The military high command has cleared the air over presence of hooded armed men recently sighted in Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) stationed in some road junctions in Abuja and other parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as posing no threat to law-abiding residents, explaining that they were part of on-going operations by the Guards Brigade to keep criminally-minded elements at bay.
There had been growing public apprehension over the presences of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) in different parts of the nation’s capital but the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) at a briefing yesterday said that the military hardware were APCs and not battle tanks.
It then assured residents of their safety, saying fool-proof measures were being constantly reviewed to outpace daring criminals and that efforts were being taken at the highest security and intelligence levels to keep the FCT and other parts of the country safe, stable and secure, and that no stone will be left unturned in that regard.
Director, Defence Media Operations (DMO), Major-General Musa Danmadami, gave the clarification and assurance at the regular bi-weekly defence media briefing which was held at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) in Abuja on Thursday.
“The military and other security agencies are working round the clock. We are not sleeping to ensure that citizens are protected. The Guards Brigade is carrying out several operations and we are not resting. There is no cause for alarm on the presence of the APCs, it is part of our operational activities,” he said.
Maj Gen. Danmadami who spoke extensively on the military activities and operations in the various operational theaters within the six geo-political zones of the country, recorded significant results in the past two weeks in the kinetic and non-kinetic operations conducted in the various theatres of operations in the country.
He said that gallant troops recovered over N15m cash, neutralized over 55 terrorists while over 250 Boko Haram/ISWAP members and their families surrendered to the troops between November 4 and 17 2022 as a result of superior fire power on the frontlines.
The DMO’s briefing of defence correspondents on troops’ activities and operational successes in the various operational theaters within the 6 geo-political zones has become a must-attend for representatives of major national and international news platforms because it is widely adjudged as the most authentic and authoritative source of information on operations of the Nigerian military.
He said: “No fewer than 55 Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists and bandits were neutralized in the past two weeks as the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies continued to conduct kinetic and non-kinetic operations in the various theatres of operations aimed at addressing the various security challenges across the country’’.
The operations also led to the recovery of a total cash of N15million from the terrorists and bandits in the northern part of the country and the destruction of 44 illegal mining sites in the Niger Delta region..
He noted that military operations in the North East Zone had been aggressively sustained against the activities of terrorist elements within the zone aimed at restoring peace, security and creating an enabling environment for law and order to thrive, adding that troops of operation HADIN KAI conducted operational activities in villages and communities within and around Kaga, Damboa, Bama, Ngazai and Gwoza Local Government Areas of Borno State, which resulted in significant achievement.
According to him, “troops within the North East Zone, neutralized 16 terrorists, recovered 13 AK47 rifles, 107 rounds of 7.62mm special, 5 hand grenade, 75 motorcycles, and 150 rustled cattle among other items, while 19 civilians were also rescued.”
“Within the weeks in focus, troops recovered 8 AK47 rifles, 5 hand grenades, 50 rounds of 7.62mm special, 19 motorcycles, 16 bicycles, 1 vehicle, 8 mobile phones, 89 rustled cattle, the sum of Thirteen Million, Eight Hundred and Sixty-Three Thousand Two Hundred Thirty Naira (N13,863, 230.00) and 71 jerry cans of 30 litres of Premium Motor Spirit,” he said.
“Troops also neutralized 13 terrorists, arrested 10 and rescued 41 civilians while a total of 250 Boko Haram Terrorist/Islamic State of West Africa Province members and their families comprises of 43 adult males, 80 adult females and 121 children surrendered to the troops at different locations within the theatre. All recovered items, arrested Boko Harm Terrorists were handed over to the appropriate authority for further action while the surrendered terrorists with their family members and rescued civilians are being profiled for further action,” he added.
He further disclosed that the land and air component of Operation SAFE HAVEN in a coordinated operation conducted clearance operation at an identified bandits’ camps in Magama and Dajin Mada forest near Mansur village in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State on 4 November 2022 led to the neutralization of 3 suspected bandits, while the bandits’ camps were destroyed and over 200 rustled cattle were recovered during the operation.
Speaking on the military operations by troops in the North Central zone, Major-General Danmadami noted that on 4 November 2022, troops of Guards Brigade raided illegal mining sites at Wuna and Tsauni general area in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and arrested 11 illegal miners with several mining equipment at Wuna as well as 15 suspected criminals at Tsauni mining general area.
Also, on 9 Nov 22, Guards Brigade troops apprehended 3 suspected criminals along road Andaha-Jos in Akanga LGA of Nasarawa State and recovered 3 locally fabricated weapons, 12 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunitions and 2 AK 47 magazines
He said the troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI in the North West Zone of the Country continued to sustained and dominate the general area of operation to deny terrorists and other criminal element freedom of action aimed at creating an enabling environment for lasting peace in the zone.
For instance, on 9 November 2022, the special intelligence operation troops tracked and apprehended 2 suspected gun runner at Kude town in Chikun Local Government Area with 400 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition in a truck and the sum of N1million, while troops at airport roundabout in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State apprehended a suspected terrorists’ logistic supplier with the sum of N1, 589, 000.00 with list of items meant to be purchased in his possession.
According to Major-General Danmadami, troops of the Joint Task force Operation DELTA SAFE and other security agencies in the South-South zone of the Country also continued to sustain offensive action against oil theft, economic saboteurs and other criminal element in ensuring a relatively safe and peaceful environment for the operations of International Oil Companies (IOCs) and the protection of oil and gas infrastructures in the general area, which has yielded some significant successes.
He said: “Between 3 and 17 November 2022, the land and maritime component of operation DELTA SAFE conducted kinetic operations geared toward denying criminal elements freedom of action at creeks, villages, communities, waterways, cities and towns within Delta, Bayelsa, and Rivers States with the support of the air component.
“Cumulatively, within the weeks in review troops of Operation DELTA SAFE in the conduct of Operation OCTOPUS GRIP discovered and destroyed 44 illegal refining sites, 32 wooden boats, 73 storage tanks, 129 cooking ovens and 40 dugout pits. Troops equally recovered 512,000 litres of stolen crude oil, 114,500 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil, 1,000 Premium Motor Spirit, 40 vehicles, 3 motorcycles, 3 generators as well as 5 pumping machines. Troops also arrested 29 criminal elements and recovered 104 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.”
The DMO director further disclosed that operational activities of own troops in conjunction with other security agencies to curb the activities of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network criminal and to restore law and order in the South East Zone were being vigorously sustained.
“Consequently, within the week in focus, troops neutralized 13 Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network criminals, arrested 6 including their herbalist, troops equally recovered 8 AK47 rifles, 7 pump action guns, 3 locally made pistols, 1 sniper rifle, 15 rounds of 7.62mm special, 13 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 8 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 5 cartridges, 3 pairs of combat boots, 2 pairs of camouflage uniforms and 2 camouflage jungle hats.
“Other items recovered include; 2 CCTV cameras, 1 INEC image capturing machine, 1 INEC box, 2 walkie talkies, transistor radio, 3 solar panels, motorcycles, vehicles among other items,” said the DMO Director, who added that all apprehended criminals and recovered items were handed over to the appropriate authority for further action.
He noted that troops in the South West Zone of the country recorded appreciable successes in their operation to curb illegal activities of smugglers of contraband goods in border area, including the conduct of joint border patrol by troops operation SWIFT RESPONSE at the waterside and villages of Oke Odan, Ilaje Ketu, Olokuta, Oke-Agbede, Okeita, Ijebu Itele in Ogun State and Iyaafin, Gbaji Izube waterside in Badagry, Lagos State and troops of operation AWATSE during which 865 bags of 50kg foreign rice, and 505 x 30 litres jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit were recovered.
