LAST week, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) gave an update on its counter-terrorism operations around the country. Briefing the media on the operations of the military in the year 2024, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major-General Edward Buba, revealed that troops deployed in various operations across the country in the last 12 months eliminated 10,937 terrorists, apprehended 12,538 and rescued 7,063 hostages. According to him, the troops significantly degraded the fighting capabilities of terrorists, recording 16,171 surrendered terrorist combatants and their families during the course of the year. Buba said that troops significantly degraded the fighting capabilities of terrorists, recording 16,171 surrendered terrorist combatants and their families during the course of the year. He also indicated that the military recovered 8,815 weapons and 228,004 ammunition and denied oil thieves an estimated sum of over N68.4 billion.
The breakdown of the recovered items is as follows: “4,332 AK47 rifles, 1,244 locally fabricated guns; 838 Dane guns; 259 pump action guns; 128,496 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, and 45,445 rounds of 7.62mm NATO. Others are 5,103 cartridges, 2,131 assorted arms and 29,176 assorted ammunition.” In the North-East, he said, men of Operation Hadin Kai neutralised 3,151 terrorists, arrested 2,503 suspects and rescued 1,605 kidnapped hostages within the year. They also recovered 1,802 AK47 rifles, 446 fabricated rifles; 438 Dane guns; 378 assorted arms; 42,439 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 16,336 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 12,429 assorted ammunition in the North-East.
That is not all. In the North-Central, the troops of Operations Safe Haven and Whirl Stroke neutralised 1,047 violent extremists, arrested 3,001, and rescued 1,782 kidnapped hostages. Buba said that the troops also recovered 549 AK-47 rifles, 321 fabricated guns; 629 assorted arms; 19,577 rounds of 7.62mm special, 2,962 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 4,084 assorted ammunition. In the North-West, the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji neutralised 2,906 terrorists, arrested 1,826 suspects and rescued 2,616 kidnap hostages. According to him, the military recovered 1,450 AK-47 rifles, 477 fabricated guns; 576 assorted arms, 31,999 rounds of 7.62mm special; 14,960 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 6,564 assorted ammunition.
In the South-South, troops of Operation Delta Safe neutralised 78 terrorists, arrested 2,357 persons involved in crude oil theft and rescued 93 kidnapped hostages. They also blocked oil thieves from stealing 56.2 million litres of crude oil, 9.7 million litres of AGO; 95,595 litres of DPK and 156,527 litres of PMS. This was in addition to recovering “538 assorted weapons; 13,198 assorted ammunition; destroyed 2,019 wooden boats and 2,612 illegal refining sites.” Regarding the South-East, Buba said troops of Operation UDO KA sustained the momentum in finding, flushing out and destroying IPOB /ESN terrorists at locations in which they hibernate. They also intercepted and arrested several IPOB/ESN terrorists, collaborators; gun runners and informants, as well as neutralised 734 terrorists; arrested 974 suspects and rescued 372 kidnapped hostages. “Additionally, troops seek to continue to heighten collaboration with neighbouring countries and regional bodies in order to tackle the menace of terrorism. Importantly, troops on the battlefield are in high spirits, fully committed, devoted, and believe in the justness of the cause. On the whole, the war is not for the armed forces alone, but for all citizens. The military, therefore, urges for more citizens’ support in order to win the war,” Buba surmised.
We appreciate the efforts of the military to contain terrorism and terrorist proclivities in the country. In particular, we appreciate the gallantry of the officers and men on the front lines in the face of hardship. No doubt, men of the Armed Forces have endured a lot of pain in their effort to rid the country of terrorists, and indeed many have paid the supreme price already. Their sacrifices must never be forgotten. That said, however, we urge the officers and men of the various forces to do more so that Nigerians can be truly safe from the clutches of outlaws. At the moment, terrorists still control vast swathes of Nigerian territory, particularly in the northern part of the country where they impose sundry levies on farmers and mete out the death penalty to defaulters; behead men before their wives and take those wives as sex slaves, and set vast networks of villages on fire in fits of bestial rage. Indeed, the activities of the terrorists are so daring and extensive that many local populations have come to accept them as an alternative government. In recent times, people were recently slaughtered in Benue, and the situation in Imo, Anambra, among others, is terribly bad. This has to change.
The military should buckle down, buoyed by a renewed sense of patriotism and dedication to the Nigerian cause. On its part, the government should always prioritise the welfare of the officers and men of the military. In this regard, it is noteworthy that President Bola Tinubu recently approved a new pay package for the Armed Forces. Beyond that, though, the government should strive to equip the military with the hardware that it needs to excel while ensuring that corruption within the services is fought to a standstill.
At this very moment, members of the Nigerian military are getting shot at so that their compatriots can, as they say, sleep with their two eyes closed. We are deeply appreciative of their efforts and wish them great success as they strive to fulfill their constitutional mandate.
