The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor has held a second Edition of dialogue with Service Chiefs and Senior Editors/Media Executives of various media establishments.
The dialogue is part of the efforts to restore lasting peace in the country.
The Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Bernard Onyeuko who made this known during a news briefing in Abuja, said during the session, topical issues were discussed and answers were provided to numerous questions raised by the CDS and the Service Chiefs.
Onyeuko said; ‘’troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria had sustained an upscale in the rate of operational efforts across various theatres in the Country, between 2nd to 30th September, 2021. ‘’
According to him, the heightened activities yielded significant results in various theatres of operations as some of which were discussed during past media engagement.
He said; ‘’troops of Operation Whirl Stroke have maintained their aggressive postures, while the Air Component dominated the airspace by maintaining surveillance patrols. ‘’
Flush out armed bandits
Onyeuko stated that troops have continued to flush out armed bandits and other criminal elements to create peaceful atmosphere in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba States .
According to him, this is evident in the peaceful manner through which residents of some part of the communities carry out their daily activities.
The Acting Director said that ‘’Azonto who took over leadership of the late Gana’s militia gang has been terrorising and imposing levies on locals in the State and has been on the wanted list of Operation WHIRL STROKE and other security forces.’’
‘’In the course of the operations within the period under review, “a total of 15 armed bandits were neutralized, while 23 AK-47 rifles with magazines as well as 66 rounds of 7.62mm special and 39mm ammunition were recovered,’’ he stated.
In Operation Thunder Strike/Whirl Punch, he stated that the troops maintained their highway and fighting patrols to dominate and provide security in major and minor roads as well as deny armed elements freedom of action.
Onyeuko noted that on 5 September 2021, offensive air strikes were executed, using a force pack of Nigerian Air Force platforms, on a bandits’ camp at Kuza Hills, which led to the destruction of some of the criminals’ hideouts and logistics facilities.
He said no fewer than 43 armed bandits were neutralised in the process.
Onyeuko said in Operation DELTA SAFE, “troops have continued to sustain the tempo in its anti-illegal oil operations to forestall economic saboteurs in the South-South Zone”.
He noted that some of the operations recorded significant results at different locations in Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta States within the period in focus.
The locations in which significant successes were recorded in Rivers State include; Banga,Zion, Kumufari and Ataba communitiesin Andoni LGA;Buguma general area in Buguma LGA; Oduoha community in Emohua LGA, Ogbodo in Ekwere LGA and Olutoru community in Bonny LGA. Other locations in Rivers State were; Alakri and Ogoloma communitiesin Okrika LGA;Meinjudukiri axis and Bakana town as well as around Ogbunku and Banigo communities in Degema LGA.
Offensive operation
According to him, Operation Hadin Kai and Operation Hadarin Daji also recorded successes as troops within the period intensified their offensive operations on bandits ‘enclaves in the North West Zone.
He said “the operations have degraded their operational capabilities and denied them freedom of action as well as frustrated movement of arms, ammunition and other illegal items, at the same time built confidence among locals”.
Onyeuko said ‘’the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other Security Agencies would not rest on their oars in the fight against criminalities in all parts of the Country. ‘’
The Military High Command has appreciated the continuous sacrifices of its troops in the various theatres of operation across the Country.
The Command also commended their courage, resilience and commitment towards achieving sustainable peace in the Country.
Lateefah Ibrahim
