By TOM CHIAHEMEN, Abuja –
The Nigerian Navy has recorded a milestone in indigenous systematic survey and charting of the nation’s offshore waters.
Director of Defence Media Operations (DMO), Major-General Benard Onyeuko, who made this known in Abuja on Thursday, said the commencement of the indigenous survey was necessary to support the Federal Government’s economic diversification initiative through maritime security, maritime trade and transport.
Major-General Onyeuko, who spoke during the bi-weekly press briefing on troops activities in the theatre of operations currently ongoing in parts of Nigeria, also announced that a total of 51,114 Boko Haram Terrorist and families had so far surrendered to troops of the Armed Forces of Nigerian as at 5 April 2022.
According to him, all the surrendered terrorists, comprising of 11,398 men, 15,381 women, 24,335 children, “have been documented, while arrested, rescued civilians and recovered items have been handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action.”
“Of significant is the surrender of a high-profile terrorist, Commander Sale Mustapha (Ibin Kathir) to own troops in Bama. He was the Qaid of Garin Ba-Abba,” Onyeuko said.
He also noted that the last few days were characterized by some operational setbacks orchestrated by terrorists and criminals in North Central, adding that “this however, has not dimmed the light on the huge gains and success achieved by own troops in other theatres of operation especially in the North East, North West and South-SSouth.
Highlighting the operational activities in the various theatre of operations between 25 March – 7 April 2022, Major-General Onyeuko said that in the last two weeks, the land component of Operation Hadin Kai, with the support of the air component conducted offensive operations at different locations in Borno State including the Sambisa Forest during which the troops neutralized scores of terrorist sand arrested 22 terrorist spies, 11terrorists, 3 logistics suppliers, rescued 30 civilians.
“Cumulatively, in the last 2 weeks troops recovered 1 Battle Tank, 5artillery guns, 2 GTS, 3 AA guns, 1 Mine Resistance Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, 3 gun trucks, 1 MOWAG Armored Personnel Carrier, 2 RPG tubes, 3 RPG rockets, 3 RPG bombs, 1 NSVT gun, 2 GPMG, 1 light MG, 1 PKM, 3 GPMG belts, 4 belts of PKT rounds, 600 7.62mm NATO rounds, 16 AK 47 rifles, 1 dane gun, 270 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 1 Toyota Buffalo vehicle, 1 Golf saloon car, 4 motorcycles, 6 magazines, 2 pairs of camouflage, 2 terrorists flags, 1 tricycle and 1 active drone,” he said.
He further disclosed that within the period under review, the troops of Operation Thunder Strike recorded some modest success as the air component on 30 March 2022 conducted air strikes upon receiving credible intelligence report about the movements of some terrorists on motorbikes towards Akilibu – Sarkin Pawa road at Mangoro village, between Kaduna and Niger State.
“The air component intercepted and neutralized scores of the terrorists. Accordingly, 34 terrorists were neutralized while 14 locally fabricated guns and 17 motorcycles were recovered.
“Also, on 31 March 2022 a large concentration of terrorist were sighted around Kusasu after deliberate air surveillance and air interdiction was carried no fewer than 33 terrorists were neutralized according to eyewitness account.
On the Nigerian Navy’s milestone on survey and charting of nation’s offshore waters on March 23, Major-General Onyeuko explained that the indigenous surveying and charting would also lead to safety on our waters and boost confidence of mariners.
He said: “With this achievement Nigeria has joined the elite group of charts producing nations in the world. Hitherto Nigeria sourced its charts from Europe. Prior to this time all the navigational survey and charts was surveyed and charted by the United Kingdom Hydrographic office. Some of them were conducted as back as 1938.
“Furthermore, Nigerian Navy took delivery of a new Ship NNS KADA. The change of flag was carried out in UAE by the Minister of Defence and the Chief of Naval Staff. The Ship is billed to stop over in 5 ports in different for flag show before it berths in Nigeria.
“With the acquisition of this Landing Ship Tank (LST) it will give more impetus for aggressive combat patrol, policing and other duties in our coastal waters by the Nigerian Navy.”
He furtherdisclosed that on 1 April 2022, a special operation code named Operation DAKATAR DA BARAWO was flagged off at Onne Port Harcourt aimed at curbing crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta area. The objectives of the special operation are to secure critical maritime infrastructure; to create enabling environment for the sustenance of desired level of hydrocarbon production, safe shipping and economic activities and; to restore investor confidence in Nigeria Maritime domain.
He said the Troops in OPERATION DELTA SAFE theatre continued to dominate the zone and conducted anti crude oil theft and anti-illegal oil bunkering related operations at different locations, adding that accordingly, “troops discovered and destroyed 30 illegal refining sites, 37 reservoirs, 31 ovens, 12 large wooden boats, 2 cooling systems, 3 receivers, 3 storage pits and b metal drums. Cumulatively, troops with the period under review recovered 12,150,000 liters of illegal refined AGO, 4,000 liters of stolen crude oil, 3 tankers, 3 vehicles, 73 galvanized pipes, 2 motorcycles, 1 bus, 1 Toyota Camry, Mercedes Benz car. Furthermore, 2 electricity cable thieves associated with vandalization and stolen of high-tension cables were apprehended. all recovered items and apprehended criminal element were handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action.
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