Martha Obi, Abuja
Following the recent attacks and kidnapping of over one hundred and twenty school pupils across the country, the Defence Headquarters has assured citizens that they will not rest until the hostages are returned.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba gave the assurance while briefing Journalists on ongoing military operations in different parts of the country in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
General Buba said the abductions took place in Borno and Sokoto states during different attacks and on different days.
According to him, on the 3rd of March, troops of Operation Hadin Kai in North East of the country received information from the coordinator of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) about the suspected abduction of an unknown number of IDPs by suspected terrorists in Gamboru Ngala LGA of Borno State.
He said, “preliminary investigation revealed that IDPs left camp to undisclosed location to fetch firewood beyond the permissible distance.”
He noted that they reportedly did not notify the camp authorities of their movement that it was later at about 2030 hrs at night, when the IDPs did not return to camp that alarm was raised as to their possible abduction by terrorists.
General Buba stressed that it was at that stage that troops were notified of the incident, adding that the standard practice was for troops to be notified prior to any movement of IDPs beyond the permissible distance of 5-7 kms from their camp.
He added that IDPs reportedly went beyond the permissible distance to get firewood as a result of deforestation around their camp.
According to him, the air component of Operation HADIN KAI conducted air interdiction following confirmatory ISR by combining Nigerian Army UAV and the air component on convergence of suspected ISWAP/JAS terrorists within the Southern Tumbuns.
The location was subsequently acquired and attacked with rockets, neutralizing several terrorists and destroying their logistics.
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In another development, the troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI in North West of Nigeria recorded the following during the period under review; rescue kidnapped hostages, conducted fighting patrol, offensive operations, and responded to terrorists’ activities in Kaura Namoda and Illela LGAs Zamfara and Sokoto States, as well as Batsari and Kurfi LGAs of Katsina State.
Director Defence Media Operations also noted that troops while on patrol responded to a kidnapping incident and rescued 2 kidnapped hostages in Faskari LGA of Katsina State.
“The rescued victims were provided with medical care and were reunited with their families,” he said.
“On 9 March 2024, terrorists invaded and kidnapped 16 pupils (Almajiris) with a woman in Gada LGA of Sokoto State. The incident which took place about 0100 hrs was not reported to troops until about 1500hrs of the same day. The late reporting of the incident affected troops response time in the ongoing search and rescue effort,” he said.
He added that the air component of Operation HADARIN DAJI conducted air interdiction following a report of terrorists’ commanders and their foot soldiers hibernating in Southern Tsaskiya, Safana LGA of Katsina State.
Subsequently, the location was acquired and engaged with rockets and cannons. Battle Damage Assessment revealed that several terrorists were neutralized and their structures destroyed.
Similarly, on 6 March 2024, following credible intelligence and confirmatory ISR the air component in multiple passes conducted air interdiction at terrorists’ commander Alhaji Nashama’s and Jammo Smally’s enclaves in Birnin Magaji and Maradun LGAs of Zamfara State.
The locations were thoroughly scanned and observed to be active with terrorist activities, he added.
Subsequently, it was acquired and attacked with rockets and cannons. Battle Damage Assessment revealed that several terrorists were neutralized and their structures destroyed.
According to him, there is therefore the need for citizens to be circumspect when they see posts from these terrorist groups and their cohorts, particularly on social media as these groups feed on the attention that they receive in the media to sway the populace.
He said, “We must be conscious of that and avoid being used directly or indirectly against our national interest.”
A minute of silence was observed for officers and others who lost their lives defending their fatherland.
