DEFENCE
Banditry: Buhari Issues Fresh orders, says Bandits, Collaborators must be Crushed
President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered security chiefs to identify and crush heads of bandits, kidnappers and their local collaborators to restore confidence in the society
The president gave the order when he met the security chiefs at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday.
The National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Maj.
-Gen. Babagana Monguno, said the president gave the order when he met the security chiefs at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday.Monguno, who briefed State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, quoted the president as warning that his administration would not accept a situation where the security agencies are reactionary rather than being proactive in the fight against insurgents, bandits and other criminal elements.
“On issues of kidnapping and banditry – these menaces still persist especially in the North West and the North Central zones.
”Mr President has stated very clearly that this problem must be brought an end but using the traditional that the armed forces have been trained to deploy.
”Mr President has made it very clear to both the intelligence and operational elements that their first assignment will be to identify the leaders of these bandits and kidnappers and take them out in order to restore confidence in those areas.
”Mr President has said that he will no longer tolerate a situation where bandits and kidnappers are the ones dictating the pace and setting the tones and he will not also condone a situation in which our own operations are reaction rather than being proactive,’’ he said.
The NSA also revealed that the president had directed the service chiefs, the intelligence community as well as the constabulary forces to target those agents of disunity across the country.
He said such people had been creating chaos, disunity and disharmony among peace-loving citizens.
He said: “I’m also to send out a warning to those people who think they can continue to behave in a manner that undermines national security.
“Those people engaging in all kinds of underhanded, unscrupulous, mischievous and deceitful practices, people who are working with those that are in government, in particular, critical agencies of government.
“We have been able to identify certain areas that are weak and these areas have to be strengthened so that these characters who are engaging in acts that you can describe as outright acts of brigandage, people who are behaving in a manner that portends a lot of danger to innocent lives, have to be fished out.
“This is the directive from the President, I am to send a warning to those people who think they’re in close proximity with those who have the instruments to make the space easy for criminals, those people who think they have some kind of authority, who are engaging in all kinds of Hocus Pocus in all kinds of jiggery pokery or skullduggery.
“These people will be brought down to their knees.’’
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was attended by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, Chief of Army Staff, Lieut.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, Chief of Navy Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao.
Others were the National Security Adviser to the President, retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno, Director-General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi, Director General of the Nigeria Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rufa’s and the Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Adamu. (NAN)
The Minister of Defence, Mohammad Badaru, said he will be visiting military formations in Kaduna State, including Birnin Gwari and Kachia.
According to him, the visit is to commend the troops for their efforts and encourage them to maintain momentum in the fight against insecurity.
The minister made this known when he led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the Kaduna State Government House on Thursday.
He praised the state government, led by Gov.
Uba Sani, for its support, highlighting infrastructure rehabilitation, patrol vehicles’ donations and the provision of NYSC camps for troops’ accommodation.Badaru also lauded the collaboration between the state and federal governments, emphasising the importance of continued cooperation to tackle insecurity in the North-West.
Sani, while responding, reiterated the state’s commitment to bolstering security in the state
The governor highlighted the significance of the visit, saying that it allowed the finalisation of preparations for the launch of Operation Fansan Yamma, a new theatre command for the North-West and neighboring states like Niger.
He described the operation as a strategic initiative to address the complex security challenges in the region.
Sani lamented the devastating effects of insecurity on the North-West, which once served as Nigeria’s food basket.
He decried, ”But it now faces widespread food insecurity, poor access to healthcare, and educational disruptions.”
Sani, however, expressed optimism that the establishment of the joint military theatre would lead to improvements in these areas.
According to hi, it will also create a better environment for investment, economic growth, and the revival of key infrastructure.
Sani also urged the minister to review Operation Safe Haven in Southern Kaduna for possible restructuring under the 1 Division in Kaduna.
The governor also provided updates on the progress of Operation Safe Corridor in the North-West, thanking all the parties involved in its development.
Sani stressed the need for stronger collaboration among the security agencies and neighboring states to create a unified strategy against terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers.
He also called for a ‘Marshall Plan’ for the North-West’s development, with the newly established North-West Development Commission.
Sani stated that this would lead efforts to address the root causes of insecurity, including poverty and lack of infrastructure.
He also expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and the military high command for their support.
Sani also pledged to continue pushing for reforms that would strengthen security in the North-West and across Nigeria.(NAN
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says the troops of Operation Delta Safe destroyed 65 illegal refining sites across the Niger Delta region in the last one week.The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, made this known while briefing newsmen on the operations of the armed forces, on Thursday in Abuja.
Buba said the troops also discovered and destroyed two dugout pits, 58 boats and 39 storage tanks, 13 cooking ovens, 35 drums, one motorcycle, one tricycle, four speed boat and 13 vehicles during the period. He said the troops also recovered 789,200 litres of stolen crude oil and 64,950 litres of illegally refined AGO.He added that troops rescued one kidnapped hostage, apprehended 35 suspected oil thieves and other violent extremist as well as recovered assorted arms.According to him, the Air Component conducted air interdiction aimed at curbing security challenges, crude oil theft, and damage of oil and gas infrastructure among others.“During the operations, several illegal refining sites, storage tanks, reservoirs, barges and boats were destroyed,” he said.In the South East, Buba said the troops of Operation UDO KA, had meeting engagement with suspected terrorists, conducted raid, offensive operations as well as arrested violent extremists/IPOB/ESN terrorists in Anambra, Ebonyi and Imo States.He said the troops neutralised nine terrorists, apprehended 21 violent extremists and rescued 14 kidnapped hostages as well as recovered large cache of arms and ammunition. (NAN)
The Nigerian Army says its troops have eliminated eight terrorists and rescued 40 abducted individuals in a series of coordinated operations across the country.The army, in a post on its official X Handle on Monday, said the recent victories had further tightened the noose around the necks of unrepentant terrorists and their collaborators.
The post added that the troops also apprehended a notorious arms courier found with a large cache of ammunition, striking a major blow against arms proliferation by criminal elements. According to army, troops, acting acting on genuine intelligence on Sept. 28, conducted a strategic stop-and-search operation along the Lafia-Keffi Road in Nasarawa State.“This resulted in the arrest of a firearms courier and the recovery of 303 live rounds of 7.62mm (special) ammunition concealed in a bag.“The suspect and the vehicle were immediately taken into custody, and further investigations are ongoing to apprehend his accomplices.“In another operation in Kaduna State, troops executed precision strikes in the forests near Danmari and Saulawa villages in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area, where one terrorist was eliminated.“Additional engagements in Ankwa village of Kachia Local Government Area also led to the annihilation of two more terrorists and the recovery of a locally made firearm, 11 rounds of 7.62mm (special) ammunition, and a motorcycle used by the terrorists,” it said.The post also revealed that troops in an encounter with fleeing terrorists at Faayijiwa Fandanari village in Magumeri Local Government Area of Borno, recovered two AK-47 rifles, 61 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO), 51 rounds of 7.62mm (special ) ammunition, hard drugs and various supplies.It said the terrorists abandoned the firearms and ammunition after succumbing to the troops’ superior firepower.According to the post, further operations in Gwoza Local Government Area resulted in the neutralization of three terrorists near Ashigashiya village, while vigilant troops responding to credible intelligence, pursued and intercepted a convoy suspected of transporting logistics to terrorists at Gubio.“Three vehicles loaded with food supplies intended for terrorist camps were seized, and the sum of N2,400 recovered.“The efforts in Kukawa Local Government Area yielded another victory as troops, acting on intelligence, intercepted terrorists attempting to relocate abducted victims from Cijin village.“The terrorists fled upon sighting the troops, abandoning 38 hostages, including six men, eight women, and 24 children, who were safely rescued by the troops.“Meanwhile, in Yobe, troops responding to reports of terrorists extorting civilians staged a successful ambush in Sasawa village in Damaturu Local Government Area.“The troops neutralized one terrorist and recovered one AK-47 rifle along with a motorcycle.“The Chief of Army Staff has commended the troops for their bravery and relentless fight for peace. He also expressed gratitude to the citizens whose continuous provision of credible information has been instrumental in these successes.“The Nigerian Army remains steadfast in its mission to obliterate terrorism and safeguard the lives of all Nigerians,” it added. (NAN)
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