Major General Edward Buba the Director of Media Operations of the Defence Headquarters in Abuja briefed journalists on the ongoing activities of the armed forces in the country.
He explained that the aim of the armed forces in the ongoing counter terrorism and counter insurgency war remains to find and destroy the terrorist and their cohorts wherever they maybe hiding in the country.
"In achieving this aim, we recognise the need to continue to act and respond forcefully against terrorist. Accordingly, we are collecting intelligence, hunting them and striking locations in which they are confirmed to be hibernating. For instance troops killed a notorious terrorist commander named Munzur Ya Audu in the North-East through well executed operations" Buba emphasized.
He further explained that serious efforts has been emplaced at dismantling the military capabilities as well as the destroy the terror networks of these groups. Troops are also actively targeting terrorist logistics bases and other structures that have affiliation to terror groups.
That during the week under review, troops neutralised 115 and arrested 238 persons. Troops also arrested 51 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 138 kidnapped hostages. In the SS, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of Nine Hundred and Twenty One Million Eight Hundred and Forty Seven Thousand One Hundred and Forty Six Naira (N921,847,146.00) only. That troops recovered 145 assorted weapons and 3,825 assorted ammunition. The breakdown as follows: one GPMG, 2 PKT guns, 68 AK47 rifles, 2 AK56 rifles, 24 fabricated rifles, 28 dane guns, one fabricated revolver pistol, 6 locally made pistols, one pistol, 8 pump action guns, one hand grenade, 4 fabricated hand grenades, one RPG bomb and 3 explosives. Others are: 2,093 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 246 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 317 rounds of 7.62mm GPMG/PKM ammo, 129 live cartridges, 28 shotgun cartridges, 500 empty case of MG ammo, 147 empty cases of 7.62mm ammo, 3 empty cases of cartridges, 54 magazines, 3 baofeng radios, 3 handheld radios, one bandolier, 12 vehicles, 24 motorcycles, 11 bicycles, 51 mobile phones and the sum of N7,245,500.00 only amongst other items.
Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 78 crude oil cooking ovens, 21 dugout pits, 56 boats, 56 drums, 26 storage tanks and 56 illegal refining sites. Other items recovered include 2 speedboats, one barge, 2 tricycles, one pumping machine, 2 walkie talkie, 2 outboard engines, 9 mobile phones and 12 vehicles among others. Troops recovered 872,070 litres of stolen crude oil and 67,985 litres of illegally refined AGO.
"Based on the foregoing, it is clear that troops focus is on fighting terrorist across the country. Accordingly, the air force has been striking the terrorist enclaves with air attacks. Troops have also exerted significant military power on areas in which the terrorists are hibernating" The General explained.
Buba maintained that meanwhile, there is no gain stating that the Nigeria Armed Forces are at war against a cruel and vicious enemy since it is therefore imperative that they degrade their military capability and effectiveness. Roared that troops are mission focussed, prepared and motivated to winning the war against terrorism. That though they recognise that, it is a difficult task and that there would be casualties but they are doing their possible best to minimise the casualties.
The General then concluded that it is their pride as a force to place themselves in harms way in order to protect the Nigerian citizens with full committed of defeating all threat in order for citizens to live in a safer and more secured environment which is the sacrifice they make as a force, for the nation.
