The Armed Forces of Nigeria says the troops while conducting operations in the South East Zone of the country has contained several Independent People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network (IPOB/ESN) activities in the Zone in conjunction with other security agencies.
The Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Bernard Onyeuko who stated this during a news briefing in Abuja, said the operations was between 3rd of June to 16th of June, 2021.
Onyeuko noted that within the period, troops responded to several distress calls on IPOB/ESN attacks on police stations, maiming and killing of security operatives as well as civilians and destruction of properties in the Zone.
According to him, ”some of these operations were conducted at Ukpong in ObotAkara LGA of Akwa-Ibom State, in which the hoodlums had a hideout from where they perpetrate illicit acts.”
He said “on 4 June 2021, troops raided the hoodlums’ hideouts and dislodged IPOB/ESN”.
He added that troops also, on the heels of credible actionable intelligence on 4 June, engaged and repelled some IPOB/ESN hoodlums who attackedOkposiTown in Ohaozara LGA of Ebonyi State and the Criminal Investigation Department, Abia State Command.
Similarly, troops on 5 June 2021 repelled IPOB hoodlums attack on commuters along Igbo-Ekiti – Nsukka Road in Enugu State.In another development on same day, troops tracked and apprehended some hoodlums who vandalized and stole railroad sleepers at Nkwubor Road within Emene in Enugu East LGA of Enugu State.
OPERATION DELTA SAFE
Brigadier General Onyeuko noted that troops of Operation DELTA SAFE conducted series of anti-illegal oil bunkering and raid operations that thwarted activities of economic saboteurs.
He said “these operations led to the deactivation of several illegal oil refining sites, disconnection of illegal pipelines, arrest of different criminal elements, interception and confiscation of contraband vessels, recovery of stolen items and resealing of reactivated illegal oil refining sites”.
These feats he said were achieved on 3 and 4 June 2021 as troops conducted anti-illegal oil bunkering operations to deactivate illegal oil refining sites at Ibaa in Emohua LGA and Kumufari and Yalama Towns in Asari-Toru LGA of Rivers State.
During the operations, several barrels of illegally refined PMS and AGO were impounded and storage tanks immobilized.
Also, troops, while on patrol on 4 June, intercepted and impounded several wooden boats; some laden with large quantities of stolen crude oil, others loaded with vandalized pipes at DSC Roundabout in Udu LGA and Opuama Creek in Warri North LGA of Delta State.
Additionally, troops on 5 June disconnected an illegal pipeline laid by criminals connected to SPDC pipeline around Ibaa in Emohua LGA of Rivers State. Troops also re-sealed some illegal oil refining sites reactivated by criminal elements at Koko Community in Warri North LGA of Delta State on 6 June 2021.
In another development same day, troops arrested some criminals disguised as lunatics, who were in possession of some stolen and illegal items, including several fake military barrack permit ID cards and military uniforms,at Tipper Garage and Navy Scrape Yard in Uvwie LGA of Delta State.
OPERATION HADARIN DAJI
According to him, troops were characterised with ambush operations, aggressive fighting patrols, air raids, sustained air Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance patrols as well as cordon and search operations within the period under review.
He said “these operations yielded attendant successe as troops intercepted and neutralized some gunrunners who were in possession of assorted arms and ammunition between Naimaimai Village and SabonBirni Town in Sabon Birni LGA of Sokoto State”.
Similarly, on 4 June 2021, troops, following credible intelligence report, conducted cordon and search operation along GurbinBaure – Jibia Road in Katsina State.
During the operation, troops intercepted and neutralized some armed bandits. In another development on 6 June 2021, the Air Component of Operation HADARIN DAJI conducted air raids on bandits’ enclaves at Jibia area in Katsina State.
The air raid led to the neutralization of several armed bandits and destruction of structures used as hideouts.
In same vein, troops while on aggressive fighting patrol arrested some kidnappers and rescued some of their victims at Bena Market in DankoWasagu LGA of Kebbi State.
During the operation, large caches of arms and ammunition as well as equipment and vehicles were captured from the criminal elements.
He said “troops have continued to dominate the theatre of operation with aggressive patrols and sustained air intelligence surveillance to deny bandits freedom of operation”
OPERATION SAFE HAVEN
In Operation SAFE HAVEN theatre of operations, the Coordinator said that troops sustained their operational tempo and conducted fighting patrols, ambushes as well as cordon and search operations.
He added that these operations resulted in the neutralization of several armed bandits, arrest of armed bandits/cultists and recovery of arms and ammunition.
These incidents occurred when troops on fighting patrol came in contact and engaged some armed bandits along Bokkos – GanaRop Road on 4 June 2021.
Several of them were neutralised during the encounter while others escaped with gunshot wounds.
In another encounter on 5 June, troops on the heels of credible intelligence report, ambushed and arrested some cultists who reportedly belong to a criminal gang that attacks and robs commuters and dispossess’ them of their belongings at Terminus general area of Jos, Plateau State.
Similarly, troops on patrol on same day arrested a notorious kidnapper, who has been on the wanted list of security agents, by name HaliluUmaru, who was in possession of assorted arms and ammunition and other dangerous weapons around Mangu Market in Mangu LGA of Plateau State.
All arrested criminals and recovered items have been handed over to appropriate agencies for further necessary actions.
Onyeuko added that within the period under review, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN also conducted non-kinetic operations as troops held stakeholders meetings at different locations of the Operation SAFE HAVEN Area of Responsibility.
He said; “the meetings were aimed at building peace, trust and confidence amongst the locals. One of these meetings was held at Wasa Village in Sanga LGA of Kaduna State, where locals were advised against taking laws into their hands”.
Similarly, another one was held at Tafawa Village in BarkinLadi LGA of Plateau State with Fulani leaders and herders to discuss measures at tackling insecurity in the area.
Furthermore, a meeting was held in Bokkos LGA of the State with herders to discuss measures at controlling night grazing and use of minors for grazing as well as destruction of farm lands. At the end, all stakeholders were urged to give peace a chance and were encouraged to provide useful information on criminal elements to security agencies.
OPERATION WHIRL STROKE
According to him, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE remained vigilant and committed in the conduct of their operations during the period in focus. On 3 June, troops arrested some criminal gang members at Ayiin Town in Logo LGA of Benue State.
He said “the criminals were among others involved in kidnapping and other related criminal activities in the area”.
The arrested criminals and weapons recovered have been handed over to appropriate agencies for further action.
OPERATION AWATSE
In the South West Zone, troops of Operation AWATSE sustained their operations against criminal elements in the Zone between 3 and 16 June 2021.
On 5 June 2021, troops conducted operations to repel armed herdsmen attack and raided some criminal hideouts. One of these operations was executed at Igangan Community in Ibarapa North LGA of Oyo State where some armed herdsmen attacked and invaded the Community.
However, troops mobilized to the scene and engaged the herdsmen, during which some of them were neutralized while others fled with gunshot wounds. In another development, troops conducted a raid operation on some criminals’ hideouts at Ona-Ara LGA of Oyo State on 7 June 2021.
During the operations, some of the criminals were arrested and handed over to appropriate prosecuting
Meanwhile, the Military High Command has lauded the efforts of the troops for their resilience and unrelenting commitment to bring insurgency to an ending the country.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
