DEFENCE
Defence Ministry Restates Commitment to Nigeria’s Internal Security
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Ministry of Defence (MOD), has restated its commitment to supporting the Armed Forces and other security agencies in maintaining internal security and counter-terrorism operations in the country.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr.
Ibrahim Abubakar Kana stated this when the new Service Chiefs led by the Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Christopher Musa paid a familiarization visit to the Headquarters of the MOD in Abuja on Monday.While congratulating the Service Chiefs on their recent appointments by President
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Permanent Secretary urged them to join the Ministry to key into the vision of the President to restore internal peace in the country.
Dr Kana who reminded the Service Chiefs that the country is expecting a lot from them following their appointments further stressed the need for joint operations and synergy amongst all security agencies in the country.
“The insecurity and oil theft in the Niger Delta; the ministry of defence and the armed forces are committed to the mandate of the government that we shall continue to work as a team along with other security agencies to ensure peace in Niger Delta and drastic reduction of oil theft
“In addition we commit ourselves as the Ministry of Defence with the armed forces of Nigeria towards supporting other security agencies in maintaining internal security and of course counter terrorism in our country. The Service Chiefs we have here are veterans, tested and trusted, they have been on the war front therefore fighting terrorism and banditry is not new to them”.
The Permanent Secretary stated that the Ministry on its own is embarking on a series of programmes such as the reformation of the Armed Forces, assisting government in growing the economy, using the Nigerian Navy utilize our water ways to create employment opportunities for able body Nigerians and others.
Speaking earlier, the Chief of Defence Staff, emphasized that the military’s cooperation with the civilians is very paramount to the armed forces of Nigeria and called on all civilians to support the military in ensuring that Nigeria thrives.
General Musa said they were at the Ministry of Defence to show their commitment to the set goals of the ministry and expressed commitment to achieving the mandate of the President and Commander in Chief.
He assured the President and Nigerians of their determination to bring peace and tranquility in Nigeria.
“First and foremost let me use this opportunity to express my gratitude to the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria for considering us worthy of this appointment. We assure him of our complete loyalty. We all know the challenges we are facing and we are sure we are getting the best of support. Why we have the military is to protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria, both within and outside and we are putting everything in place to achieve that.
“We want to use this medium to appeal to all Nigerians to support the military. We are happy we have met the permanent secretary ministry of defence who has assured us of support and to the civilians, know that the military is for you , the armed forces are here because we have a nation and we will do whatever it takes to ensure that Nigeria thrives and we are going to respect human rights and be very professional in our approach”.
While pointing out that the Armed Forces of Nigeria was a discipline and Professional Institution, the CDS promised that the Military in carrying out its mandate would be professional with total regard for human rights and rules of law.
According to him, “Our operations will be guided by the rules of law, total regard for human rights, the Armed Forces of Nigeria belong to Nigerians, without Nigerians there can be no Armed Forces of Nigeria, So, therefore, we are appealing for the total support of the members of the Public the Armed Forces of Nigeria in carrying out the mandate given to us by the Mr President to restore peace to the country.
“God has been kind to us, I mean myself, the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff and the Chief of Air Staff, we have been together for a very time now and have been appointed by the Mr President as the heads of the nation’s Armed Forces, there will be no room for failure and we will not let the nation and the Mr President down.
”We grew up in a peaceful Nigeria and we are committed towards the restoration of that peace, we are going to put our heads together and put in our best, it is a task that must be done, with the co-operation of our Supervisory Ministry, the Ministry of Defence, though the Ministry is yet to get a Minister, we are indeed happy with the good working relationship we have been having with its Permanent Secretary Dr Ibrahim Abubakar Kana.
Other Service Chiefs on the delegation included, the Chief of Army Staff, Major General. T. A Lagbaja; Chief of Naval Staff,
Rear Admiral Emmanuel A Ogalla; Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal H.B. Abubakar, and Chief of Defense Intelligence, Maj. Gen. EPA Undiandeye.
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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