The Nigerian Armed Forces has said that it has sustained successful operations in the North West, North East, North Central and the South-South regions of the country in the last one week.
The Coordinator of Defence Media Operations, Major General John Eneche disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing news men in Abuja.
He said the various operations the Armed Forces of Nigeria in conjuction with other security agencies have carried out in the last seven days have progressed satisfactorily with significant results.
Eneche noted that Troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI and other subsidiary operations have sustained various aggressive operations in the North-West zone of the country successfully.
The gallant troops according to him carried out a series of clearance operations, ambushes, aerial and confidence-building patrols within the period.
“In one of the operations conducted on 8 November 2020, troops of Operation ACCORD acting on credible intelligence on movement of suspected gun runners at Tangaza Town in Sokoto State arrested 2 suspects, named Abubakar Mohammed and Ansi Usman Janare. Items recovered include one Light Machine Gun, four AK47 rifle magazines, 586 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, 100 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition and one motorcycle. The suspects are currently in custody for further action.
“Equally, on the same day, following credible intelligence about bandit’s activities at FegiBaza village in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, troops swiftly mobilized to the area and made contact with armed bandits. After the exchange of fire, the gallant troops overwhelmed the bandits thereby neutralizing 2 of them.
Similarly, Eneche said the troops of Forward Operating Base, Bagega on Monday, acting on a tip off, arrested a suspected bandit’s informant named Bashar around Kawaye village of Anka Local Government Area.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect allegedly sneaks into Bagega Town every night to gather information on troop’s movement and pass the same to bandits. The suspect is currently in custody undergoing investigation.
He stated that on Monday following credible intelligence on the movement of suspected wife/collaborator of bandits, troops of 17 Brigade attached to Nigeria-Niger border patrol, along Katsina –Jibia road arrested one Mrs Fatima Lawali from Shaku village of Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
According to him, “The suspect claimed to have left the village to visit her parents in Kusa village close to Gahoni village in Katsina but preliminary investigation revealed that she was on her way to rejoin her husband who fled Shaku village to Kano State for fear of arrest. The suspect is currently in custody for further investigation.
Major Eneche further explained that, within the period in view, the Air Component of Operation THUNDER STRIKE neutralized several armed bandits in the Kuzo area of Kaduna State, as they attempted to move hundreds of rustled livestock through the area.
“In another development, a notorious bandit leader named, Saleh Tururuwa and his associate Muhammadu Sani Magaji both of Illela village in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State denounced their membership to the banditry group and surrendered Ten AK47 rifles to the Katsina State Government.
Eneche also said that in continuation of their efforts in the fight against terrorism in the North-East zone, several land and air operations were conducted by the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies with significant results. During the period, troops recorded laudable successes in both land and air operations.
“The Land Component of Operation LAFIYA DOLE under the subsidiary Operation FIRE BALL, conducted several robust operations. Troops executed attacks on terrorists’ hideouts and repelled attacks on their own troops’ locations. During the encounters, the superior firepower of own troops resulted in the decimation of several BHT/ISWAP terrorist elements.
“Notably, between 7 and 8 November 2020, the gallant troops of 27 Task Force Brigade located at Buni Gari of Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State neutralized 5 Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists. In the course of the encounter, a cache of Arms and Ammunition were recovered.
He said on Sunday, troops of 151 Task Force Battalion deployed at Special Response Area Miyanti in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State while on fighting patrol made contact with a pocket of Boko Haram elements. The gallant troops instinctively engaged them with a heavy volume of fire and consequently destroyed their hideout. The troops further rescued one woman and 3 children unharmed from the criminals.
Corereporters report that on Sunday, the Air Task Force of Operation LAFIYA DOLE neutralized several Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP)’s fighters and destroyed some of their structures, including a suspected fuel storage facility, at Tumbun Allura, a terrorists’ logistics hub on the fringes of Lake Chad in the Northern part of Borno State.
The air raid was executed following credible Human Intelligence reports as well as aerial surveillance missions which led to the identification of a command post as well as a suspected fuel dump, with a large number of jerry cans and barrels concealed in makeshift structures within the settlement. The attack aircraft, engaged in the location, scored accurate hits in the target area resulting in the destruction of the terrorists’ fuel dump. Several ISWAP elements were also neutralized as a result of the airstrike.
However, in continuation of intensive kinetic operations against armed bandits and other criminals in the North Central zone, Eneche said troops of Operations SAFE HAVEN and WHIRL STROKE S7 November 2020, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN conducted a Saturday raided an identified kidnapper’s hideout in Kasit village of ZangonKataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
He said during the operation, troops apprehended a kidnapper and gang-leader one Mr Joshua Iliya. The suspect who is currently undergoing interrogation and his gang members were allegedly involved in some recent kidnappings in the general area.
Troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN, on Sunday following a tip-off, arrested one MrAdamu Musa posing as a Department of State Services operative at Jenta village in Qua’n Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State. The suspect was subsequently handed over to the appropriate agency for further action.
Eneche said troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI on Monday in a follow-up operation, after the arrest of a gunrunner in Gusau, Zamfara State, arrested 4 suspected gunrunners named Daniel Ishaku, Musa Bala, Abubakar Umar and Mohammed Saidu at Jos Metropolis in Plateau State. The suspects had negotiated to sell some arms and ammunition. One AK47 rifle and one magazine were recovered. Suspects are currently being held at Headquarters Operation SAFE HAVEN for further action.
Meanwhile, he reported that troops of Operation DELTA SAFE have sustained the fight against crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal oil bunkering in the South-South zone of the country with significant successes.
He said on Tuesday, troops of Sector 2 Operation DELTA SAFE, following a tip-off on plans by vandals to move Shell Petroleum Development Company stolen pipes from Amabuluo Federated Community, Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State to an undisclosed location in Warri, Delta State, the troops immediately mobilized on a fighting patrol to the general area. During the operation the troops arrested 10 crewmen, a Tugboat and Barge loaded with 113 stolen pipes suspected to have been vandalized from the South ForcadosOpukushi trunk line. The suspects and all recovered items have been handed over to the appropriate authority for further action.
And on Monday, Forward Operating Base IBAKA gunboats on routine patrol around UtanIyata creek intercepted a medium size wooden boat laden with 72 drums of 300 litres with product suspected to be illegally refined AGO being transported to the Republic of Cameroon. The items and the 2 suspects are currently in custody to be handed over to the relevant agency for necessary action.
“In another development, troops of 146 Battalion discovered and immobilized 2 reactivated illegal refineries containing unspecified litres of illegally refined AGO at Samkiri in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State. Additionally, troops of 29 Battalion intercepted 2 locally made boats conveying substance suspected to be crude oil along Ibaa/Rumuji Waterways in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State.
“Within the period, Operations CALM WATERS II and SWIFT RESPONSE have continued to record more successes. In this regard, about 353 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice and 48 cartons of Tramadol tablets containing 10 packets each concealed in 35 cartons were arrested and handed over to Nigerian Customs Service. Other items intercepted were one bale of used clothes as well as 850 litres of PMS.
“On the whole, the Military High Command encourages the troops and personnel of other security agencies to remain dogged and sustain the tempo in all the Joint Operations Areas. The High Command also reassures the general public of its unwavering commitment to securing the country for all human activities to strive. Members of the general public are enjoined to continue providing timely information on the activities of criminals in their various localities to the nearest military and other security agencies location for prompt and effective action,” he concluded.