The Armed Forces of Nigeria is being reorganized towards effective tackling of the security challenges in the country especially the Boko Haram/Ismalic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists, banditry and other crimes, Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, said on Thursday.
General Enenche stated that the reorganization, being carried out at all levels of the Nigerian military, asked for “maximum support” of all Nigerians to succeed in the new focus of bringing peace and security back to Nigeria.
According to the Defence Spokesperson, “the Service Chiefs led by the Chief of Defence Staff, Major General LEO Irabor commenced action at all levels. These include carrying out strategic, administrative, operational and logistics adjustments, changes and reviews, to improve the security situation in the Country. As such, all stakeholders are requested to give maximum support to the Armed Forces of Nigeria under the leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff.”
The Defence Spokesperson noted that in tackling the security challenges confronting Nigeria, “our collective efforts are essential in the fight against the various security vices in the country. The Military High Command reassures the general public of its untiring dedication towards securing the Country.
“Members of the general public are enjoined to continue providing timely information on the activities of criminals in their various localities to the military and other security agencies for prompt and effective action.”
Enenche, who also gave general update of Armed Forces of Nigeria operations from January 21 to February 11, 2021, said that in the Northwest region of the country, “troops of Operations HADARIN DAJI have continued to sustain their efforts in the North-West Zone of the Country progressively. The gallant troops within the period in focus carried out several land and air operations in the Zone. These include clearance and ambush operations as well as aggressive ground and aerial patrols in order to ensure security of lives and property within the Zone.”
In the Northeast, he said that “the Armed Forces of Nigeria, working together with other security agencies, have continued to sustain the onslaught against the insurgents. Within the period under review, troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, on various occasions made contact and engaged some Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) criminal elements. In the various encounters, more terrorists’ enclaves have been destroyed along with their logistics facilities and scores of their fighters neutralized through ground and air strikes at different locations in the North East Zone.”
In the Northcentral zone, “troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies operating in the North Central Zone of the Country are also sustaining the fight against armed banditry and other criminal vices in the Zone with remarkable results. Several combined land and air operations were conducted within the period, which resulted in the neutralization of scores of armed bandits and recovery of caches of arms and ammunition. As the land troops maintain aggressive fighting patrols to dominate the theatre of operation, the air component dominated the airspace with air reconnaissance activities.
“In the South-South Zone, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE have continued to protect and safeguard our coastal and territorial waters through intensive sea and creek patrols. Additionally, troops conducted anti-crude oil theft and anti-illegal bunkering operations as well as other anti-illegal maritime activities, and in the process, deactivated several illegal refining sites within the period in focus. In the course of the operations, large quantities of stolen crude oil and illegally refined AGO as well as some equipment were recovered.
“In the South West Zone, troops have sustained their efforts in the fight against pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft as well as other economic saboteurs through raids and arrests within the period. Consequently, several pipeline vandals and smugglers were arrested and handed over to appropriate prosecuting authorities for necessary action. Also, several bags of foreign parboiled rice and illegally smuggled items and vessels were seized.”