NIGERIAN ARMED FORCES AND ITS OPERATIONAL ACHEIVEMENTS IN SEVEN DAYS.
By Helen Udoh, Abuja
It is very clear that the activities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria comprising the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Airforce with other security agencies in tackling the security challenges in the country ranging from the activities of Boko Haram Terrorists Islamic State West African Province ISWAP in the North-East, the Cattle rustling, banditry and kidnapping in the North-West, the Farmers/herders conflict in the North Central. The oil theft and cultism by the Military in the Niger Delta region have actually yield positive results.
There is no doubt that apart from Multinational Joint Task Force Operation with its Headquarters at N’Djamena, the Republic of Chad, the Armed Forces of Nigeria under Operations Lafiya Dole, Operation Delta Safe, Operation Safe Haven, Operation Awatse, Operation Safe Corridor, Operation Whirl Stroke, Operation Thunder Strike, Operation Whirl Punch and Operation Hadarin Daji among others have recorded significant achievement in the fight against security challenges in the country.
The Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies have continued their major operations across the country within seven days’ period.
Between 30th of October to 4th of November, troops of operation Hadarin Daji in the North-West Zone have recorded serial successes against armed bandits with significant results within the period there was decline in criminal activities in the zone.
Briefing Journalists on the major operations carried out by the Armed Forces of Nigeria within the period, the Coordinator, Defense Media Operations, Major-General John Enenche had explained within the period under review, troops of operation Sahel Sanity reacted swiftly to a distress call about bandits activities that attacked Diskuru Village in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The gallant troops he said engaged the criminals in a fierce fire fight forcing them to withdraw in disarray while three (3) bandits were neutralized by the troops as several others escaped with various degrees of gunshot wounds.
Also, during the exploitation phase, two (2) additional bandits and the three (3) women and their infants earlier kidnapped by the bandits were rescued, even though one brave solider paid the supreme price in an attempt to save one of the rescued nursing mothers in the heat of the encounter.
In the same vein, the Military troops were deployed at Dan Ali Village arrested two (2) suspected bandits’ collaborators namely Samaila Usman and Idi Bello.
In a similar operation, troops of operation Hadarin Daji arrested (2) two suspected bandits collaborators at Yarkirya Village and Kankara Market in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.
On the 31st of October 2020, forward operating Base Kango patrol team arrested two (2) suspected bandits at Kango Village in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
In the North-East Zone within the period of seven days, the Armed Forces of Nigeria with other Security agencies have continued to sustain the onslaught against insurgents.
Within the period under review, troops recorded successes as several terrorists were neutralized while many were arrested with caches of arms and ammunition.
Between 30th and 4th of this month, the Military troops conducted comprehensive ground and air operations.
Within the period, the land component of operation Lafiya Dole under its subsidiary operation Fire Ball exhibited its operation readiness and repelled terrorists attacks on troops’ location at Army Super, Damboa in Borno State.
Major General Enenche said with superior fire power and support from the Air Task Force, troops neutralized (22) twenty-two insurgents while other escaped with various degrees of gunshot wounds.
During the encounter, troops recovered caches of arms and ammunition as well as their equipments.
Equally, troops of operation Fire Ball in conjunction with local vigilante arrested a Boko Haram Terrorist member identified as Mohammed Bello at Damaturu Town in Yobe State.
The Terrorist was arrested while to purchase arms and ammunition and was in possession of one Ak-47 rifle and a magazine.
The terrorist according to Major-General John has been handed over to appropriate prosecuting agency for necessary action.
It is also interested to note that within the period between 30th October and November 4th, the Air Component of Operation Lafiya Dole conducted several air operation involving both offensive and support mission.
With the use of a force package of Nigerian Air Force Fighter Jets and Helicopter gunships, the Air Task Force conducted Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance Missions over various locations in North-East.
In the North-Central Zone, the Armed Forces of Nigeria have continued to intensify aggressive clearance operations to curtail the activities of Armed bandits and other criminals and has led to a gradual reduction in the activities of criminality in the Zone.
Within the period, troops of Sector 2 Operation Whirl Punch while on patrol at Bassa Village in Shiroro Local Government of Niger State repelled armed bandits attack and in the course of the encounter and several bandits were neutralized.
Notably, on 29th October 2020, Headquarters Operation Safe Haven fostered security meetings with stakeholders from Kibadu, Foka and Ungwar Doruwa Villages in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
In another development, between 29th October and 3rd of November, 2020 Headquarters Operation Safe Haven conducted extensive civil military cooperation activities to cultivate cordial relations with the various ethnic groups in Plateau State.
This was followed by another round meetings in 30th October 2020 at Gero Village in Jos South Local government Area of Plateau State.
In the South-South Zone, troops of Operation Delta Safe have continued to fight against crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and economic sabotage in the zone with significant successes.
Within the period, troops of Operation Delta safe discovered and immobilized three (3) illegal refineries containing 7 boilers, 2 reservoirs and 2 tanks loaded with illegal refined oil products around otutoru in Bonny Local Government Area of River State.
In addition, troops in conjunction with Local Vigilante arrested 5 suspected cultists at Jesse Community in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.
Similarly, troops of Operation Delta State while on Patrol arrested a suspected armed robber with locally made pistol at Igbudu market in Warri South Local Government of Delta State.
In another development, operation calm waters II and Operation Swift response have continued to record more successes.
Between 30th October and November 3rd 2020, forward operating Base Ibaka gunshots while in routine patrol around Utan Iyata intercepted and arrested 2 wooden boats laden with 326 of 50kg bags of Foreign parboiled rice suspected to be smuggled in from Cameroon.
The arrested items have been handed over to the Nigerian Customs Services for further action.
However, it was recalled that the Directorate of Defence Media Operations was established to coordinate, collate and disseminate information from the theaters of Armed Forces of Nigeria under the Coordination of Defence Media Operations Major General John Enenche who has been conducting regular press briefings and releases to ensure timely and credible dissemination of information of the Armed Forces Operations.