By Sumaila Ogbaje
Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai has commended the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole for its success in dislodging Boko Haram terrorists in Marte area of Borno.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Sagir Musa, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Musa said the air task force played a decisive role in the destruction of seven terrorists’ gun trucks during attempted attack on troops’ location in the area on Saturday.

He said the troops of Operation Tura Takaibango successfully laid an ambush against the terrorists when they attempted to attack troops’ location at the outskirts of Marte.

According to him, the Air Task Force played a commendable role in the destruction of seven terrorists’ gun trucks and decimation of unconfirmed number of the insurgents.

“The Chief of Army Staff hereby appreciates and commends the troops, especially the Air Task Force Operation Lafiya Dole for their heroic and patriotic actions which resulted in the successes recorded.

“He urged them to maintain the momentum and expedite actions to ensure speedy final defeat of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in Nigeria,” he said.

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole has destroyed a Boko Haram terrorists’ training camp with a suspected ammunition depot at Nuwar in Bama Local Government Area of Borno, Defence Headquarters says.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

Enenche said the air raids were executed Thursday after intelligence reports indicated that the cluster of huts and other structures in the settlement were being used to conduct combat training for the terrorists on a regular basis.

He said the Air Task Force dispatched an appropriate force package of Nigerian Air Force helicopter gunships for a night air raid on the location after series of confirmatory aerial surveillance missions.

According to him, the helicopters scored devastating hits in the target area which led to the neutralisation of several terrorists as well as the destruction of some of their structures.

These include the terrorists’ armoury, where multiple mini explosions were observed amidst the raging fire.

“Several other terrorists were taken out in follow-on attacks by the helicopter gunships.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria, operating in concert with other security agencies and stakeholders, will sustain the offensive against the enemies of our Great Nation.

“We shall not relent until peace and normalcy are restored not only in the North East but also in every other troubled region of our beloved country,” he said. (NAN)

By Kola Adeyemi

The Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) of police in charge of Zone 8, Lokoja, Mr Yunana Babas is dead.

The Acting Public Relations officer for the zone, Inspector Ruth Awi, confirmed his death to newsmen  in Lokoja.

She said that Babas, who was due for retirement in two weeks time died suddenly at the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja , at about 10:30 am on Jan. 14.

She said that the late AIG was in the office on Wednesday, Jan. 13, to attend to his official duty up till afternoon and later left for his house without any sign of illness.

Awi said that Babas later sent for the zones photographer to come to his house to come and take some photographs.

Awi explained that the photographer came back to the office later to inform them that he could not take any photograph because the AIG took ill suddenly.

Based on this information, Awi said that they visited the Babas in his house from where they took him to the police clinic at New Layout area in Lokoja.

She said that the health of the AIG instead of improving started deteriorating, a development which made them to rush him to the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja.

“We were all outside praying and hoping that he would come out when the news filtered out that the AIG has passed on ,” Awi explained. (NAN)

By Chioma Ugboma
The United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy (UNDEDSS) has pledged to cooperate with the Federal Government for peace and security nationwide.

Mr Tony Uranta, UNDEDSS Secretary General, who disclosed this in a statement by, on Friday in Lagos, said the decision was reached at the end of its 2021 first General Cyber-Meeting on Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that UNDEDSS, which is the think-tank and voice of the Niger Delta peoples, is made up of a coalition of civil and political pressure groups in the region.

Uranta said that the group is offering hands of friendship to the Federal Government, relevant State governments, security agencies and peoples of Nigeria, to expedite the restoration of nationwide to guarantee better life of all Nigerians

“The peoples of the Niger Delta resolves to partner all sincere governments and peoples of Nigeria to ensure national security and economic prosperity now, nationwide.

“Although Nigeria has many challenges and paradoxes, in this new age of a very deadly global plague and a national crisis of insecurity that’s threatening both the global and Nigerian economies.

“UNDEDSS believes that it is in the self-enlightened best interests of all Nigerians to work together, in sincere cooperation with all other Nigerians so as to attain sustainable peace, unity and prosperity,” he said.

According to Uranta, this is not the best of times for any sections of Nigeria to promote isolationism or populism; but, rather time for all to pull together toward being a country determined to let Justice, Equity, and Rule-of-Law be its fundamental premises.

“We recognise that there will always be extremists and nihilists seeking to destroy Nigeria. But we can and must, ensure that good triumphs over evil and do all we need to see that governments and peoples of Nigeria rise up out of this maelstrom to position Nigeria as the great nation we have always been destined to be,” he added.

By Ismaila Chafe

The Presidency has listed the achievements of the military in the on-going fight against insurgency and violent crimes as Nigeria marks the Armed Forces Remembrance Day on Jan. 15.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Jan. 15 every year is commemorated as Armed Forces Remembrance Day to mark the end of the country’s 30-month civil war which ended on Jan. 15, 1970.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, listed the achievements in a special write up tagged: “Security Checklist: as Nigeria marks Armed Forces Remembrance Day”, which was made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.

According to Adesina, as the milestone is marked this year, it also provides opportunity to chronicle current landmark achievements by the military in tackling security challenges across the country.

Adesina listed the achievements as:

INTERNAL SECURITY:

Boko Haram is much weaker today than in 2015 as attested to by the Governor of Borno on Dec. 6, 2020 when he said:

“From state-wide statistics on affairs in the 27 Local Government Areas since 2011, the fact is that in spite of recent happenings, the security situation in Borno State and indeed that of the entire North East sub-region is still far better under Buhari, and this is based on records.

“For instance, unlike the years before Buhari when a number of local governments were no-go-areas, we now have indigenes safely back to Gwoza, Askira-Uba, Dikwa, Ngala, Monguno, Kukawa, Damboa, Konduga, Mafa and led by our traditional leaders, which no one could have visited not to talk of living there.

“Our Emirs were all in exile. Today, Bama is coming back to life and so is Askira-Uba, Damboa, Gwoza and others. Life is even returning to Baga. This was impossible before Buhari.

“In fact, it was not possible to move few kilometres out of Maiduguri. Insurgents were so bold to attack and take over military facilities, like the Army Barracks at Monguno, Bama, Giwa Barrack and Multinational Joint Task Force Headquarters at Baga, to mention just a few.

“There were daily bomb blast in many parts of Maiduguri, the most populated part of the state, but all these have stopped under President Buhari. These are the records and no one can dispute them.”

HIGHLIGHTS OF DEFENCE HEADQUARTERS-COORDINATED OPERATIONS – 18 MARCH TO 30 DECEMBER, 2020:

The Armed Forces of Nigeria from March 18 to Dec. 30, 2020 neutralised 2,403 criminal elements (terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, cattle rustlers, etc.) across the country.

This is in addition to scores of other terrorists and armed bandits killed during air strikes.

Troops also rescued a total of 864 kidnapped victims across the country.

In addition, a total of 9,684,797 litres of stolen diesel and 33,516,000 litres of kerosene were recovered.

Equally, 1,910 criminal elements were arrested and large cache of arms, ammunition and equipment were recovered during the period.

Furthermore, a total of 46,581.8 barrels of stolen crude oil and 22,881,257 litres of stolen petrol were recovered by the troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

Sectorial Breakdown of March to December 2020 — Military Successes:

North-West:

Five thousand, two hundred and eighty-one livestock, 6,951 rounds of ammunition and 120 assorted rifles were recovered from bandits by the gallant troops in the zone. 455 kidnapped victims were rescued and 473 armed bandits killed. 461 arrests were made in the zone including high profile bandits, gun runners and bandits’ collaborators, while a total cash of N6,365,550 was recovered from bandits and their informants.

North-East:

Two hundred kidnapped victims rescued by troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE. A total of 1,385 rounds of ammunition, 45 grenades as well as 95 assorted rifles were recovered from BHT/ISWAP fighters.

In addition, several gun trucks were captured, while some others were destroyed during air strikes. 1,805 insurgents/terrorists including commanders were killed by troops aside scores killed through air raids/attacks. Additionally, within the period, 79 arrests were made including high value targets.

North-Central:

Troops of Operations SAFE HAVEN, WHIRL STROKE and THUNDER STRIKE rescued 130 kidnapped victims, and 105 assorted rifles as well as 513 rounds of ammunition and 1,055 rustled cattle were recovered from armed bandits and other criminal elements in the Zone.

1,250 criminals including family members of the Darul Salam sect were arrested within the period.

Furthermore, troops neutralised 125 bandits including militia gang leaders.

South-South:

A total of 8,890,300 litres of stolen diesel and 33,516,000 litres of kerosene were impounded by troops of Operation DELTA SAFE.

Troops immobilised 185 illegal refining sites, 85 dugout pits and 163 metal storage tanks within the period.

Additionally, troops impounded 31,236.8 barrels of stolen crude oil as well as 12,272,652 litres of stolen petrol from oil thieves in the Zone.

Also, 47 kidnapped victims were rescued, while 72 vandals and criminals were arrested. A total of 4,250 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled smuggled rice were impounded and 45 boats engaged in illegal activities were impounded.

Troops also arrested 53 pirates, impounded 25 trucks and recovered 23 rifles, 65,330 rounds of ammunition and destroyed 23 pirate camps.

South-West:

Troops of Operation AWATSE in the South-West Zone between 18 March and 30 December 2020, impounded 10,458,600 litres of petrol; 15,345 barrels of stolen crude oil and 345,000 litres of stolen diesel.

Additionally, troops recovered 3,594 rounds of ammunition and 14 assorted rifles. Also, within the period, 23 illegal refining sites were immobilised, while 15 boats and 23 trucks engaged in illegal activities were impounded.

In the same vein, within the period 35 kidnap victims were rescued, while 48 arrests were made.

NORTH-EAST SECURITY ACHIEVEMENTS, 2015-2020

Specifically, in the Northeast, the Armed Forces have since 2015 recorded significant achievements in the fight against terrorism. The first actions of the Buhari Administration in that regard were:

Revitalisation of the Multi-National Joint Task Force comprising Nigeria and her neighbours; Relocation of the Military Command and Control Centre to Maiduguri in June 2015 and Launch of Operation Lafiya Dole in July 2015.

Since then, several towns and villages have been reclaimed from Boko Haram; thousands of hostages have been freed from terrorists’ enclaves, and tens of thousands of displaced persons have been resettled.

Several Boko Haram leaders have been killed or arrested, and the arrest of Khalid al-Barnawi of the Ansaru splinter cell brought an end to the terrorists’ tight grip on North Central Nigeria.

The Federal Government is investing heavily in military hardware, including 23 new aircraft that have already been delivered and inducted into service, while another 18 manned aircraft and eight Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs) are being awaited, in 2021/2022. This is in addition to attack boats, patrol vessels, armoured tanks and so on.

The Army established ‘Special Mobile Strike Teams’ in the Northeast, while the Air Force has established or is establishing new bases in various parts of the Northwest and North Central (Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, Zamfara, Kaduna, and Katsina).

Here is a selection of significant developments that show the progress in Borno State and the Northeast:
El-Kanemi Warriors Football Club returned to their home base in Maiduguri in April 2016, two years after relocating to Katsina State because of insurgency.

Public secondary schools resumed in Borno on Monday Sept. 26, 2016, after two years of closure.

Capture of Boko Haram’s operational and spiritual headquarters, “Camp Zero”, in Sambisa Forest, in December 2016.

Following this, the Nigerian Army conducted its Small Arms Championship from March 26 to March 31, 2017 in the forest, a measure aimed at enabling the Armed forces to dominate the area, and avoid regrouping by terrorists.

Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Borno State Chapter declared the 2017 Easter Celebrations as the best and safest since 2009.

Arik Air resumed flights to Maiduguri in May 2017, three years after suspending operations to the city.
Nigerian Military reopened Maiduguri-Bama-Banki Road in March 2018, four years after it was seized by Boko Haram.

Hundreds of thousands of displaced persons have returned to their homes and communities across the Northeast, since 2015.

Tens of thousands of hostages have been freed from Boko Haram captivity, including 106 of the Chibok Girls abducted in April 2014, and 105 of the Dapchi Girls abducted in February 2018.

HIGHLIGHTS OF OPERATION SWIFT RESPONSE (PARTIAL BORDER CLOSURE) AUGUST 2019 TO DECEMBER 2020:

Operation SWIFT RESPONSE, which was launched in August 2019 and coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser has now transformed into Nigeria’s Joint Border Patrol Team as part of a Tripartite Operation, comprising Benin, Niger and Nigeria.

1,401 irregular migrants arrested

Total seizures:

159,506.7 (50kg) bags of parboiled foreign rice; 10,447 bags of NPK fertiliser used for making explosives;
1,974 Vehicles; 895 motorcycles; 18,690.3 Jerry cans of Vegetable Oil, among other seized items.

The total monetary value of the seized items is about Twelve Billion, Five Hundred and Thirty Eight Million, Three Hundred and Thirty Three Thousand, Five Hundred and Forty Five Naira, Fifty Kobo (₦12,538,333,545.50).

2021:

NEW NAF BASES COMING TO KATSINA AND GOMBE

Nigerian Air Force has acquired land to be used as an Operational Base in Gwauruwa Village, Funtua, in Katsina State. The new base will translate into increased security coverage and reduced response times for effective air operations against bandits in the area.

Nigerian Air Force has commenced construction of a Base for its newly-established unit, the 203 Combat Renaissance Group (203 CRG), in Gombe. The Base will host some of NAF’s newly-acquired armed drones (UCAVs).

LAUNCH OF OPERATION TURA TAKAIBANGO IN YOBE STATE IN JANUARY 2021:

Operation TURA TAKAIBANGO was launched by the military as a subsidiary Operation of Operation LAFIYA DOLE on Jan. 7, 2021.

On Jan. 9, 2021, troops of Operation TURA TAKAIBANGO identified and encircled a Boko Haram ambush site in Gujba LGA of Yobe, killing 28 Boko Haram terrorists, destroying one Boko Haram Gun Truck with its occupants, while capturing another Gun Truck.

Also captured were 2 Anti-Aircraft guns, 13 AK 47 rifles, 4 extra magazines and a Vulcanising Machine.
LAUNCH OF EXERCISE “TAIMAKO YAZO”:

The Nigerian Air Force on Jan. 2, 2021, conducted a Joint Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), Special Forces and Air Police K-9 Simulation Exercise at Rijana Village along Kaduna-Abuja Highway.

The Exercise, codenamed “TAIMAKO YAZO”, was aimed at simulating tactics, doctrine and synergy amongst first responders for effective CSAR operations of downed aircrew or other NAF personnel who have had to eject or abandon their aircraft in emergency situations.

The ability to rescue crew from hostile environments is particularly important as it can be adapted for anti-kidnapping operations as was recently done by the NAF in concert with other security agencies in the rescue of all the 344 kidnapped boys of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, and Katsina State.

The Air Force will conduct a total of six of these exercises between January and June 2021, mostly in the Northwest, particularly in Zamfara and Katsina States.