In the renewed effort to end insurgency activities in the country, the Armed Forces of Nigeria, AFN, and other security Forces in June this year neutralized 867 terrorists, arrested 1,638 suspected terrorists and other criminal elements as well as rescued 921 kidnapped hostages nationwide.
The Force Public Relations Officer, FPRO, Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi’ disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday at the Strategic Communication Interagency Policy Committee being coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA and hosted by the Nigeria Police Force, NPF.
The FPRO stated that during the period under review, the country experienced series of security incidents and that the Security agencies have consistently continued to grapple with threats from banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, and economic and financial crimes.
He pointed out that “Despite these challenges, the security agencies have demonstrated unwavering dedication to maintaining and preserving Nigeria’s territorial integrity and ensuring the safety of its citizens.
According to him, “The resolve and fighting spirit of our armed forces remain unshaken, leading to numerous successes across various theatres of operation.
He said that the troops recovered 894 weapons, 21,538 ammunition and denied the oil theft of an estimated sum over #5 bn (N5, 266,072,250.00) only.
According to him, ‘”the breakdown of recoveries of arms and ammunition are as follows: 313 AK47 rifles, 76 locally fabricated guns, 92 dane guns, 14,243 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 4,209 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 222 assorted arms and 3,369 assorted ammunitions.
“Others are 3,994,080 litres of stolen crude oil, 1,879,630 litres of illegally refined AGO, 29,275 litres of DPK and 26,900 litres of PMS amongst other items.
According to him, “On June 4, the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) eliminated 140 terrorists and arrested 57 others in Borno while the Nigerian Military reported eliminating 2,245 terrorists and apprehending 3,682 others in the past three months, showcasing the sustained and effective operations against insurgent elements.
” In a notable victory, a notorious terrorist was captured in Yobe on June 13. Further demonstrating the proactive stance of the security agencies, the Army announced on June 15 the deployment of 5,937 new soldiers to combat banditry, secessionist agitation, and other threats.
” The MNJTF also eliminated 70 terrorists in its ongoing Operation Lake Sanity 2 in the Lake Chad Basin in recent airstrikes targeting terrorist camps in Cameroon and Nigeria, the operation resulted in the killing of many terrorists and forcing others to flee into Chad. The operation also destroyed eight vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs) near Arinna Ciki and ammunition bunkers northeast of Malam Fatori.
” In Kogi State, security forces conducted an intense clearance operation, successfully intercepting and rescuing eight abducted Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH) students. Meanwhile, the Commander of the 6 Brigade undertook a strategic tour of remote communities in Taraba State, reinforcing the commitment to safeguarding lives in these areas. In a decisive two-day fighting patrol in Kaduna State, own troops engaged and neutralized five terrorists in fierce combat at Dantarau, Kajuru Local Government.
“This operation yielded a significant recovery of cache of arms, including AK-47 rifles, a fabricated submachine gun, AK-47 magazines, and a substantial quantity of ammunition, along with motorcycles and handheld radios.
” Operations extended to Zamfara State, where troops along the Gusau-Tsafe-Funtua road responded to a distress call, thwarting a kidnap attempt in Tsafe Local Government Area. In a fierce shootout, the terrorists were repelled, resulting in the rescue of four passengers and the recovery of weapons, ammunition, a motorcycle, and the vehicle involved in the abduction attempt.
“Additionally, troops in Zamfara State eliminated three terrorists and recovered arms and rustled livestock, while in Taraba State, they successfully cleared bandit forests, recovering valuable items. In another decisive action in Kaduna State, our forces neutralized a terrorist en route to commit mayhem during the Sallah celebration.
In the Maritime Sector, the FPRO said that security had been a focal point, with the Nigerian Navy taking significant steps to combat oil theft as the Navy destroyed 10 illegal refining sites in Bayelsa on June 27 and arrested two oil thieves on June 29.
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According to him, ‘these actions are part of a broader strategy to secure Nigeria’s maritime domain and protect its resources. The interception of N10bn worth of stolen crude oil on June 28 highlighted the scale of the issue and the Navy’s determination to safeguard national assets.
He added that during the time under review, the Nigerian Army also took delivery of two Bell UH-1″Huey” helicopters to strengthen its ability to provide air cover for troops battling insecurity across the country. The first batch of those two Bell UH-1 “Huey” helicopters, each equipped with advanced sensors to conduct various missions including reconnaissance, rescue, and medical evacuations, was received in June.
He added that, “similarly, Law enforcement agencies in joint collaboration have been proactive in maintaining law and order amidst the ongoing security challenges across the country.
According to him, “also, the EFCC chairman in response to public outcry over the video that surfaced online of officers assaulting a suspect while trying to effect an arrest ordered the arrest of the officers involved, underscoring the agency’s commitment to accountability.
” On June 28, four suspected illegal miners were apprehended in Anambra, showcasing the government’s unyielding efforts to combat illegal mining activities. The Federal Government has unveiled 350 additional operatives on June 14 to bolster mining marshals, demonstrating its commitment to tackling illegal mining activities.
” Only recently, the Nigeria Customs Service intercepted nine containers carrying offensive items, including arms, ammunition, and illicit drugs. 844 units of assorted rifles, 112,500 pieces of live ammunition among other contraband were intercepted at the Onne Port, Rivers State.
” The intercepted containers, laden with rifles and ammunition have a duty-paid value of more than N4 billion.
15. On June 26, the UNODC reported that 90% of tramadol seizures globally occur in Africa, emphasizing the continent’s pivotal role in the global drug trade. The police made significant strides, arresting suspects involved in the Ekiti killings and the mastermind of the 2012 Ado-Ekiti jailbreak on June 26.
” The fight against drug trafficking intensified with the NDLEA uncovering a “skuchies” factory in Ogun on June 17, leading to the arrest of the culprits. The NDLEA’s relentless pursuit of justice continued with the arrest of 150 drug trafficking suspects in Nasarawa on June 27.
” On 13th June, 2024, at about 3:00 pm, a team of detectives from the State Intelligence Department (SID), FCT Command acting on credible intelligence, arrested six (6) suspects who specialize in the sales of already registered sim cards to criminals who operate with other people’s identity to avoid being traced or tracked. Over 1,100 (one thousand, one hundred) already registered sim cards, three registration machines and other gadgets were recovered from the suspects.
” In the same vein, on the 7th June, 2024 Operatives of the FCT command arrested one Ikechukwu Didi 54 yrs, ‘m’ of Enugu State who specializes in gun running. Seven (7) automatic pump action short guns and a thousand (1000) rounds of live cartridges were recovered from him. Suspect will be arraigned in court soon.
” On June 30, 2024, one Nigerian and three Indian Nationals were kidnapped by unknown kidnappers at Ikenne area of Ogun state under heavy firing. They were later rescued unhurt by the Police while 2 of the kidnappers were neutralized after a fierce gun duel with operatives who stormed their camp. Recovered items include: 109 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 5 AK 47 rifles, Eight AK 47 magazines, Two cell phones.
” Equally, on the 13th June, 2024, operatives of the NPF-NCC arrested 3 suspects who hacked JAMB website granting fake admissions letters to candidates, which were used to secure admission into tertiary institutions and mobilization into NYSC illegally.
” The arrest also led to the recovery of 4 domain websites used by the suspects. The suspects have been charged to court while efforts are on to clamp down on other similar syndicate
” Tragic incidents were also recorded, such as the death of 19 individuals in a Kwara accident on June 15, attributed to excessive speeding. Efforts to combat human trafficking yielded results when nine Nigerian girls trafficked to Ghana were rescued and handed over to NAPTIP on June 16.
” The government’s response to these multifaceted security challenges has been comprehensive. Regular updates and briefings by security agencies have become a cornerstone of their public relations and communication efforts. These briefings aim to provide official narratives and counter misinformation, ensuring that the public receives accurate and timely information.
