The Armed Forces of Nigeria have continued to maintain increased vigour and aggressive posture throughout all its operations in the various theatres.
This is coupled with the Chief of Defence Staff’s non-kinetic engagements across the Country between 16 and 29 July 2021.
The weekly summary of the Defence Media Operations briefing covering kinetic and non-kinetic activities in the various theatres of operations including clearance, search and rescue as well as extensive air operations to dominate the airspace was held at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.
The Acting Director, Defence Media Operation, Brigadier General Benard Onyeuku while briefing journalists on the activities of the armed forces covering between 16-28 July 2021, said the troops of OPERATION HADARIN DAJI in the North West Zone responded to distress calls of bandits and armed militia groups’ attacks on civilians at Hanutaru and Dansadau villages in Maru LGA of Zamfara State; along Gusau – Sokoto Road.
The troops also carried out rescue operations within the period at Bakori LGA of Katsina State; Eldabala village in Tangaza LGA and along Lamba Bakura – Dogo Karfe Road in Sokoto State.
He said no fewer than 14 armed bandits were neutralised, that a total of 36 kidnapped victims were rescued, while 7 AK-47 rifles, 6 motorcycles, assorted military and police uniforms, 6 vehicles and 4 machetes among other items were recovered within the period.
“Also, a total of 24 criminal elements were intercepted and arrested, including 16 bandits’ informants/collaborators and an impostor by name Faisal Saidu who paraded himself as Lance Corporal Saidu Abubakar. Furthermore, a total of 223 rustled livestock were recovered during the period,” he said.
General Onyeuku said the troops of OPERATION HADIN KAI while conducting several land and air operations at different locations of the theatre, neutralised 16 boko haram/Islamic State West Africa Province, arrested 29 of them, while 40 civilians were rescued.
he said, ” Troops also recovered one General Purpose Machine Gun, 4 AK-47 rifles, 50 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and one belt containing 296 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, accessories for making IED among other items.
“OPERATION SAFE HAVEN conducted operations at Ungwan Jabba, Ungwan Rohogo village in Zangon Kataf LGA of Kaduna State; Rafiki village in Bassa LGA as well as Kerang and Panyam villageswa in Mangu LGA of Plateau State.
“Some incidents were recorded are Penjum and Magamiya villages in Zango Kataf LGA of Kaduna State. Other areas include Godogodo District; Kafanchan Town and Kyayya village, all in Jama’a LGA as well as Numbu village in Sanga LGA, Kaduna State while some operations were also conducted on some Sara Suka members’ hideouts and other criminals’ enclaves at Rikkos and Gangare general areas in Jos North LGA; Biembiem village and Dabba Village in Wase LGA of Plateau State.”
General Onyekwu explained that these operations resulted to neutralisation of 7 armed bandits and several others escaped with gunshot wounds, while 12 were arrested within the period.
“A total 12 assorted rifles, a truck load of stolen railway tracks and sleepers were also recovered in the course of the operations. More so, a total of 17 kidnap victims were also rescued from their abductors within the period.
“All arrested criminals and recovered items have been handed-over to appropriate prosecuting agencies for further necessary action, while rescued victims have been reunited with their families,” he said.
Operation Whirl Stroke
He said the Troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE within the period conducted operations in Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa State.
He said they were responding to distress calls on bandits’ attacks as well as youths’ clash over land dispute at Kyegba village in Takum LGA of Taraba State and Ogundu village in Guma LGA of Benue State on 15 and 16 July 2021.
according to General Onyekwu, the Troops also carried out rescue operations at Uttu village in Toto LGA of Nasarawa and Tsegbaka village in Utenge Council Ward of Benue State and in all operations recovered a total of 5 motorcycles, 3 pump actions one locally-made mortar tube, 6 Dane guns, 3 machetes and 62 assorted rounds of ammunition within the period. Similarly, 6 kidnappers were arrested and 12 kidnap victims were rescued.
OPERATION WHIRL PUNCH/THUNDER STRIKE
He said they also conducted operations in Kaduna-Abuja and Kaduna-Birnin Gwari highways and vulnerable routes to deny armed militiamen and herdsmen freedom of action as well as deter criminal elements in the theatre of operation.
” Effectively, on 18 July 2021, own troops tracked and arrested a notorious criminal named Mr Simon Unande, who supplies military uniforms and accoutrements to militia gangs in parts of Benue and Taraba States. Troops also carried out operations at Unguwan Mashaya in Mararaban Gassol, in Gassol LGA of Taraba State and around Sabon Gayan Village in Chikun LGA of Katsina State. Within the period, a total of 2 Dane guns, 3 AK-47 rifles, 2 locally fabricated rifles, 3 motorcycles and 23 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition as well as 16 livestock were recovered during the operations. The arrested criminals and recovered items have been handed over to appropriate prosecuting agencies for necessary action, while rescued persons have been reunited with their families”.
Operation Delta Safe
Troops of Operation DELTA SAFE conducted series of anti-crude oil theft, anti-illegal bunkering, anti-illegal oil refining, anti-smuggling and anti-militancy operations and recorded significant successes in some locations including Isaka Community in Okrika LGA; along Oyenda Creek in Andoni LGA; Alagba Community and Cawthorne Channel all in Rivers State.
Operations were also conducted in Hununu Creek in Akasa Community, Bayelsa State; Madagh Creek in Warri South LGA and Opugbene Community in Warri South/West LGA of Delta State with a total of 24 ovens, 37 storage tanks laden with a total of 120,000 litres of illegally refined Premium Motor Spirit, 80,000 litres of illegally Automotive Gas Oil and 1,100 barrels of stolen crude oil.
Troops also arrested a large wooden boat laden with 22,000 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosine or (Kerosine), five 45HP boat engines and 2 pumping machines.
Operation Awatse
Troops of Operation AWATSE within the period in focus in the South West Zone of the Country arresting 3 bunkerers with 8 vehicles containing over 56 jerry cans of stolen Premium Motor Spirit and other oil products at Sagamu by Toll Gate, Ogun State.
Secessionists Activities
The troops based on credible intelligence conducted a raid operation on a notorious camp of the group at Akpawfu Community in Nkanu East LGA of Enugu State where a combined team of security operatives raided the camp and neutralised some of their members and recovered some arms and ammunition in the process.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General LEO Irabor has continued consultations with retired senior military officers of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in the various geopolitical zones of the Country as a way of leveraging on their experience and feel their pulse on the security challenges in their local communities.
The Chief of Defence Staff re-emphasised the dynamic synergy between the Nigerian military and other security agencies to address the security challenges in the Country.
Confidence Okwuchi
