By TOM CHIAHEMEN, Abuja –
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General LEO Irabor, has maintained that retired senior officers in Nigeria are the most qualified in the matrix of peace and security of the nation.
Acting Director, Defence Media Operations (DMO), Brigadier General Benard Onyeuko, made this known in Abuja on Thursday while justifying the on-going consultations by the CDS with retired senior military officers of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in the various geopolitical zones of the Country as a way of leveraging on their experience and feel their pulse on the security challenges in their local communities.
Brigadier-General Onyeuko wasbriefing the media at the Defence Headquarters on operational activities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies, as well as the Chief of Defence Staff’s non-kinetic engagements across the Country between 16 and 29 July 2021.
He also quoted General Irabor as explaining that having served and now live in the various communities, the retired military officers were in a position to know the misperception on the security challenges in the Country.
The CDS therefore encouraged the military veterans to see it as their responsibility to make stakeholders understand what is at stake in the quest for security, peace and unity of our dear Country.
The CDS re-emphasized the dynamic synergy between the Nigerian military and other security agencies to address the security challenges in the Country.
According to Brigadier-General Onyeuko, it was against this background that the CDS, on 19 July 202, had a no-holds bared interaction with retired senior officers from the North West Zone in Kaduna, followed by another security parley in the South East which was held at Owerri, Imo State on 22 July 2021, during which General Irabor held interactions with retired senior officers and assured the people of the Zones of his commitment towards improved security in the Country.
Highlights of the operational activities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria during the period included the neutralization of 14 armed bandits in the North-West by troops of OPERATION HADARIN DAJI, who also rescued a total of 36 kidnapped victims while also assisting one of the victims to safe delivery of a baby during one of the encounters.
“Within the period, troops of Operation HADIN KAI conducted several land and air operations at different locations of the theatre. These include robust clearance, ambush and road piquet operations as well as comprehensive air patrols to dominate the general area and neutralize terrorists as well as frustrate other criminal elements. Cumulatively, the operations led to the neutralization of 16 BHT/ISWAPs as well as arrest of 29 of them, while 40 civilians were rescued. BHT and their families 5 female Adults and 12 children were arrested at FOB Mayanti and Darajamel on 15 July,” Onyeuko said.
“Troops also recovered one General Purpose Machine Gun, 4 AK-47 rifles, 50 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and one belt containing 296 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, accessories for making IED among other items,” he added.
He also disclosed that troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN conducted several kinetic and non-kinetic operations concurrently at various locations in Plateau, Bauchi and Kaduna States, adding that within this period, “troops responded to distress calls of armed bandits’ attacks on civilians, as well as incidents of kidnap, armed robbery and farmland destructions by herders’ cattle.”
“These operations were conducted at Ungwan Jabba, Ungwan Rohogo village in Zangon Kataf LGA of Kaduna State; Rafiki village in Bassa LGA as well as Kerang and Panyam villages in Mangu LGA of Plateau State. Other locations where some incidents were recorded are Penjum and Magamiya villages in Zango Kataf LGA of Kaduna State. Other areas include Godogodo District; Kafanchan Town and Kyayya village, all in Jama’a LGA as well as Numbu village in Sanga LGA, Kaduna State,” he said.
Brigadier-General Onyeuko further gave account of the operational activities of Operation WHIRL STROKE in different locations in Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa States, including foot and clearance patrols in various communities, aimed at denying armed bandits and other criminal elements freedom of action and boosting confidence of locals as they go about their daily activities.
He announced that troops of Operation WHIRL PUNCH/THUNDER STRIKE continued to sustain piquet operations as well as highway, clearance, fighting and confidence building patrols within its area of responsibility.
“Within the period in focus, troops provided security on Kaduna-Abuja and Kaduna-Birnin Gwari highways and vulnerable routes to deny armed militiamen and herdsmen freedom of action as well as deter criminal elements in the theatre of operation. Effectively, on 18 July 2021, own troops tracked and arrested a notorious criminal named Mr Simon Unande, who supplies military uniforms and accoutrements to militia gangs in parts of Benue and Taraba States,” he said.
While troops of Operation DELTA SAFE conducted series of anti-crude oil theft, anti-illegal bunkering, anti-illegal oil refining, anti-smuggling and anti-militancy operations, the troops of Operation AWATSE within the period in focus sustained their operational tempo against economic saboteurs and other criminal elements within the South West Zone of the Country.
Commenting on the activities of secessionist groups in the country, Brigadier-General Onyeuko said that in a renewed effort by the Armed Forces to end the menace of Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network in the South East Zone of the Country, the troops based on credible intelligence conducted a raid operation on a notorious camp of the group at Akpawfu Community in Nkanu East LGA of Enugu State.
“A combined team of security operatives raided the camp and neutralized some of their members and recovered some arms and ammunition in the process. In another development a new ESN hideout at Ihiala in Anambra State used in the production of explosives was discovered and destroyed by the security forces within the period under review. Troops have continued to maintain vigilance and dominate the Zone with patrols to deter intending criminal activities,” he said.
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