The new leadership of the Armed Forces of Nigeria has vowed to usher in new modus operandi to tackling the security challenges in the Country.
The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche disclosed this at a news briefing in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Major General Enenche said on assumption of office, “the Service Chiefs immediately hit the ground running by conducting an operational visit to the North East of Nigeria”.
He stated that the Service Chiefs have also visited some operational areas in the country to interact with troops and commanders in the field in the various theatres.
The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, at the briefing said in this regard, the service chiefs led by the Chief of Defence Staff, Major General LEO Irabor commenced action at all levels.
Major General Enenche said “these include carrying out strategic, administrative, operational and logistics adjustments, changes and reviews, to improve the security situation in the Country”.
According to him, between 21st January 2021 to 11th February, 2021, troops of Operations HADARIN DAJI have continued to sustain their efforts in the North-West Zone of the Country progressively.
He said “the troops within the period in focus carried out several land and air operations in the Zone”. These include clearance and ambush operations as well as aggressive ground and aerial patrols in order to ensure security of lives and property within the Zone.
According to him, in the North East Zone, the Armed Forces of Nigeria working together with other security agencies have continued to sustain the onslaught against the insurgents.
General Enenche noted that within the period under review, troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, on various occasions made contact and engaged some Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province criminal elements.
He noted that in the various encounters, more terrorists’ enclaves have been destroyed along with their logistics facilities and scores of their fighters neutralized through ground and air strikes at different locations in the North East Zone.
The Coordinator said that “troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies operating in the North Central Zone of the Country were also sustaining the fight against armed banditry and other criminal vices in the Zone with remarkable results”.
He added that several combined land and air operations were conducted within the period, which resulted in the neutralization of scores of armed bandits and recovery of caches of arms and ammunition. As the land troops maintain aggressive fighting patrols to dominate the theatre of operation, the air component dominated the airspace with air reconnaissance activities.
In the South-South Zone, the coordinator said that troops of Operation DELTA SAFE have continued to protect and safeguard our coastal and territorial waters through intensive sea and creek patrols.
Additionally, troops conducted anti-crude oil theft and anti-illegal bunkering operations as well as other anti-illegal maritime activities, and in the process, deactivated several illegal refining sites within the period in focus.
General Enenche noted that in the course of the operations, large quantities of stolen crude oil and illegally refined AGO as well as some equipment were recovered.
In the South West Zone, he said “troops have sustained their efforts in the fight against pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft as well as other economic saboteurs through raids and arrests within the period”.
Consequently, several pipeline vandals and smugglers were arrested and handed over to appropriate prosecuting authorities for necessary action.
Also, several bags of foreign parboiled rice and illegally smuggled items and vessels were seized.
He remarked that the Armed Forces of Nigeria have urge Nigerians to support their efforts in tackling security challenges confronting the nation adding that collective efforts are essential in the fight against the various security vices in the country.
Meanwhile, the Military High Command has reassured the general public of its untiring dedication towards securing the country as members of the general public are enjoined to continue providing timely information on the activities of criminals in their various localities to the military and other security agencies for prompt and effective action.
Dominica Nwabufo
