DHQ explains rationale behind recent military operations

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Thursday explained that the recently launched Military Operations codenamed “Operations Golden Dawn, Enduring Peace and Still Water” were design to checkmate all forms of security vices across the country as the yuletide season approaches.

Addressing Defence correspondents in Abuja on the update of the operations of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in the various theatres across the six geo-political zones of the country, the Acting Director of Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Brigadier General Benard Onyeuko said that the exercises would also serve as platforms for participating troops to sharpen their skills in the conduct of internal security operations.

He explained that reports have showed that the troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies have continued to sustain the operational tempo in their land, maritime and air operations across the various theatres of operation in the country.

According to him, “the operational activities of our troops across the Country in the past two weeks yielded attendant results

“Consequently, the newly launched exercises, codenamed; Exercises GOLDEN DAWN, ENDURING PEACE and STILL WATER are to run concurrently in the South West, South-South, South East and North Central Zones of the Country, precisely in the 2 Division, 6 Division, 81 Division and 82 Division respectively.

He announced that a total of 13,243 terrorists and their families comprising 3,243 adult males, 3,868 adult females and 6,234 children, have surrendered to the troops at different locations in the North East.

He pointed out that during the period under review the Troops from Operation Delta Safe destroyed a total of 51 illegal refineries which were identified in Rivers, Abia, Cross Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Imo States respectively.

He explained that the troops of Operation Delta Safe have continued to conduct operations in the South-South Zone to thwart the activities of economic saboteurs and other criminal elements.

“According to him, “in the course of the operations, troops discovered and deactivated a total of 51 illegal refining sites.

“The sites cumulatively had a total of 76 ovens, 52 cooking pots/boilers, 22 cooling systems, 102 reservoirs, 16 large dugout pits and 513 storage tanks as well as drums and sacks laden with illegally refined oil products.

“Additionally, 23 criminal elements were arrested and 73 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 5 cartridges, 2 AK-47 rifles, one double-barrel gun, one pump action gun and 3 locally-made pistols among other items were recovered in the course of the operations in the Zone.

“Consequently, a total of 317,450 litres of illegally refined AGO, 8,000 litres of DPK and 159,000 litres of stolen crude were recovered in the course of the operations

“These were in addition to several other vehicles and boats loaded with sacks/polythene bags and jerry cans of illegally refined oil products and equipment used for illegal oil production as well as illicit drugs; impounded by troops within the period.”

Speaking on the exploits of the Troops of OPERATION HADIN KAI, the Director said, “Troops of Operation HADIN KAI sustained aggressive posture with vigour in the North East, which yielded significant results.

According to him, “the series of land and air operations conducted in different locations across the North East theatre has reduced the operational capabilities of the insurgents

“Within the period, several terrorist elements were neutralized and several others arrested alongside their informants and logistics suppliers.

“Consequently, more terrorists have continued to lay down their arms and surrender to own troops with their families as they could no longer withstand the offensive operations within the theatre

“Some of these feats were recorded at; Gwoza – Yamtake – Bita road; Gwoza – Farm Centre – Yamtake road; Mandara Mountain area as well as Pulka and Hambagda towns; all in Borno State. Cumulatively, within the period a total of 29 terrorists were neutralized and 13 terrorists including their informants/collaborators and logistics suppliers were arrested in the course of the operations

“Additionally, a total of 38 assorted weapons and 968 rounds of assorted ammunition as well as 48 rustled livestock among several other items were recovered.

“So far, a total of 13,243 terrorists and their families comprising 3,243 adult males, 3,868 adult females and 6,234 children, have surrendered to own troops at different locations in the North East.

He said that furthermore, the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI carried out air interdiction missions to foil BHT/ISWAP criminal elements’ attack on ground troops’ location at Aulari village in Bama LGA of Borno State.

He added during the encounter, three of the terrorists’ gun trucks were destroyed together with their occupants and another was immobilized, while several other terrorists fled in disarray with varying degrees of wounds.

On the “OPERATION HADARIN DAJI”, he explained that “the troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI within this period in focus, dominated the operations theatre with aggressive fighting patrols and other kinetic operations with the support of intensive air operations executed by the Air Component.

According to him, “some of these operations resulted in the rescue of kidnapped civilians, neutralization of armed bandits, recovery of arms and ammunition as well as the arrest of some criminal elements within the period.

“Significantly, some of these successes were recorded at Jibia – Katsina Road, where some civilians were rescued. Also, at Daba and Kurya villages in Kaura Namoda LGA of Zamfara State as well as Nwala village in Bukkuyum LGA of Katsina State, where troops neutralized some armed bandits and recovered several assorted arms and ammunition

“Relatedly, troops arrested some notorious armed bandits’ collaborators who have been on the watch list of security agencies namely; Mamuda Aliyu Dangulbi, Rilwan Sani Dangulbi, Yusuf Adamu Dangulbi and Yakubu Umar Maihuja at Dangulbi village in Maru LGA of Zamfara State

“These arrested criminals and items recovered have been handed over to appropriate prosecuting agencies for necessary action. In the course of these operations, troops rescued a total of 4 kidnapped civilians, neutralized 5 armed bandits, arrested 4 bandits’ collaborators and recovered 7 AK-47 rifles and 275 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition among other items and motorcycles.

“Further, the Air Component of Operation HADARIN DAJI has sustained its offensive air operations against banditry and other criminal elements in the North West Zone

“Within the period in focus, using a force package of NAF platforms, multiple air strikes were executed on bandits’ enclaves in successive passes in different locations

“One of which was at the Kwaga forest within Birni Gwari general area in Kaduna State. In the course of the operation, no fewer than 40 armed bandits were neutralized and several structures which served as their logistics bases were destroyed

“In the same vein,several of armed bandits were neutralized and their hideouts destroyed during air interdiction missions executed at some other locations. These include; Meshema, Yanfako, Gebe and Gatawa forests in Isaa and Sabon Birni LGAs of Sokoto State as well as Ranch 10 in the Rugu forest area at the border of Kankara. The success of the air interdictions was confirmed by battle damage assessment carried out on these locations.

He said further the Troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN have continued to maintain vigilance and dominate the operational theatre with constant land and air patrols to deny criminal elements freedom of action. Although the theatre was relatively calm, some incidents were recorded in some locations during troops’ kinetic and non-kinetic operations within the period.

According to him, ‘some of the troops’ kinetic operations led to the arrest of criminal elements, recovery of arms/ammunition and livestock as well as impounding of drugs among other items

He assured that the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies would not relent nor rest on its oars in the fight against criminalities in all parts of the country.

He said that the Military High Command commended the continued sacrifices of its troops and saluted their courage and resilience towards achieving sustainable peace in the country.

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