The Military High Command on Thursday announced that military troops are being deployed in strength to assist the police in ensuring a smooth, off-cycle governorship election in Ondo State, scheduled for Saturday.
This information was provided in a statement to defense correspondents in Abuja by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, concerning military operations by the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies across various theaters of operations in the country as of Thursday.
The statement explained that the “troops’ presence is to ensure the security of citizens, enabling them to cast their votes without harassment or intimidation, while also deterring mischief-makers.”
It further noted that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is already involved in transporting sensitive electoral materials in support of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
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Regarding troop operations, the statement highlighted that troops “are on an offensive to crush terrorists in the Northwest and other parts of the country.”
According to the statement, “operations are being adjusted to confine these terrorists while also intensifying efforts to ensure the total destruction of all terror groups and dismantling of their networks.”
“During the week under review, troops neutralized 88 terrorists and arrested 228 individuals.
“Troops also apprehended 40 individuals involved in oil theft and rescued 181 kidnapped hostages. In the South-South region, troops thwarted oil theft activities, resulting in an estimated loss prevention of One Billion, Twenty-One Million, Four Hundred and Twelve Thousand, Nine Hundred and Fifty Naira (N1,021,412,950.00).
“Furthermore, troops recovered 84 assorted weapons and 2,393 rounds of ammunition. The breakdown includes: 34 AK-47 rifles, 15 fabricated rifles, 11 dane guns, 5 fabricated revolver pistols, 8 locally made pistols, 3 pump-action guns, and one magnum pump-action.
“Other items recovered include: 1,807 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 314 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 146 rounds of 7.62mm PKM ammunition, 77 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 49 live cartridges, 25 magazines, 2 Baofeng radios, 16 vehicles, 35 motorcycles, 27 mobile phones, and a total cash sum of N1,851,000.00, among other items.
The statement added that “troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 13 crude oil cooking ovens, 20 dugout pits, 73 boats, 25 storage tanks, and 59 illegal refining sites.”
“Additional items recovered include 3 barges, 7 speedboats, 73 drums, one tricycle, 5 pumping machines, 3 mobile phones, and 9 vehicles. Troops recovered 942,420 liters of stolen crude oil, 175,075 liters of illegally refined AGO, and 4,980 liters of PMS.
“Overall, troop offensives have significantly depleted the ranks of ISWAP terrorists in the Northeast, prompting a desperate recruitment drive.
“Similarly, terrorists in the Northwest have begun a recruitment campaign on social media. Troops are aware of this situation and are working with other security agencies and government bodies to thwart these plans.”
