The Defence headquarters said on Thursday that following the recent changes in the leadership of the armed forces with appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs, Nigerians should expect new modus operandi in tackling insecurity, particularly banditry, terrorism and kidnapping in the country.
Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen John Enenche who made this known this while speaking on the operations of the Armed Forces across the country, noted that it is fallout of the reorganization of military operations theatres in the country.
Recalling that the Service Chiefs on assumption of duty, immediately hit the ground running by conducting operational visits to the North East, Enenche said, “In this regard, the service chiefs led by the Chief of Defence Staff, Maj-Gen Irabor, commenced actions at all levels. These include carrying out strategic, administrative, and 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.
On clearance operations, Enenche said that troops of Operation Lafiya Dole had sustained onslaught against Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the North East noting, “Troops had in various encounters, destroyed more terrorists’ enclaves along with their logistics facilities and eliminated scores of fighters through ground and air strikes.
He also disclosed that troops had sustained the fight against banditry, kidnapping and other forms of criminality in the North-West and North Central through series of land and air operations.
In this regard he said, “In the North West Zone, “The gallant troops of Operation Hadarin Daji within the period 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.
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In the North East Zone, “Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole, on various occasions made contact and engaged some Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province criminal elements. In the various encounters, more terrorists’ enclaves were 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 North Central 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 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.
“On this note, we urge Nigerians to support our efforts in tackling security challenges confronting our dear nation as our collective efforts are essential in the fight against various security vices in the country.
“The Military High Command reassures the general public of its untiring dedication toward securing the country.
“Members of the public are enjoined to continue providing timely information on activities of criminals in their various localities to military and other security agencies for prompt and effective action,” Enenche said.
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