Major-General Buba, troops increased the tempo of operations in order to find, degrade and destroy the terrorist and cohorts wherever they were hiding.
“In the FCT and environs, some of the areas cleared by troops so far include Kawu, Gaba, Deidei, Kubwa Hills, and Ushafa in the FCT, Garam, Jibi, and back of Zuma Rock in Niger State, as well as Gidan Dogo and Kuyeri/Kuyeri Hills in Kaduna State. There have also been intensified night patrols in the Mpape, Kubwa, Lugbe, Pyakasa, Keti, Gbaupe, Gbaukuchi, and Airport Rd among others,” he said.
He further announced that in the North-East part of the country, the air component of Operation HADIN KAI, on 10 January 2024, eliminated three top ISWAP terrorists’ commanders in Borno State.
The Commanders, identified as: Abou Maimuna, Abou Zahra and Commander Saleh, with their lieutenants in a canoe, were targeted and destroyed by the air strikes.
Giving a general overview of the military operations during the week, Major-General Buba disclosed that 43 terrorists were neutralized, with 76 of them arrested, while troops also arrested 29 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 27 kidnapped hostages.
In the South-South region of the country, troops denied oil theft of the estimated sum of N131,101,750.00, according to the DMO Director.
“Furthermore, troops recovered 81 assorted weapons and 2,150 assorted ammunitions. The breakdown as follows: one NSVT AA gun, one GPMG, one PKMG, 36 AK47 rifles, one RPG 7 tube, 2 AGL bombs, 4 pump action guns, 4 locally fabricated guns, 8 dane guns, 3 short guns, one cut-to-short dane gun, 2 berretta pistols, one damaged AK47 rifle, 2 RPG chargers, wooden stock of AK47 rifles, LMG magazine, 8 bandoliers and 42 magazines.
“Others are: 272 belted rounds of 7.62 x 51mm, 268 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm, 557 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm special, 1000 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 3 rounds of 12.7 x 108mm, 6 rounds of 9mm ammo, one AA ammo, 74 live cartridges, empty cases of 7.62mm special ammo, 2 vehicles, 25 motorcycles, 21 mobile phones, 6 baofeng radios and the sum of N1,266,920.00 only amongst other items.
“Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 7 dugout pits, 13 boats, 23 storage tanks, 2 barges, 4 vehicles. Other items recovered incl 15 cooking ovens, 2 pump machines and 16 illegal refining sites. Troops recovered 139,045 litres of stolen crude oil, 25,115 litres of illegally refined AGO and 5,200 litres of DPK,” he said.
Concluding, Buba said the armed forces would always be mindful of the threat by kidnapping gangs and terrorist across the country and accordingly would continually review their internal processes in order to deal with these threats both now and in the long term.
“The military is determined to give the situation the seriousness it deserves so as to create a safer environment for citizens,” he emphasised.
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