By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Nigerian military says its operations in different theatres across the country have led reduction in the spate of criminalities.
The military also said it has intensified aggressive posture against criminal elements in order to forestall their activities across the country.
Director, Defence Media Operations (DMO) Brig. – Gen.Benard Onyeuko stated this while briefing journalists on the updates of military operations in the country between 2 and 15 July 2021 on Thursday in Abuja.
He said, “The Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies will continue to forestall the activities of the enemies of our dear country. Thus we have intensified our aggressive posture to reduce the activities of criminal elements.
“We have also intensified intelligence surveillance reconnaissance operations in all theatres of operations and main criminals’ logistics supply routes to frustrate movement of arms and ammunition as well as other unlawful items to criminal elements using various NAF platforms.”
He however, said some of troops were killed and some others sustained varying degrees of injuries in the course of these operations.
According to him, troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI sustained the onslaught against armed bandits and other criminal elements in the North-west of the country.
“Land and Air operations were conducted simultaneously at different locations in Zamfara, Katsina, Niger and Kaduna states within the period. These include ambush operations against armed bandits’ at Galadi village in Zamfara state as well as stop and search operations along Isa – Shinkafi Road in Zamfara state; Sheme – Ruwan Godiya Road and Gurbin Baure, border between Katsina and Zamfara states.
“On 12 July 2021 base on credible and timely on the massing up of bandits around SUBUBU forest possibly in preparartion for an attack. The Air Component of Op Hadarin Daji despatched its NAF Platforms and engaged the bandits in a precision bombardment. Several armed bandits, motorcycles, camps and other equipment were destroyed.”
Speaking further, he said Between 1 and 14 July 2021, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE executed several operations against economic saboteurs and other criminal elements within the theatre of operations.
“Series of anti-crude oil theft, anti-illegal bunkering and anti-illegal oil refining as well as anti-smuggling and anti-militancy operations were conducted, at Egelebie – Jumbo Area in Rivers state, where an illegal refining site was deactivated and several metal storage tanks laden with large quantities of stolen crude oil were recovered,” he said.
