The Defence Headquarters through its Media Operations
Coordinator, Major General John Enenche on Thursday said the Armed
Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies have continued their major
operations across the country with renewed vigor.
Enenche gave this assertion in Abuja while giving Updates of the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s successes against Insurgency in the North West, North Central, North East and South South Zones of the Country from 17th to 23rd of December 2020
He said, in North West Zone, Troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI
and other subsidiary operations have sustained their operations in the
North-West Zone of the country progressively.
“The gallant troops within the
period carried out several operations including rescue operations as well as
clearance, ambushes and aerial patrols”, he said.
He added that, these operations led
to the rescue of abducted persons, neutralization of criminal elements and
recovery of arms and ammunition.
Moreover, on 17 December 2020,
troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI actualized their promise to ensure safe return
of abducted students”, he said.
“As you are aware, all 344 students
of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara who were abducted by armed
bandits were rescued alive”, he said.
Enenche added that, troops rescued
39 abducted girls who were Islaimiya children returning from Mauludprogramme,
at Nguwar Al-Kasim in Dandume Local Government Area of Katsina State.
He said, “on 20 December 2020,
troops in swift response to a distress call, with overwhelming firepower,
rescued 10 kidnapped victims from armed bandits at Yenyewa Village in Zamfara
State”.
“All rescued victims have been
successfully reunited with their families”.
In addition troops of Operation
HADARIN DAJI neutralized an armed bandit and arrested two of them while on
night patrol at Bakinruwa Riverside in Shinkafi Local Government Area of
Zamfara State, he said.
The Military Spokesperson said, “Other
bandits were forced to flee in disarray, some with gunshot wounds, abandoning
their weapons due to troops overwhelming firepower”.
“Troops continue to dominate the
North West theatre of operation with aggressive fighting and aerial patrols to
deny the criminal elements freedom of action”, he said.
In North East Zone, several
land and air operations were conducted by the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other
security agencies within the period under review.
Enenche said, Troops of Operation
LAFIYA DOLE maintainedand sustained continued vigilance and offensive postures
through comprehensive ground and air operations, which yielded appreciable
results.
He said, “On 17 December 2020,
troops of Army Supper Camp II Gamboru, neutralized 5 Boko Haram Terrorists
(BHT) elements in a fierce fight at Kenuba general area in Borno State.
Enenche added that, during the
encounter, troops destroyed one gun truck and captured an anti-aircraft gun as
well as recovered 3 AK-47 rifles from the terrorists.
In addition to that, he said, on 17
December, troops eliminated 4 Boko Haram Terrorists /ISWAP criminal elements
and captured 2 gun trucks as well as one anti-aircraft gun with assorted
ammunition from the terrorists at Cross-Kauwa in Borno State.
“Meanwhile, the Air Task Force of
Operation LAFIYA DOLE continued to dominate the theatre of operation with its
force package of Nigerian Air Force fighter jets and helicopter gunships” he
said.
“Within the period, several air
operations were conducted with resultant effects. Remarkably, on 19 December
2020, the Air Task Force eliminated several BHT criminal elements and destroyed
their gun trucks in air strikes executed at Ajiri Village in Borno State”.
“Series of air patrols and Intelligence
Surveillance Reconnaissance missions as well air cover for ground troops have
been continuously conducted across the Zone”he added.
In North Central Zone, Enenche said
troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE and other subsidiary operations conducted
raids at identified criminals’ hideouts.
“These operations resulted in the
neutralization and arrest of some criminal elements as well as recovery of arms
and ammunition”.
Enenche emphasized that on 16
December 2020, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE neutralized 2 gang members of
the late Gana’s militia group and arrested another during a dawn raid at
Adangbe Village in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State.
“During the encounter, 3 locally
made rifles, 21 rounds of 7.62mm Special Ammunition and other items including
one motorcycle were recovered from the criminals”, he said.
However on 21 December 2020, troops
neutralized one armed bandit and captured 2 others at Anguwa-Onmbaagbu general
area of Benue State.
“The bandits who were linked to the
recent killing of a Makurdi based lawyer and his wife, engaged the troops in a
fire fight and were overwhelmed by the troops’ superior firepower”.
He said, “Troops captured some arms
and ammunition from the criminals during the encounter”.
Enenche also added that troops
arrested 2 armed bandits along with their arms at Abako Village in Taraba
State.
“All arrested criminals have been
handed over to appropriate prosecuting agency for further action”.
Meanwhile, troops continue to
dominate the North Central theatres of Operation”he said.
The Defence Media Operations also
said Operation DELTA SAFE area of responsibility have continued to dominate the
South-South Zone.
Enenche said, Within the period
under review, troops conducted comprehensive anti-illegal refinery and
anti-crude oil theft/illegal bunkering operations daily to deter economic
saboteurs freedom of action in the Zone.
He said, about 7 illegal refining sites with 48 metal tanks,
2 dugout pits, 3 reservoirs, 10 ovens and 6 wooden boats were immobilized,
while one 8HP Yamaha engine and 2 pumping machines were recovered.
“Also, a total of 16,984.9 barrels
of illegally refined crude oil, 1,428,000 litres of illegally refined AGO and
10,000 litres of DPK were seized from oil thieves”he added.
And finally, Enenche gave the
update of South West Zone troops of Operation AWATSE and subsidiary Operations
CALM WATER II and SWIFT RESPONSE have continued to intensify the fight against
economic saboteurs and other criminal elements in the Zone.
He revealed that, Troops’
activities have drastically reduced pipeline vandalism and other criminal
activities in the South West Zone.
"Within the period under
review, a total of 92 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice, 1,500 litres of PMS
and 79 bales of fairly used cloths were intercepted. Also, 2 smugglers were
arrested and handed over to appropriate prosecuting agency for further action”
he said.
The Military High Command
encourages the troops and personnel of other security agencies to remain
determined and to sustain the tempo in all the Joint Operations Areas.
The Armed Forces of Nigeria
therefore reassures Nigerians of its untiring dedication towards securing the
country, advising citizens to continue providing timely information on the
activities of criminals in their various localities to the military and other
security agencies for prompt and effective action.
Responding to Questions from Journalists, Major General John
Enenche said On Controversial Media Report on Kankara Schoolboys Rescue.
Major General John Enenche said the troops had dominated the
general area with aggressive patrol to forestall further occurrence.
He also “commended the locals and vigilantes for their
cooperation in tackling the security challenges in the state”.
Though, the Nigeria
Police, through its Katsina State spokesman, Gambo Isah, gave a contradictory statement
stating that one of its divisional police officer “led a team of vigilantes and
Sharan Daji (mostly soldiers and allied security agents)” who rescued 80 pupils
and four adults.
