How our operations reduced criminal activities-DHQ

The Defence Headquarters has said operational efforts of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) in various theatres of operation have led to the reduction in criminal activities across the country.

Director, Defence Media Operation Brig.-Gen. Benard Onyeuko stated this Thursday, while briefing journalists on operational activities of the AFN across the country between 3 and 16 June 2021.

He said the operations includes ambush, aggressive figh ting patrols, air raids, sustained air Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance patrols as well as cordon and search operations, that they yielded successes in the period under review.

He said: “Considering our operational activities in the various theatres of operation as highlighted in the brief, comparatively there is a decrease in the criminal activities within the period under review.

“This is as a result of troops’ operational efforts to deny criminals freedom of operation and we remain resolute to take decisive and adequate actions to further abate terrorists and bandits’ activities as well as other vices across the country.”

He said several terrorists were killed in the course of the operations including one of their commanders named Umar Tela

“Between 3 and 16 June 2021, troops of Operation HADIN KAI conducted several raid operations and extensive air strikes, responded to distress calls as well as repelled and thwarted terrorists’ attacks.

“These operations were conducted concurrently in different locations in the North-east zone of the country. These include Damboa town in Borno state where air strikes executed with NAF platforms on 3 June, dislodged several terrorists and inflicted significant damages on their logistics facilities.

“Troops also repelled terrorists’ attacks on Damboa Town in Borno State on same day, where several fighters of the ISWAP sect, including one of their commanders named Umar Tela,” he said.

According to him, troops arrested some terrorists and kidnappers including the leader of a notorious kidnapping syndicate in the North-east Zone, a Chadian known as Mohammed Maki.

He said that troops also conducted non-kinetic operations which were aimed at building peace, trust and confidence amongst the locals.

He added that as part of the non-kinetic approach to addressing security challenges in the South-east, a security summit involving all stakeholders was held were far reaching decision were taken.

“The Minister of Defence Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi (retd), led a federal government delegation to Enugu for security meeting with stakeholders in the South-east Geopolitical Zone”.

“The minister was accompanied by the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbeshola and the Chief of Defence Staff General Lucky Eluonye Onyenuchea Irabor as well as representatives of the Service Chiefs.

“During the summit, a whole range of security challenges were discussed with all the Governors of the South-east states, religious leaders, traditional rulers, opinion leaders and other stakeholders in attendance. The discussions and decisions reached at the end of the Security Summit were far reaching and would go a long way in tackling and bringing peace to the region,” he said.