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The onslaught against
insurgents may have attracted another dimension as the Air Component of
Operation Hadarin Daji has killed no fewer than 200 armed bandits in multiple
airstrikes in Katsina and Zamfara.
The Coordinator, Defence
Headquarters Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche who confirmed this on
Sunday in Abuja a statement, also assured that the offensive operations to rid
the country of bandits and other criminal elements would remain on course.
Enenche said that close to
200 bandits were killed in multiple airstrikes conducted at Ibrahim Mai’Bai’s
Camp in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina and Kurmin Kura in Zurmi in
Zamfara on May 22 and May 23.
He said the airstrikes were
executed, following confirmation that the two locations were being used as
hideouts for some bandit leaders while also serving as collection points for
rustled cattle.
According to him, the air
component, employing Nigerian Air Force ground attack aircraft and helicopter
gunships, engaged the two locations in multiple passes, destroying makeshift
structures in the camps as well as killing bandit leaders and their fighters.
“Human Intelligence sources
later confirmed that close to 200 armed bandits were killed in the airstrikes
at the target locations.
Also read: Military kills 135 bandits in air raids in
Katsina, Zamfara
“The Chief of Air Staff
(CAS) commends the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji for their
professionalism and directs them to remain resolute toward eradicating all
armed bandits.
“The CAS has also directed
that additional assets be deployed to cover Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa and Kogi
States to frustrate any attempt of the bandits to relocate to adjoining
states,” he said.
In a related development,
the Nigerian Army said it actually eliminated over 1,015 Boko Haram terrorists
in different encounters with the insurgents in the Northeast between April 4,
2020 till date.
The Chief of Army Staff
(COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai disclosed this on Sunday when he hosted the
troops of Operation Lafiya Dole to Eid-El-Fitr luncheon at Military Control and
Command Centre in Maiduguri.
Buratai said that the
insurgents were neutralised since his arrival in the Theatre to lead the troops
under Operation KANTANA JIMLA within the period under review.
He said that some of the
notable encounters since the commencement of Operation include: that of Buni
Gari, Gaidam, Minok, Dapchi, Baga, Dikwa, Awulari, Ajiri, Pulka, Ngoshe, Alafa
and different parts of Sambisa Forest as well as Gajiganna.
He explained that the
Artillary’s airstrike and blockage operations conducted by troops at the
Tumbuktu Triangles around Sambisa has been greatly successful.
He said that the troops
succeeded in dislodging major camps of the terrorists at Mungusum, Gajirin,
Talala, Buk, and Malumti among others under the operation.
“Hundreds of terrorist
fighters have been neutralised in this different camps as confirmed by the
force and captured terrorists while trying to escape the operations.
“Many more hundreds have
been injured and are hiding in the forest with serious wounds.
“This explains why the
terrorist have resulted to desperate attacks on towns and villages such as
Babangida, Dapchi searching for medical supplies and other logistics to treat
their injured colleagues, who are dying like foul in the forest.
“Overall, since my arrival
here in the Northeast on the 4th of April this year, you gallant troops of
operation Lafiya Dole have neutralised over 1,015 Boko Haram terrorists.
“Also, you have impressively
maintained the blockage of Boko Haram logistics supply chains and freedom of
movement within the Tumbuktu Triangles.
“In a light manner, the
Nigerian army intelligence core has impressively been organised and its
operations has greatly improved.
The Chief of Military
Intelligence Team, through covert Operations have arrested 84 Boko Haram/ISWAP
logistics suppliers, informants and curriers.
According to him, this has
greatly disrupted their logistics supply chain and communication network,
thereby tightening the blockage around them.
“It is also gratifying to
note that officers and men of the Nigerian army, fighting in close support with
the combatant personnel of the Nigeria Navy Special Force Services and the
gallant pilots of the Nigerian Airforce, have consistently disrupted the terrorists
moves and done well in neutralising them,” he said
The COAS said it had also
sustained some casualties while others sustained injuries while executing the
operations.
“We pray for the departed
souls even as you continue to look after injured ones to the best available
standard,” he said.
He charged the troops to
collectively match ahead without fear, put ahead without hesitation, strike
ahead without holding back to end the war and secure the country once and for
all.
“Like all other sectors in
the country, the Nigerian army has its own share of some Challenges. This
inadequacies of recent times has further compounded by the global lockdown
occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has to some extend delayed the
arrival and delivery of some of our much needed military equipment.
“However, our good foresight
as examplified in the investment in the local production of the Ezegwu,
Concoror and the Champion Mrap, alongside other notable efforts that are
proffiting some of our old equipment by the Command Engineering Depot and the
Special Vehicle Plant and the Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria, have
assisted in sustaining our operations thus far.
“We have also embarked on
special recruitment sub commissioning exercise to carter for our manpower
challenges.
“We are restructuring our
forces to enable them fight better within the dictates of the new assymetric
warfare we are encountering today.
“In this regards, in the
four Special Forces Command, we have trained Special Brigades and Special Forces
Battalions, which have been established. Two of these battalions recently
completed the special forces training and have been inducted into this Theatre.
“It is expected that the
effects of their specialised training and modes of operations would be felt
across the Theatre in the days to come.
“Therefore, what remained is
our collective efforts as a nation and as officers and men to make good use of
this platforms to end insurgency and other forms of criminalities across the
country.
“The Nigerian army on it
part remained focused in dealing with the insurgency and other forms of
criminalities in the country and will not allow itself to be distracted from
unpatriotic elements in the society.
“I commend the support and
sacrifices of each and every one of us, especially those who have paid the
supreme sacrifice. I charged you all never to allow the sacrifices of our
fallen heroes to be in vain,” said Buratai.
In his remarks, Gov.
Babagana Zulum, acknowledged the tremendous success recorded by the Nigerian
military during the last two months and prayed to God to give the troops more
strength, wisdom, courage, long life and productivity to fight the insurgency.
Zulum, who described the
Eid-El-Fitr celebration as month of devotion, sacrifice and spiritual rejuvenation,
noted that lessons learnt from fasting include: patient, perseverance,
devotion, sacrifice and resilient.
“I want to express our
appreciation to those that are here and to the COAS, and other high ranking
military officers for the enormous support that you have been rendering toward
protecting the lives and property of the displaced communities of Borno state.
The governor noted that the
security architecture has to be motivated for greater efficiency and
productivity, and pledged his administration commitment toward supporting the
military to succeed in the counter terrorism campaign.
Credit: maritimefirstnewspaper.com
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