The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya has stated that elections or no elections, neither IPOB/ESN, nor any other group, groups or individuals should threaten the integrity of this Nation as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
General Yahaya gave the warning on Monday, 3 April 2023 at the opening ceremony of the COAS first quarter Conference 2023, in furtherance of his determination to maintain constant interaction with field commanders in order to review NA activities for the First Quarter of the Year, held at the Army Headquarters Officers Mess, Asokoro Abuja.
He said the peaceful conduct of general elections across the country including in the South East despite the sense of insecurity created by criminal elements in the region, is a testament to NA resolve to ensure security in the entire Nation.
General Yahaya noted that this was made possible through successful conduct of Operation SAFE CONDUCT 2023 across the nation which saw the Nigerian Army along with the other Services and Agencies ensuring successful General Elections.
"Our additional efforts through Joint Task Force Operation UDO KA paid off in the South East thus ensuring successful Elections in the region as well, even though, long before the actual elections, IPOB/ESN and their supporters had threatened that there would be no elections in the Zone.
"Elections were therefore held in the South East and successfully too, just like other parts of the country. Generally, our operations and decisive actions against the criminal elements have impacted positively on the security situation in the region, giving confidence to law abiding citizens in the South East", he said.
The COAS also noted that, the troops deployed in the South South region for Operation DELTA SAFE have continued to perform commendably. The efforts of the rejuvenated joint operations in the region have led to discovery and destruction of several illegal oil refining camps and arrest of criminal suspects.
These anti-illegal bunkering operations have significantly increased crude oil production in the Country to over 1.3 million barrels per day as affirmed by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries as at March 2023.
He said these efforts were also acknowledged by the Federal Government through a message delivered to troops by the Minister of State for Petroleum and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.
The COAS commended the efforts, commitments and dedication to duty by field commanders, officers and soldiers to ensure successes in various operations across the country.
He noted that the efforts by the Army Headquarters to go round formations to deliver lectures on "Introspection of Past Experiences and Efforts at Improving NA Support to Op SAFE CONDUCT 2023" is also noted to have yielded desired outcomes. "I am proud to say that various groups, organisations and distinguished individuals have commended our troops' efforts during the 2023 General Elections.
"Our efforts in Operation HADIN KAI in synergy with the sister Services and other security agencies no doubt have significantly curtailed terrorism and insurgency that hitherto bedevilled the North East part of the country.
"Our continuous injection of specially trained troops and special equipment through Operations LAKE SANITY and DESERT SANITY to complement efforts by Operation HADIN KAI has been rewarding. The insurgents and terrorists no longer have freedom of action and that has amongst other benefits resulted in massive surrender by the unauthorized on this sheet violates the adversaries.
"These efforts expectedly have enhanced troops poise and greatly improved the security situation and public confidence in the North East. It is on record that last year (2022), Nigeria attained its best record against terrorism since 2011. Put differently, in the past 11 years, from 2011 to date, Nigeria recorded its highest rating against terrorism last year, 2022.
"This is indeed a commendable effort and achievement by all of you, the other sister Services, stakeholders and indeed our able predecessors. Though impressive are these efforts, but we are not relenting. Rather, we are even channeling more efforts towards consolidating on these successes in order to completely neutralise insurgents that fail to surrender.
General Yahaya reassured Nigerians that the Nigerian Army will not relent in its our efforts at safeguarding our commonwealth, rather, "we are now even more resolute to sustain the ongoing efforts to ensure maximum revenue accrues to government coffers from oil explorations in the South South region", he said.
He said the Nigerian Army will continue to perform its constitutional roles in collaboration with the sister Services and other security agencies as well as civil authorities in the region.