The increase tempo of military operations in both Kinetic and non-kinetic has led to operational achievements of the Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA resulting to adversary’s casualties, recoveries of arms and ammunition, tame many security challenges bedeviling the entire South East (SE) region.
Appraising the Defence Correspondents from the Defence Headquarters Abuja with the Second – Fourth Quarter of Year 2024 operational achievements of the Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA, the 38th GOC/Force Commander, Major General Hassan Taiwo Dada noted that JTF OPUK has continued to optimize its operations against the terrorist group in the South East.
Major General Dada revealed how the Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA engaged several propagandists in and outside the the Theatre of Operation to curtail dominant IPOB propaganda on social media platforms.
He explained that propagandists have been extensively employed to distribute propaganda content, such as videos, images, and written messages to counter the IPOB/ESN propaganda and narratives.
He noted that, the Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA debunked false information, provide alternative perspectives and shape public opinion in support of our operations. This, according the General Dada has further enabled page handlers to share stories, showcase humanitarian efforts and highlight the positive impact of own operations towards developing positive public perception.
Major General Dada also revealed how JTF OPUK troops have been tenacious in ensuring that these sit-at-home orders are often thwarted to ensure economic activities thrive in the South East region, noting that troops of Operation UDOKA have conducted numerous operations and subsidiary operations to deny the ESN freedom of action in OPUK Areas of Operation. Some of the major operations conducted include OP CHANNEL SWEEP, OP RIVER SHIELD, OP DRAGON SPIT and the ongoing OP ARID STRIKE.
The major security threats in the region include the activities of the proscribed group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) with emphasis on the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE) that has continuously inflamed and instigated violence in the SE Region. Others are the IPOB militant wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), illegal oil bunkering/oil theft as well as weapon and ammunition trafficking. There are also cases of kidnapping for ransom, cultism, assassinations and communal clashes.
Besides kinetic operations, OPUK also engage in a wide variety of non-kinetic operations. Accordingly, the modest efforts of the Division in this regard are worthy of mention. The operational successes recorded so far in OPUK TOO wouldn’t have been possible without some non-kinetic operations. These were aimed at winning the hearts and minds of host communities as well as enhancing intelligence gathering. Besides the several visits and community-based projects executed, other activities include medical outreach, humanitarian support, educational support, engagement of propagandists, collaboration with National Orientation Agency (NOA) and Op CHECKMATE against extortion. For want of time, they would be discussed briefly. Starting with:
Medical outreach in areas like general obstetric consultation, dental care services, eye checks, ancillary laboratory investigations, free drugs/tests and featured health talks on prevalent health issues were carried out at intervals across the AOR.
Free medical outreach was conducted in Akpuoga Nike Community, in Enugu East LGA and Ivo LGA in Ebonyi State respectively, from 1 – 6 July 24. The selected communities were presented with mosquito nets, wheelchairs, crutches and other medical items.
Besides kinetic operations, OPUK also engage in a wide variety of non-kinetic operations. Accordingly, the modest efforts of the Division in this regard are worthy of mention. The operational successes recorded so far in OPUK TOO wouldn’t have been possible without some non-kinetic operations. These were aimed at winning the hearts and minds of host communities as well as enhancing intelligence gathering.
Besides the several visits and community-based projects executed, other activities include medical outreach, humanitarian support, educational support, engagement of propagandists, collaboration with National Orientation Agency (NOA) and Op CHECKMATE against extortion. For want of time, they would be discussed briefly. Starting with:
Medical outreach in areas like general obstetric consultation, dental care services, eye checks, ancillary laboratory investigations, free drugs/tests and featured health talks on prevalent health issues were carried out at intervals across the AOR. Free medical outreach was conducted in Akpuoga Nike Community, in Enugu East LGA and Ivo LGA in Ebonyi State respectively, from 1 – 6 July 24. The selected communities were presented with mosquito nets, wheelchairs, crutches and other medical items.
As part of the CJTF intervention programme to cushion economic hardship and win public confidence within the TOO, palliatives consisting of vegetable oil, 400g of tin tomatoes and 10kg bags of rice were distributed to Isseke and Mbosi communities in Ihiala LGA of Anambra State, as well as Ezza and Effiom communities of Ebonyi State, on 27 Jul 24.
The exercise was conducted to mark the peaceful co-existence between the warring communities. Additionally, in a bid to put smile on the face of own fallen heroes widows, 10 kg bags of rice, the sum of Ten Thousand Naira each and other relief items were distributed to 38 x widows by Commander Sector 5 (302 AR) on behalf of the CJTF.
As part of education and child support initiative the theatre distributed books and other leaning materials to selected Primary schools in Igbo Eze North LGA of Enugu State. Recently, the CJTF facilitated the reopening of Onuimo Market which was earlier shut down due to activities of IPOB elements, he further shared relief items and food stuffs to the locals Humanitarian Support.
As part of the CJTF intervention programme to cushion economic hardship and win public confidence within the TOO, palliatives consisting of vegetable oil, 400g of tin tomatoes and 10kg bags of rice were distributed to Isseke and Mbosi communities in Ihiala LGA of Anambra State, as well as Ezza and Effiom communities of Ebonyi State, on 27 Jul 24.
The exercise was conducted to mark the peaceful co-existence between the warring communities. Additionally, in a bid to put smile on the face of own fallen heroes widows, 10 kg bags of rice, the sum of Ten Thousand Naira each and other relief items were distributed to 38 x widows by Commander Sector 5 (302 AR) on behalf of the CJTF.
As part of education and child support initiative the theatre distributed books and other leaning materials to selected Primary schools in Igbo Eze North LGA of Enugu State. Recently, the CJTF facilitated the reopening of Onuimo Market which was earlier shut down due to activities of IPOB elements, he further shared relief items and food stuffs to the locals
Highlighting the kinetic operations major achievements, General Dada stressed that efforts sustained to check the activities of the terrorists and criminal gangs within the JOA brought some modest achievements were recorded but not without some challenges.
He affirmed that while the potency of the secessionist group has largely been degraded from what it hitherto was, the group of resilient and continues to employ opportunistic attacks on soft and hard targets to portray relevance.
The JTF OP UDOKA has continued to employ many non-kinetic operations to win the hearts and minds of the populace. However, the complex operational environments in the SE have necessitated the continuous conduct of kinetic operations.
The group’s activities were primarily concentrated in Anambra and Imo States, however there is a gradual shift to Ebonyi State. The criminals have targeted military and police personnel on duty, especially police that are sparsely stationed in isolated areas.
These attacks are launched to increase their arsenal of weapons and ammunition in an effort to deplete the capability of security forces. About 21 police and the military rifle have been lost to attackers during the period under review. Other activities by the proscribed group that undermine civil security include Sit-at-home orders, kidnapping for ransom, arms and ammunition smuggling and trafficking, illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism as well as assassinations.
In line with the OPUK operational design, it has conducted series of kinetic operations that have significantly improved the security situation within its TOO. These kinetic operations include intensive clearance and raids operations, air interdiction missions, Artillery Fire Mission and attacks on IPOB/ESN camps. Others are anti-kidnapping and rescue operations as well as anti-illegal oil bunkering/theft operations.
The sustained operations by troops of OPUK has resulted to an increase in the adversary’s casualties, number of recoveries and a significant reduction in violent crimes reported across the Theatre of Operation.
@Spye News, excluding headline