The Director of Media Operations of Armed Forces at the Defence Headquarters in a media briefing explained that the military is keeping up the pressure through ongoing operations in five active theatres across the country.
That these theatres are namely, the North East, North West, North Central, South South and South East, though the North East and North West having the highest levels of intensity. These operations are complex as troops are engaged in fighting in difficult terrains as well as fighting an adversaries that adopts various forms, across the country. That even at that, the troops have boots on the ground and are fighting in several dimensions to crush the enemy.
Major General Edward Buba elaborated that troops are fighting on ground, air, at sea as well as in the cyber dimension in several parts of the country to fight the common denominator which is the terrorists in all operations. That these terrorist are the enemy that must be fought and defeated. They are responsible for keeping the nation in an almost constant state of counter terrorism and counter insurgency.
Buba then reeled out some of the troops achievements during the week under review, troops neutralised 187 and arrested 183 persons. Troops also arrested 26 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 109 kidnapped hostages. In the SS, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of One Billion One Hundred and Twenty Seven Million Two Hundred and Twenty Nine Thousand Eight Hundred and Ninty Naira (N1,127,229,890.00) only.
Furthermore, troops recovered 128 assorted weapons and 3,300 assorted ammunition. The breakdown as follows: one PKT gun, 80 AK47 rifles, 15 locally fabricated gun, 15 dane guns, 2 FN rifles, 5 pump action guns, 2 single barrel guns, 4 locally fabricated pistols, one fabricated barretta pistol, one locally made double barrel gun, 2 hand grenades, 2 primed IEDs and materials. Others are: 1,941 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 729 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 377 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm, 191 rounds of 5.55mm ammo, 199 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammo, 16 rounds of 9mm ammo, 26 live cartridges, 26 empty case of cartridges, 26 AK47 magazines, 6 baofeng radios, 10 vehicles, 4 motorcycles, 4 walkie-talkie, mobile phones and the sum of N102,010.00 only amongst other items.
Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 18 dugout pits, 30 boats and 49 storage tanks. Other items recovered include 66 cooking ovens, 4 drums, 5 speedboats, 15 vehicles, 2 tricycles, one generator, 11 mobile phones and 57 illegal refining sites. Troops recovered 1,l25,440 litres of stolen crude oil, 213,539 litres of illegally refined AGO and 1,230 litres of PMS.
Troops are confronted by a vicious enemy that are constantly trying to kill citizens or have killed citizens. Indeed, these terror group are responsible perpetrating insecurity across the country and will not stop doing what the are doing, until they are stopped.
The Director emphasized that though they are aware of some of the plans to target some critical infrastructure in the country but they have emplaced measures to forestall such plans. By informing other Security agencies responsible for securing critical infrastructure and facilities who also have been placed on alert. Accordingly, some of such plans have been frustrated.
That in this fight, citizens must understand that, no one must ever compromise on security, otherwise everyone's security will be compromised. This is a situation that cannot be over emphasized for us to live in safety and security.
"Meanwhile, the military is doing what is needed at this time. We force the terrorist to pay a price for every act of aggression against citizens of this country. We recognise and have included this as part of our strategy to win the war" Buba said.
He then concluded that the military have no choice but to fight for the safety and security of the Nigeria citizens. "We also fight to safeguard our nation and preserve our way of life as a people. For us a force, Defence is the essence of what we do as an armed forces. Accordingly, we would defeat the terrorists on the battlefield and help our nation flourish again" The General assured.
