The Defence Headquarters says a total of 55 escapees from terrorists’ camps have surrendered to their troops due to military activities in the various theatres of operations in Borno State, North East Nigeria.
The escapees comprising 15 adult males, 12 adult females and 27 children.
The Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Bernard Onyeuko disclosed this during the bi-weekly news briefing in Abuja.
The achievements was recorded between 18th to 30th June, 2021.
Onyeuko said “troops of Operation HADIN KAI in the North East Zone simultaneously conducted several land and air operations were clearance operations and aggressive fighting patrols to deny terrorists freedom of movement at different locations”.
According to him, the troops conducted ambush operations and responded to distress calls, repelled BHT elements attacks on troops’ locations and dominated the theatre of operations.
Onyeuko said; ”the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI conducted series of Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance and air interdiction missions to reveal and destroy terrorists’ enclaves as well as their logistic supplies and equipment.
”Within the period, troops consistently struck BHT/ISWAP strongholds throughout the theatre of operation as some of the feats were achieved at Bula Village in Yobe State and Banki Town in Borno State on 27 and 28 June 2021 when troops repelled terrorists’ attacks.”
According to him, troops of operation HADARIN DAJI and other security agencies conducting operations in the North West Zone executed series of land and air operations concurrently which include raid, ambush, cordon and search, rescue and clearance operations.
Onyeuko said troops also responded to distress calls within the period. Likewise, the Air Component of Operation HADARIN DAJI conducted several air operations such as aerial patrol, Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance and air interdiction missions.
Following credible intelligence report on criminals’ activities, he stated that troops simultaneously conducted these operations with zeal and zest in different locations of this theatre of operation.
He added that the operations were conducted on bandits and kidnappers’ hideouts as well as drug peddlers at Gusau – Magami Road in Gusau LGA of Zamfara State; Makuku in Sakaba LGA of Kebbi State; as well asBatsariand Jibia LGAs in Katsina State. Other locations include UnguwarKadevillage in Tsafe LGA and Bingivillage in Bungudu LGA of ZamfaraState.
The General said “the operations led to the repelling and arrest of kidnappers and drug peddlers who confessed to supplying illicit drugs to miners as well as other criminal elements”.
The Acting Director noted that the activities of troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN, within this period were characterized with both kinetic and non-kinetic operations.
Onyeuko said “troops simultaneously conducted series of clearance, ambush and raid operations in different locations of the Zone.. .Additionally, troops engaged in fighting patrols and responded to distress calls as well as carried out extensive air operations.”
He said; ”During the operations, troops had contact and engaged criminal elements in some cases and subdued them with own superior firepower. Operation SAFE HAVEN also engaged in non-kinetic operations by holding peace and security meetings with various community and youth leaders as well as other stakeholders.”
These operations Onyeuko said; “were executed against bandits and other criminal elements’ enclaves in communities at Jos South LGA and Gidan Daabat along Lafia-Shendam Road in Plateau State.. Others were conducted at Kadunu Forest, Kasai and Naphan villages in BarkinLadi LGA, as well as Barkin Kaya in Wase LGA of Plateau State.”
In the course of the operations, troops neutralised scores of armed bandits and armed herdsmen, arrested bandits’ informants, gunrunners, political thugs and kidnappers.
The General stated that the“troops also rescued kidnap victims as well as recovered hoards of livestock and assorted arms and ammunition within the period”.
He noted that troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE have also sustained their operational tempo within its area of operation.
According to him, within the period, troops engaged in both kinetic and non-kinetic operations ranging from fighting and confidence building patrols, raid, clearance as well as cordon and search operations and responded to distress calls.
The troops conducted clearance operations at some armed herdsmen, bandits’ enclaves and kidnappers’ hideouts at Egba Village in Agatu LGA, TseNdever in Mbayongo Council Ward and Gborgbor Village in KatsinaAla LGA. Other locations includes; DyomVillage and Saeyongo Village in Utange Council Ward; KatsinaAla and Donto Village in Otukpo LGA of Benue State.
He said “the operations resulted in the neutralisation of scores of armed bandits, gang members and other criminal elements... It also resulted in the recovery of caches of arms and ammunition including several AK-47 and FN rifles, assorted rounds of different calibers of ammunition and rescue of large numbers of rustled livestock.”
According to him, troops of Operations WHIRL PUNCH and THUNDER STRIKE have remained resolute as within the period under review troops in conjunction with other security agencies conducted and executed several land and air operations that yielded attendant successes.
He also noted that troops of Operation DELTA SAFE within the period conducted several operations to secure oil pipelines and other critical infrastructure to deny economic saboteurs and prevent security breach. These included sustained anti-crude oil theft, anti-illegal oil bunkering, anti-smuggling and anti-militancy operations.
Onyeuko said “Operation AWATSE operational activities within the period involved sustained routine patrols to forestall activities of vandals on NNPC pipelines at Gaun, Akute, Wawa 1 and 2 and Mabgero areas”.
Additionally, troops carried out standing patrols and raid operations at strategic areas in the Zone including Majidun area, during which one Mr Ibrahim Musa, an ISWAP member was arrested at No 31 Abartura Street in Sango-Ota, Ogun State.
He noted that an intelligence report revealed that Ibrahim was on a mission to Lagos to acquire certain items for ISWAP’s operations in Maiduguri.
The Armed Forces assured Nigerians that they would not relent in their effort to fight all forms of criminalities until relative peace is returned to the country.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
