The Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor has felicitated the members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria on this major Islamic festival of Eid-Al-Fitr which marks the completion of thirty days of fasting in the holy month of Ramadan.
General Irabor congratulated all for successfully partaking in one of the cardinal pillars of Islam through fasting, prayers and almsgiving in obedience to the divine command of the Almighty Allah.
Members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria are also reminded to continue praying for the unity and peaceful coexistence of our nation while upholding the lessons of patience and sacrifice with one another as exemplified in the holy month.
The CDS commended the Armed Forces of Nigeria for the role played in the recently concluded supplementary elections.
Meanwhile, in a Bi-Weekly News Briefing, the Nigerian Military says it has rescued over six hundred kidnapped civilians from different operations in the geopolitical zones of the country.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Musa Danmadami disclosed this during the Bi-Weekly News briefing in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital saying that the briefing covered the period of 6th April o 20th of April, 2023.
General Danmadami said that “both kinetic and non-kinetic operations were conducted in the various theatres of operations, with significant results recorded”.
According to him, troops of Joint Task Force, Operation HADIN KAI in the North East, Nigeria conducted operational activities at identified Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists camps and enclaves at high grounds, villages and forests within Gwoza, Bama, Jere, Nganzai, Damboa, Askira Uba, Kaga, Kuzamala and Monguno Local Government Areas of Borno State as well as Gulani and Bade Local Government Areas of Yobe State respectively which yielded some remarkable successes.
He said that “troops destroyed their camps and enclaves and further exploited the surrounding bushes where they discovered and rescued 136 civilians comprising 46 adult females and 90 children.”
Troops further recovered 2 AK47 rifles, 4 Dane guns, 6 AK47 magazines, 5 rounds of 7.62mm special, 6 bicycles, 96 rustled cattle, 2 pairs of Boko haram terrorist uniforms and 4 solar panels among other sundry items, he added.
General Danmadami noted that troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN in the North Central zone of the country also raided suspected kidnappers’ hideouts at Nimba forest in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State and arrested 4 suspected kidnappers as well as rescued 2 kidnapped civilians.
According to him, troops also recovered 3 matches and 3 mobile phones from the suspects.
“On the same day, troops intercepted 5 railway vandals and recovered 1 vehicle loaded with 38 railway sleepers. Troops also conducted operations within villages in Takum and Ussa Local Government Area of Taraba State. During these operations, troops recovered 1 AK47 rifle, 1 locally fabricated revolver gun, 3 AK47 magazines, 1 vehicle and other sundry items. Troops also arrested 14 criminals and rescued 4 civilians”, he said.
The Director stressed that troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI had a meeting engagement with terrorists while on fighting patrol at different locations within Faskari, Kafur and Batagarawa Local Government Areas of Katsina State.
Following these encounters troops neutralized 5 terrorists and recovered 3 AK47 rifles, 50 rounds of 7.62mm special, 156 cattle, 4 motorcycles and 3 mobile phones.
According to him, troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation DELTA SAFE have continued the war against oil theft, illegal refineries and other criminal activities in the South-South zone of the country through aggressive patrols and increased tempo in raids and clearance operations as well as other activities aimed at denying criminal elements freedom of action.
He noted that in furtherance to this troops conducted operational activities at different locations within Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States respectively. Consequently, within the weeks in review, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE in the conduct of Operation OCTOPUS GRIP discovered and destroyed 46 illegal refining sites, 241 storage tanks, 295 cooking ovens, 29 wooden boats and 38 dugout pits.
Troops equally recovered 186,500 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, 407,500 litres of crude oil, 9 vehicles, 2 pumping machines, 4 motorcycles, 2 speedboats, 1 generator and 2 outboard engines.
Troops also arrested 28 suspected criminals and recovered 5 weapons and 300 assorted ammunition at different locations within the general area of operations.
“All items recovered and arrested suspects within the region have been handed over to the relevant authority for further action. Additionally, a total of Two Hundred and Fifty-Nine Million Two Hundred and Fifty-Four Thousand Five Hundred and Sixty-Five Naira (N259,254,565.00) only were denied oil thieves within weeks in focus,” he said.
There was a minute’s silence for the military and other security agents that lost their lives within the two weeks.
The Military High Command has commended the unrelenting efforts of troops and other security agencies in the various theatres of operations across the country.
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