The Nigerian Military on Thursday says troops in various theatres of operations across the country have killed several terrorists, including senior commanders of Boko Haram/Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), Eastern security network (ESN), and major bandit leaders.
This is just as the Military assured that it will continue to sustain the offensive posture and will not relent until peace is restored to every troubled zone as well as protect Nigeria’s economic assets.
Brig-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, acting director, Defence Media Operations, (DMO) said troops working in synergy with other security and intelligence agencies, engaged in series of kinetic and non-kinetic in the last three weeks, from May 1-20, 2021, which were successful
“Our gallant troops have been actively engaged in constant clearance patrols, ambush, raid, picketing, cordon and search operations as well as artillery bombardments. In the maritime environment, troops conducted various operations involving anti-piracy, anti-illegal oil bunkering, anti-crude oil theft, anti-pipeline vandalism, and anti-smuggling operations”, he said.
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“Moreover, the Air Component conducted comprehensive air operations, which included air patrols, Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions, offensive air strikes, air interdictions, search and rescue operations as well as close air support for ground troops”, Onyeuko added.
During these operations, Onyeuko said troops killed scores of terrorists and bandits including senior BHT/ISWAP and ESN commanders as well as major bandit leaders, while many of their fighters were incapacitated and their camps destroyed through artillery and air bombardments.
He also informed that troops rescued several kidnapped victims and arrested bandits/kidnappers informants and collaborators in different parts of the country within the same period.
He said, “Our operations also inhibited activities of economic saboteurs as well as exposed and forestalled other criminal activities. Troops also recovered large caches of arms and ammunition as well as equipment, vehicles, and livestock within the period.
“In the maritime domain, troops disrupted smuggling activities, immobilized illegal refining sites, arrested some perpetrators, seized illegally imported rice and other contraband goods as well as recovered petroleum products.”
The Acting Director recalled that the Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs have been interacting with commanders, troops, and critical stakeholders across the 6 geo-political zones for the purpose of sensitization on the current security challenges facing the country.
These engagements, he said, were aimed at ensuring that the Military High Command comes up with improved ways and means of tackling the myriad of security challenges across the country in partnership with other stakeholders.
“We will continue to sustain the offensive posture and will not relent until peace is restored to every troubled zone in Nigeria. The general public is also assured of our commitment to protect our economic assets anywhere.
“The plans and efforts of the criminal elements to perpetrate nefarious activities so as to discredit the government and efforts of security forces will in no way deter us from sustaining the tempo of operations”, he said.
The acting director, therefore, called on Nigerians to support the efforts of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies, by providing credible and timely information that will facilitate proactive engagements to address the threats.
