Exercise
Nigerian Military Reacts to US Africom’s Warning on
Terrorists’ Movement
GENERAL UPDATE ON ARMED FORCES OF NIGERIA OPERATIONS FROM 6
AUGUST TO 12 AUGUST 2020
Going by the routine of the Directorate of Defence Media Operations
to regularly update the general public, my briefing will cover the
last one week from 6 August to 12 August 2020. It will highlight
the operational activities of the Nigerian Military and other
security agencies engaged in various operations across the
Country.
2. For the week under review, the overall outlook shows enhanced
effort by the security forces with a commensurate degraded action
on the part of the enemies of the Nation. This positive signal is
connected to the directive by the Commander in Chief to the Armed
Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies tackling the various
security challenges in the Country to do more.
NORTH-CENTRAL ZONE
3. In a bid to curb the recent attacks and isolated killings in
Southern Kaduna, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN have continued to
intensify efforts aimed at securing the lives and property in the
general area. Particularly, Special Operations Forces have been
deployed to the Joint Operations Area covering the various flash
points. This move is expected to achieve the desired result with
the provision of credible and actionable intelligence specifically
from primary sources. In this regard, the locals are requested to
cooperate with the security agencies by availing them with the
required information that will be useful to our collective
objective of taking out the criminals from the area.
NORTH-WEST ZONE
4. Troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI have continued the aggressive
clearance operations in the entire North-West zone of the country.
For the past one month we have witnessed downward trend in the
activities of armed bandits and cattle rustlers in the general
areas of Katsina, Kebbi, Zamfara, Sokoto and adjoining states. Most
of these criminal elements have been decimated. Gradually there is
restoration of human activities in the zone. Farmers have returned
to their farms while other economic activities have picked up
across the zone.
5. The troops have continued to dominate the general area with
clearance patrols, aggressive fighting patrols and
confidence-building patrols. The High Military Command
congratulates the troops for the feat recorded and encourages the
good people of the zone to continue to provide credible information
to the troops.
SOUTH-SOUTH ZONE
6. Troops of Operation DELTA SAFE have intensified the fight
against crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal oil
bunkering in the zone with significant successes. Within the period
under review, Nigerian Navy Ship PATHFINDER patrol team discovered
an Illegal Refining Site at Yellow Platform off Onne, Rivers State.
The site had 2 metal reservoirs laden with an estimated 314.49
barrels of crude oil and 90,000 litres of illegally refined AGO.
Accordingly, the site was deactivated.
7. Similarly, Nigerian Navy Ship DELTA patrol team located an
Illegal Refining Site along Lokpobiri in Burutu LGA of Delta State.
The site had 23 ovens, 15 surface metal storage tanks and 9 dug out
pits cumulatively laden with about 195,000 litres of products
suspected to be illegally refined AGO. Also, a speed boat laden
with 4 sacks containing unspecified quantity of illegally refined
AGO and 3 pumping machines, were found at the site. Accordingly,
the site was deactivated while the speed boat with its content was
recovered to the Base. The Armed Forces of Nigeria will sustain the
onslaught against economic sabotage. The general public is hereby
enjoined to continue to provide timely and credible information to
the troops.
SOUTH WEST ZONE
8. In the South West zone, Troops of Operation AWATSE impounded a
wooden boat with a sack containing 45 jerrycans of 25 litres, one
2.2 inches capacity hose of about 300 metres in length at Ibeshe
area. The items were evacuated to ATLAS COVE camp. Troops also
arrested a suspect in possession of some jerrycans of product
suspected to be PMS and at Abule glass. The suspect was handed over
to Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT patrol team. He is currently in
custody at the Base while arrangements are ongoing to hand him over
to appropriate prosecuting agency.
9. Troops have continued to dominate the general area with
clearance and aggressive patrols while maintaining surveillance to
rid the area of pipeline vandals and other economic saboteurs.
NORTH EAST ZONE
10. In the North East zone, the Armed Forces of Nigeria have
continued to sustain the tempo in the fight against terrorism in
the zone with attendant successes. Within the period under review,
gentlemen of the press you could attest to the fact that there has
been reduction in the number of incidences recorded so far from the
zone. That is an evidence of own troops overwhelming superiority
over the criminal elements which have drastically degraded the
operational capabilities of the BHT/ISWAP elements. Troops have
also sustained the clearance operations, aggressive patrols and
Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance missions, sustained air
offensive operations as well as artillery and aerial bombardments
in the theatre of operation.
11. However, in the theatre the attention of the Defence
Headquarters was drawn to the alleged activities of troops in Baga,
regarding dealings in livestock and farming. In line with military
procedures, it was investigated and found to be baseless. The full
details will be made available at the next briefing.
WARNING ON EXTREMISTS MOVEMENT
12. Sequel to the warning by US AFRICOM that extremists have begun
deploying several strategies to silently re-establish themselves
across some regions in Africa including the West Africa sub region,
the Armed Forces of Nigeria and all the relevant security agencies
is leaving nothing to chance.
Consequently, actions in place in this regard are being reviewed
to handle this all important intelligence appropriately. I am
directed to assure the general public that this is not a one off
but continuous effort as it were to ensure that the security
agencies are ahead of this evolving security challenge.
13. The Military High Command congratulates all the gallant
troops of the Armed Forces and personnel of other security agencies
for the feat recorded in various operations across the country.
Troops are further encouraged to remain determined and sustain the
tempo in curtailing the activities of terrorists, armed bandits and
other criminals. The High Command of the Armed Forces also
reassures the general public of its unwavering commitment to
securing the country for all human activities to strive. Members of
the general public are, as always, enjoined to continue providing
timely information on the activities of criminals in their various
localities to the nearest military and other security agencies
location for prompt and effective action. Thank you.
JOHN ENENCHE
Major General
Coordinator
Defence Media Operations
Defence Headquarters
13 August 2020