Godsgift Onyedinefu The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has explained that ongoing military operations across the country to tackle terrorism, insurgency, armed banditry and sabotage of critical national economic assets, has recorded operational successes over the week. The Acting Director, Defence Information, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu disclosed this on a statement made available to journalists on Friday. He…
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Godsgift Onyedinefu
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has explained that ongoing military operations across the country to tackle terrorism, insurgency, armed banditry and sabotage of critical national economic assets, has recorded operational successes over the week.
The Acting Director, Defence Information, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu disclosed this on a statement made available to journalists on Friday.
He explained that successes were recorded against Boko Haram during the period. According to him, Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) attack on Michika Town in Michika Local Government Area (LGA), Adamawa state was successfully repelled.
He said: “The insurgents who were on a looting mission for logistics had attacked a bank and some shops in the area, damaging an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) and carting away food items.
“However, the insurgents ran out of luck when troops of 143 Battalion and 115 Task Force Brigade at neighbouring Lassa in Borno State mobilized to the area and engaged the insurgents in a fierce combat forcing the insurgents to flee.
“The fleeing insurgents were again ambushed and neutralized by Special Forces troops at Maikadiri Village in Askira Uba LGA of Borno State. The gallant troops recovered one Hilux van, two Toyota Starlet cars loaded with looted food stuff and motorcycles from the fleeing insurgents.” Nwachukwu explained.
He added that troops in Zamfara State arrested an “impostor” parading himself as a military officer in Tundun Wada area of Gusau metropolis in Zamfara State.
He revealed that the suspect who identified himself as Abdulresheed Sylvester was arrested while dressed up in military uniform with the rank of Major.
On the issue of banditry in the North Central part of the country, the DDI explained that Operation WHIRL STROKE conducted a raid operation on a suspected armed bandits camp at Dogo Gawa, a border community between Takum in Taraba State and Katsina-Ala in Benue State.
He said a shootout ensued, and tje bandits were overpowered by the superior firepower of the troops causing them to flee and abandoning their camp.
He added that the troops recovered one locally made riffle, one laptop, two cellphones, SIM cards, ATM cards and a sum of Four Hundred Thousand Naira (400,000) and the bandits’ camp was subsequently destroyed by troops who are currently on the trail of the fleeing bandits.
Nwachukwu further said that troops of Sector 3 of Operation WHIRL STROKE deployed at Ondori in Doma LGA raided a suspected militia hideout at Abuja Ogor, a local settlement in Doma LGA, Nasarawa State.
He said during the raid operation, the troops recovered two AK 47 riffles with two empty magazines, one Clarion 5.56 Israeli Assault rifle mounted with a magazine.
He added that the troops arrested two armed bandits with two AK 47 rifles, three magazines and 126 rounds of ammunition in another raid operation, on bandits hideout in the same location.
In tackling the spate of economic sabotage of the nations key national economic asset, Nwachukwu said, “troops of 222 Battalion on routine patrol arrested two suspected pipeline vandals along Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) pipeline around Isoko South LGA of Delta State.
“The suspects were arrested along with a tanker truck and 8 motorcycles while attempting to vandalize a petroleum pipeline.” The DDI said
He further disclosed that the troops of Operation DELTA SAFE in a separate operation, conducted strings of operations to combat illegal bunkering and other related crimes in the Niger Delta.
He said: “During the operations, troops of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) DELTA and Sector 1 Operation DELTA SAFE, while on patrol at Iwhrekreka community in Ugheli LGA of Delta State uncovered and destroyed an illegal refining camp with 18 ovens, 18 coolers, 39 waste pits.
“Other items recovered include, 26 surface tanks and five pits cumulatively filled with about 750,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil.
“In a similar operation, troops of NNS PATHFINDER uncovered an illegal refining site at Alakiri general area in Bonny LGA, Rivers State.
“The vigilant troops recovered several tanks and pits filled with about 500,000 litres of stolen crude oil. Additionally, 600,000 litres of illegally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO) and two pumping machines were also recovered from the suspects.
“Some of the suspects arrested during the coordinated operations have been handed over to relevant prosecuting security agencies, while others are still undergoing preliminary investigation.” Nwachukwu explained.
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