Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Defence Headquarters on Thursday confirmed that non-kinetic approach was adopted to secure the release of the 23 remaining passengers abducted during attack on Abuja- Kaduna Train.
The Director, Defence Media Operations Major General Danmadami made this known at the Defence Headquarters bi-weekly press briefing, when feeding questions from journalists on troops activities and operational successes being recorded in the various operational theaters of the 6 geo-political zones of the Country.
He said the release was effected by the Nigerian military with other security agencies.
He said “In our operations, we tell you that, there are kinetic and non-kinetic operations. Non kinectic approach was used for the release of 23 remaaining victims. You didn’t know the trauma that those those adoptees and their family members must have gone into, looking for details now my equally subject them to trauma. And we want to assure you, those Terrorists involved will be neutralised soon”, he reaffirmed.
On the ongoing operations, he said that Troops of Operation HADIN KAI in the North East Zone rescued 2 Chibok girls by name, Yana Pogu and Rejoice Senki on serial 19 and 70 of the abducted Chibok girls lists with their children, rescued 12 others abductees in Borno.
“Troops also neutralized 246 terrorists, arrested suspected terrorist logistics suppliers, rescued 3 civilians while a total of 418 suspected Boko Haram Terrorists/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists, who claimed to have lost interest in the ideology of Boko Haram Terrorists surrendered to own troops at different locations with their families comprised of 44 adults males, 135 adult females and 239 children,”he said.
He also revealed that the air component of Operation HADIN KAI between 23 and 28 September 2022, carried out air interdiction operation at identified terrorists enclaves at Kolaram and Bukar Meram both in the Southern Lake Chad region of Borno State. The air strikes resulted in the neutralization of several terrorists with several of their structures destroyed.
“Troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI in the North West during operation troops neutralized 5 terrorists, arrested 7 terrorists and rescued 8 civilians, conducted precision bombing on identified notorious terrorists leaders Gwaska Dankaramis camp at Mashekari area in Zurmi Local Government Area and Sani Dangote Camp in Farara village in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.
“Following the airstrikes, a suspecte, terrorists leader identified as Dogo Rabe and 7 members of his gang were reportedly neutralized in the encounter while other fled in disarray”, he said.
“Troops of the Joint Task Force Operation DELTA SAFE in the South South Zone of the Country denied criminal elements freedom of action, essential to sustain a conducive environment for economic activities to thrive while ensuring a relative peaceful environment for the operations of IOCs and the protection of oil and gas infrastructures in the general area.
“The troops of Operation DELTA SAFE in the conduct of Operation OCTOPUS GRIP conducted operational activities at creeks, waterways, communities, villages, town and cities within Delta, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers and Rivers State respectively.
“82 Garrison troops raided a suspected Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network criminal hideout at Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State and arrested 8 suspected Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network criminals. They also recovered substance suspected to be cannabis, drug soaked in alcohol, 2 mobile phones, 2 ATM cards and the sum of Eleven Thousand Naira (N11,000.00) only.
“Troops of Operation AWATSE in a joint border patrol at Gbaji-Isahi-Badagry in Badagry Local Government Area intercepted a vehicle convening 350 50kg bags of foreign rice along Dangote-Ilaro road in Yewa Local Government Area of Ogun State.
“Troops of Operation DAKATAR DA BARAWO within the weeks under review denied oil thieves a total of Two Billion One Hundred and Forty Six Million Seven Hundred Ninety Five Thousand Four Hundred Seventy Two Naira Forty Two Kobo (N2,146,795,472.42) in the South South Region”, he said.
The military urged Nigerians to continue to provide prompt and creditable information on the activities of terrorists and other criminal elements, in their respective locality.
