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From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Defence Headquarters(DHQ), said it has intensified intelligence gathering on its counter-insurgency operations to flush out terrorists and ensure there are no hiding places for them to carry out attacks.
The intensified intelligence gathering by the DHQ, May not be unconnected to a Dutch think tank, Clingendael Institute, stating that jihadi fighters from the Sahel region have crossed into Nigeria through the Benin Republic border.
The institute, in a report on Wednesday, stated that the extremists have settled in Kainji Lake National Park in Niger and Kebbi states, adding that banditry is re-emerging in zones controlled by a militant jihadist organisation in Benin, the Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin.
But in a swift reaction, the Director of Defence Media Organization(DMO), Major General Edward Buba, said the renewed operations are aimed at killing the terrorists and the infrastructure that supports them. Buba, further stated that the operational adjustments have been made to prioritize protection for farmers to ensure a successful rainy season farming.
The statement made available to Saturday Sun, reads; “The armed forces have intensified intelligence collection effort targeted at hunting terrorists and striking them where they maybe hiding and hibernating. The aim is to kill these terrorists and the infrastructure that supports them. Additionally, operational adjustments have been made to prioritize protection for farmers to ensure a successful rainy season farming.
“During the week under review, troops neutralised 220 and arrested 395 persons. Troops also arrested 55 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 202 kidnapped hostages. In the SS, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of One Billion Eight Hundred and Sixty Million One Hundred and Fifty One Thousand Seven Hundred Naira (N1,860,151,700.00) only.
“Furthermore, troops recovered 432 assorted weapons and 9,004 assorted ammunition. The breakdown is as follows: 3 PKT guns, one G3 rifle, 83 AK47 rifles, 18 locally fabricated guns, 16 Dane guns, 2 pump action guns, 2 double barrel guns, 2 single barrel guns, 8 locally fabricated pistols, 2 revolver rifles, one hand grenades, 14 RPG bombs, one RPG launcher, 2 tear gas launchers, 234 smoke grenades and one bandolier.
“Others are 5,893 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 2,064 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 401 rounds of 9mm ammo, 200 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm, 154 rounds of 7.62 x 51mm, 195 live cartridges, 17 magazines, 3 baofeng radios, 8 vehicles, 32 motorcycles, 59 mobile phones and the sum of N813,550.00 only amongst other items.
“Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 51 dugout pits, 38 boats and 51 storage tanks. Other items recovered include 215 cooking ovens, 2 speedboats, 44 drums, 3 tug boats, 3 barges, 4 wheelbarrows, one outboard engine, 15 vehicles, 3 motorcycles, 6 mobile phones and 105 illegal refining sites. Troops recovered 1,099,860 litres of stolen crude oil, 1,101,700 litres of illegally refined AGO, 27350 litres of DPK and 150 litres of PMS.
“Troops will continue to employ significant firepower to neutralize terrorists and disrupt their activities across the country. Winning the war against the terrorist is non-negotiable”.
