Military neutralizes 99 terrorists in one week, reiterates commitment to tackling insecurity

Military neutralizes 99 terrorists in one week, reiterates commitment to tackling insecurity

Joel Oladele

The Nigeria armed forces has in the last couple of days recorded a huge success in its fight against insecurity, as troops neutralized 99 terrorists, arrested 198, rescued 139 kidnapped hostages while 49 perpetrators were also nabbed.

Briefing Newsmen at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, the Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba said the military is leaving no stone unturned towards ensuring the safety and security of the citizens.

Buba  also noted that the military is maximizing the advantage of air superiority and aerial cover for the ground forces as the joint operational environment is witnessing  communication and coordination of fires between ground and aerial assets to decimate the enemy on the ground.

“The armed forces has in the course of its operations eliminated a large number of terrorists, destroyed a large number of terrorist infrastructure and  continue to degrade their military capability. Our war objective is to destroy these groups, decapitate them, and erode their ability to rage terror attacks against citizens.

” Troops conducted operations to curb the violent activities in the NE, NW and NC zones, as well as the sundry crimes in the SW zone.   In the SE Zone, troops conducted offensive actions against the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network (IPOB/ESN) as well as other miscreants engaged in diverse violent activities. While in the SS Zone, troops curtailed the sabotage of the nation’s oil infrastructure and theft of crude oil.

“The war against terrorist, insurgent, violent extremists and others creating insecurity in the country wages on, and the military is progressing towards its goal of total destruction of these elements. In this war, the military is learning every day how to better deal with the threat posed by these groups. 

“We are maximizing the substantial advantage that we have such as air superiority and aerial cover for the ground forces. The joint operational environment is witnessing  communication and coordination of fires between ground and aerial assets to decimate the enemy on the ground.” Buba said

Speaking further, he said apart from those neutralized and the ones arrested, various assorted weapons belonging to these enemies of peace were also seized.

“The operations of the week in focus, resulted in 99 neutralized terrorists, while 198 of them were arrested. Troops also arrested 49 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 139 kidnapped hostages. In the SS, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of One Billion Eighteen Million Four Hundred and Eighty Three Thousand Nine Hundred Naira (N1,018,483,900.00) only.

“Furthermore, troops recovered 141 assorted weapons and 1,463 assorted ammunition. The breakdown are as follows: one GPMG, one GT3 rifle, one assault rifle, 49 AK47 rifles, one josef magnum pump action gun, one double barrel gun, 2 single barrel guns, 9 locally made pistols, 13 dane guns, one hand grenade, 7 locally made rifles, 3 RPG chargers, 2 locally made hand grenades.

“Others are: 347 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 966 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 25 rounds of 9mm ammo, 58 live cartridges, 50 rounds of empty cases of 7.62mm special ammo, 30 magazines, 27 vehicles, 47 mobile phones, 34 motorcycles and sum of N717,580.00 amongst other items.

“Troops in the Niger Delta area destroyed 245 dugout pits, 31 boats, 69 storage tanks, 23 vehicles, 162 cooking ovens, one pumping machine, 3 outboard engine, one tricycle and 50 illegal refining sites.  Troops recovered 578,900 litres of stolen crude oil, 454,330 litres of illegally refined AGO and 10,000 litres of DPK.

“Going by the outcome of ongoing operations across the country. The military is ready, capable and eager to continue its mission of securing the country by the destruction of terrorist, extremist and insurgents.” The Major General stated.

He therefore called on the general public to join hands with the troops toward securing the country.

“Given that there are several lines of operation in  countering insurgency. It is pertinent to state that combat operations against these insurgents, terrorists and extremists remains  one line of action . It is for this reason that the armed forces is calling on Nigerians for support, particularly in the area of  public opinion. We have to show  support for our troops to win this war. 

“The gallant men and women of the armed forces continue to put themselves in harms way to ensure the safety and security of citizens. We have to exhibit patriotism and encourage them in our public discussion.

“The leadership of the armed forces under the Chief of Defence Staff , General  CG Musa, is open to workable ideas to improve ongoing operations.  Nigeria belongs to us all and therefore victory in this war, is non negotiable. Together, we not just win, but we have dominion.”