Boko Haram decimated to splinter acts of terrorism —DHQ

THE Defence Headquarters, on Thursday, disclosed that the armed forces of Nigeria had been able to decimate and degrade Boko Haram terrorists from their terrogensic activity to splinter acts of terrorism mostly within Borno State.

The  Director, Defence Information; Major-General John Enenche, who said this at his maiden news briefing, said currently, clearance operation was ongoing, jointly by the armed forces to eliminate both active and passive acts of terrorism in the North -East.

General Enenche noted with gratitude that some countries such as Britain, United States of America (USA), France, among others, provided one form of assistance to the military in their effort so far in the North -East.

On the actual and true position of Shekau, the defence spokesman noted that there were many faces of Shekau, “and it is true like the Minister of Defence said, that the real Shekau is yet to be gotten, we are in search of him, and we will get him very soon.”

Also answering questions on the constant harassment of civilians by members of the armed forces, General Enenche noted that the military had not spared anyone involved in such despicable act, and would continue to treat such issues with dispatch once they were reported.

On why the military had ignored the government’s directive on the dismantling of road blocks in certain parts of the country, the Director of Defence Information said they were snap road blocks based on intelligence, and not static road blocks, as they were road blocks of necessity.

Speaking on the Operation Safe Haven in Plateau State, General Enenche noted that relative peace had returned in that area, as the efforts of opinion, community, religious leaders, among others, were key to the success of the armed forces and other paramilitary agencies involved at ensuring that peace returns to the area.

Also on the Operation Awatse in the South-West, the defence spokesman said the objective of the operation which was curbing pipeline vandalism and petroleum products-related criminality with its attendant negative socio-economic consequence for the country had been achieved.

According to him, surveillance which was the key to the success of the military in the operation was being achieved as accurate and timely intelligence and information was being received.

General Enenche added that operation Delta Safe in the South-South and South-East of the country had assisted in stemming the activities of oil thieves and other criminalities in the Niger Delta region.

Towards this end, he said several illegal refineries and other illegal bunkering activities had been curtailed and that with the proposal of the Federal Government to encourage the illegal refiners to regularise and legalise their ventures, there would be a reduction if not total eradication of this economic crime among the other criminalities in the Niger Delta region.