Terrorists, bandits suffer heavy casualties as troops intensify intelligence and kinetic operations

By Lawrence Audu

The Armed Forces of Nigeria says it has redoubled its efforts in the fight against insurgency, banditry and other forms of violent crimes in the country through intelligence gathering in addition to the use of kinetic force which is yielding maximum results.

Coordinator Defence Media Operations Major General John Enenche who disclosed this at the weekly media briefing at the Defence Headquarters said the Nigerian military and other security agencies in the country have continued to collaborate to rid the country of criminal elements terrorizing the peace loving citizens.

He noted that a lot has been achieved so far in the last one week, scores of bandits and terrorists elements have been neutralized, several hostages rescued while arms and ammunition of various categories recovered in addition to the arrest of suspected collaborators in different parts of the country.

In one of the operations conducted in the Northwest zone, General Enenche stated that on 8 November 2020, troops of Operation ACCORD acting on credible intelligence on movement of suspected gun runners at Tangaza Town in Sokoto State arrested 2 suspects, named Abubakar Mohammed and Ansi Usman Janare.

Items recovered include one Light Machine Gun, four AK47 rifle magazines, 586 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, 100 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition and one motorcycle.

The suspects are currently in custody for further action.

Equally, on same day, following credible intelligence about bandit’s activities at Fegi Baza village in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, troops swiftly mobilized to the area and made contact with armed bandits. After exchange of fire, the gallant troops overwhelmed the bandits thereby neutralizing 2 of them.

Equally, within the period in focus, the Air Component of Operation THUNDER STRIKE neutralized several armed bandits in the Kuzo area of Kaduna State, as they attempted to move hundreds of rustled livestock through the area.

In another development, a notorious bandit leader named, Saleh Tururuwa and his associate Muhammadu Sani Magaji both of Illela village in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State denounced their membership to the banditry group and surrendered Ten AK47 rifles to the Katsina State Government.

In the Northeast zone, within the period, the Land Component of Operation LAFIYA DOLE under the subsidiary Operation FIRE BALL, conducted several robust operations.

Troops executed attacks on terrorists’ hideouts and repelled attacks on own troops’ locations. During the encounters, the superior firepower of own troops resulted in decimation of several BHT/ISWAP terrorist elements, Notably, between 7 and 8 November 2020, the gallant troops of 27 Task Force Brigade located at Buni Gari of Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State neutralized 5 Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists. In the course of the encounter cache of Arms and Ammunition were recovered.

On 8 November 2020, troops of 151 Task Force Battalion deployed at Special Response Area Miyanti in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State while on fighting patrol made contact with a pocket of Boko Haram elements. The gallant troops instinctively engaged them with heavy volume of fire and consequently destroyed their hideout. The troops further rescued one woman and 3 children unharmed from the criminals.

In the same vein, the Air Task Force of Operation LAFIYA DOLE neutralized several Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters and destroyed some of their structures, including a suspected fuel storage facility, at Tumbun Allura, a terrorists’ logistics hub on the fringes of Lake Chad in the Northern part of Borno State. The air raid was executed on 8 November 2020, on the heels of credible Human Intelligence reports as well as aerial surveillance missions which led to the identification of a command post as well as a suspected fuel dump, with large number of jerry cans and barrels concealed in make shift structures within the settlement.

The attack aircraft, engaged the location, scored accurate hits in the target area resulting in the destruction of the terrorists’ fuel dump. Several ISWAP elements were also neutralized as a result of the air strike.

In continuation of intensive kinetic operations against armed bandits and other criminals in the North Central zone, General Enenche said troops of Operations SAFE HAVEN and WHIRL STROKE conducted raids at identified criminals’ hideouts successfully. Notably, on 7 November 2020, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN conducted a dawn raid at an identified kidnapper’s hideout in Kasit village of Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

During the operation, troops apprehended a kidnapper and gang-leader one Mr Joshua Iliya. The suspect and his gang members were allegedly involved in some recent kidnappings in the general area.

Presently, he is undergoing interrogation to be handed over to the relevant prosecuting agency.

Similarly, on 8 November 2020, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN, acting on a tip-off, arrested one Mr Adamu Musa posing as a Department of State Services operative at Jenta village in Qua’n Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State. The suspect was subsequently handed over to the appropriate agency for further action.

Additionally, Troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI on 9 November 2020, in a follow-up operation, after the arrest of a gunrunner in Gusau, Zamfara State, arrested 4 suspected gunrunners named Daniel Ishaku, Musa Bala, Abubakar Umar and Mohammed Saidu at Jos Metropolis in Plateau State. The suspects had negotiated to sell some arms and ammunition.

One AK47 rifle and one magazine were recovered. Suspects are currently being held at Headquarters Operation SAFE HAVEN for further action.

In the South-South zone, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE have sustained the fight against crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal oil bunkering in the zone with significant successes. On 10 November 2020, troops of Sector 2 Operation DELTA SAFE, got credible intelligence on plans by vandals to move Shell Petroleum Development Company stolen pipes from Amabuluo Federated Community, Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State to an undisclosed location in Warri, Delta State. The troops immediately mobilized on a fighting patrol to the general area.

During the operation the troops arrested 10 crew men, a Tugboat and Barge loaded with 113 stolen pipes suspected to have been vandalized from the South Forcados Opukushi trunk line. The suspects and all recovered items have been handed over to the appropriate authority for further action.

Similarly, on 9 November 2020, Forward Operating Base IBAKA gunboats on routine patrol around Utan Iyata creek intercepted a medium size wooden boat laden with 72 drums of 300 litres with product suspected to be illegally refined AGO being transported to the Republic of Cameroon. The items and the 2 suspects are currently in custody to be handed over to the relevant agency for necessary action.

In another development, troops of 146 Battalion discovered and immobilized 2 reactivated illegal refineries containing unspecified litres of illegally refined AGO at Samkiri in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State. Additionally, troops of 29 Battalion intercepted 2 locally made boats conveying substance suspected to be crude oil along Ibaa/Rumuji Waterways in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Within the period, Operations CALM WATERS II and SWIFT RESPONSE have continued to record more successes. In this regard, about 353 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice and 48 cartons of Tramadol tablets containing 10 packets each concealed in 35 cartons were arrested and handed over to Nigerian Customs Service. Other items intercepted were one bale of used clothes as well as 850 litres of PMS.

General Enenche while assuring that the troops in all operations will continue to sustain the momentum in securing the nation and its citizens however called on criminals to turn a new leaf and embrace the relative peace in the country as the military will get to and deal decisively with them.