Defence Correspondents currently on a fact-finding Media Tour of the South East learnt that the outlawed Indigenous People’s of Biafra , it’s militant wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN) and other criminal elements in the Southeast region have since lost the battle owing to the superior fire power of the gallant troops of the Nigerian military.
Giving the assurance in Enugu to the Defence Correspondents is the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division Nigerian Army and Commander South East Operation UDO KA, Major General Oluremi Fadairo who maintained that region and it’s people enjoy considerable peace owing to the determination of the Armed Forces under the leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede.
The GOC said that the Division embarkef on strategies rooted in “kinetic and non-kinetic operations’’. According to him, the strategies to ’’CONTAIN them and reduce their freedom of action, DISRUPT their collaboration and create a safe and SECURE environment for governance and socio-economic development” had resulted in changing the narrative in the military peace efforts in the region.
Consequently, he said, the operations have significantly degraded the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), its militant wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), and other criminal elements across the South-East and parts of the South-South zones.
Major General Oluremi Fadairo while briefing the visiting defence correspondents from the Directorate of Media Operations during a media tour of Operation UDO KA, in Enugu, explained that the peculiar nature of the South East security challenges necessitated a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic strategies to restore security, peace and order and enable socio-economic development in the region.
(GOC 82 Division, Major General Oluremi Fadairo, in a group photograph with the visiting Defence Correspondents in Enugu)
The Media tour, being facilitated by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede is to enable the Defence Correspondents have first-hand information about the military operations in the various theatres of war across the country. The locations of the tour are Operation HADIN KAI in North East, Operation FANSAN YAMMA in North West, Operation DELTA SAFE in South South, Operation UDO KA in South East, and Operation WHIRL STROKE in North Central.
Major General Oluremi Fadairo further said that the operations aligned with the Chief of Army Staff’s mission statement: “To Advance the transformation of the NA into a more Professional Adaptable, Combat Ready and Resilient Force capable of Decisively Discharging its Constitutional Responsibilities within a joint and Multi Agency Environment.”
He explained that operations were carried out in phases, beginning with de-escalation and containment, followed by decisive actions and consolidation. These, according to him, had led to “significantly improved” security conditions across the Division’s Area of Responsibility, which covers the entire South-East and Cross River State.
He further stated that during the first phase, troops adopted a strategy of “De-escalation Ante and Containment Insitu” to curb widespread violence, adding that the approach ensured that IPOB violence was “contained where they exist; and also ensure that it does not escalate to other areas within the AOO.”
In the same vein, troops carried out raids, clearance missions, roadblocks, and cordon-and-search operations, he said, disclosing that 45 camps were cleared and destroyed including the camp of a prominent IPOB commander in Okigwe, Imo State.
During the raids, troops recovered dangerous weapons, explosives, and improvised explosive devices which were destroyed.
During the just-concluded December festive period, troops launched Operation SAFE EMBER, recording several successes, including the rescue of kidnapped civilians and passengers from boat hijackers along coastal and riverine routes.
In one incident, troops “successfully rescued eight kidnapped civilians following a swift and coordinated response to a distress call.” At the same time, in another incident, 18 passengers, including infants, were freed after an exchange of fire with suspected sea pirates.
The GOC said troops intensified both kinetic and non-kinetic efforts through medical outreach programmes, skills acquisition training, and disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) initiatives, hence the milestone successes recorded.
In Cross River State, troops recorded the voluntary surrender of dozens of militants under an amnesty programme, noting that “a cache of arms, ammunition, and other items were voluntarily surrendered.” Similar peace-building and DDR efforts were carried out in Ebonyi State, in collaboration with the state government.
Major General Fadairo, however, said recent developments, including the imprisonment of an IPOB diaspora leader in Finland, had reduced external funding, noting that the military would continue to collaborate with other security agencies and state governments, expanding non-kinetic strategies to encourage amnesty and facilitate reintegration towards ensuring a safe, prosperous and unified Nigeria.
