By TOM CHIAHEMEN, Abuja –
The Defence Headquarter (DHQ), declared on Thursday that the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies across the country would continue in the efforts to deny criminal elements freedom of actions.
This warning came as the Nigerian troops aggressively sustained their operations on the terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements by maintaining offensive engagements in all theatres of operation within the country, recording appreciable results with the last two weeks.
Director, Defence Media Operations (DMO), Major-General Benard Onyeuko, who made the declaration in Abuja, also disclosed that a total of 49 terrorist elements and armed bandits were neutralized and 74 others, including their collaborators, were arrested during the period, while hundreds of assorted arms and over 1,000 rounds of different calibres of ammunition, as well as 114 rustled livestock and six motorcycles, were recovered.
Major-General Onyeuko was briefing Defence Correspondent on the operational activities of troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies conducting operations to tackle security challenges in the country between 6 and 20 January 2022.
He also said that 11 kidnapped civilians were rescued while a total of 863 terrorists and their families comprising 136 adult males, 251 adult females and 476 children surrounded to the troops deployed at different locations, including; Banki, Bama, Dikwa, Gwoza and Gamboru towns in Borno State, within the period.
Giving brief accounts of the various theatres of operations, Major-General Onuyeuko noted that in Operation HADIN KAI, “troops conducted various land and air operations in different locations of the theatre with renewed vigour that recorded significant results in the last 2 weeks.”
“Some of the operations were conducted at different locations in towns, villages and forests under; Konduga, Mafa, Dikwa, Gwoza, Bama, Bayo, Kukawa, Monguno, Nganzai and Damboa LGAs of Borno as well as locations in the Sambisa Forest. Troops also recorded significant results at various locations in Adamawa and Yobe States, around the Mandara Mountain and along Damaturu – Potuskum road, respectively,” he added.
In apparent reference to the recent attack of the Army Resource Institute in Biu, he said the ground troops, with the support of the Air Component, aggressively foiled terrorists’ attempted infiltration into Biu town in Borno State, adding that during the encounter, “troops neutralized scores of the terrorists and captured their gun trucks and other weapons” and that “these operations resulted in the elimination and arrest of several terrorists, recovery of assorted arms, ammunition, livestock and other items of security concern as well as rescue of abducted civilians.
On their part, the troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI within the last 2 weeks, maintained the operational tempo by conducting clearance operations on criminal enclaves across the theatre. Some of the locations in which troops’ operational efforts yielded significant results are; Gurbin Baure – Shimfada road, Gidan Saleh and Girnashe villages as well as Jibia town in Jibia LGA, all in Katsina State. Other locations were; Wasagu town in Danko-Wasagu LGA of Kebbi State and Kara Kalmalo village in Ilella LGA of Sokoto State.
Also, within the last 2 weeks, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN carried out several operational activities at different locations of the theatre that yielded significant results. Some of the operations were executed at; Shendam in Shendam LGA, Rukuba road and Apata area in Jos North LGA; Tyana community in Riyom LGA, Vom town in Jos South LGA, Tudu village in Bokkos LGA, Gassa Sho Hills in Barkin Ladi LGA and Kampani village in Wase LGA, all in Plateau State. Other locations are; Afana Bujja Forest and Gidan Waya village in Jama’a LGA as well as Kaffin village and Kiffin Chawai Chiefdom in Kaura LGA of Kaduna State.
“In the course of the operations, troops arrested some criminal elements including armed robbers and bandits, their collaborators, drug peddlers and fraudsters as well as rescued kidnapped civilians and recovered several items of security concern. Thus, within the period, own troops arrested 27 criminal elements and rescued 6 kidnapped civilians. Also, troops recovered 5 arms and 69 different calibers of ammunition among other items of security concern in the course of their operations,” he said.
While the operational efforts of troops in Operation WHIRL STROKE within the last 2 weeks resulted in the neutralization and arrest of armed bandits and other criminal elements, recovery of arms and ammunition as well as rescue of kidnapped civilians,
Operation DELTA SAFE continued to sustain its operational tempo in the fight against illegal oil production and other sundry crimes through kinetic and non-kinetic means in the South-South Zone.
According to Major-General Onyeuko, “in the last 2 weeks, troops discovered and immobilized a total of 39 illegal refining sites, 91 cooking ovens, 24 reservoirs, 17 large dugout pits and 96 storage tanks. Consequently, a total 637,500 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil; 950,000 litres of stolen crude oil were recovered in the course of the operations. In addition, 10 criminals associated with pipeline vandalism, piracy, illegal oil bunkering and armed robbery were arrested within the period. Also, troops recovered 3 assorted arms, 48 rounds of different caliber of ammunitions, 2 AK-47 rifle magazines as well as 17 pieces of galvanized pipes and 23 wooden boats among other items used for illegal oil bunkering activities in the course of the operations.”
“The Military High Command appreciates the troops for their sacrifices in the various theatres of operation and commends their courage and resilience in combating the security challenges across the Country,” he added.
Leave a Reply