As Nigeria continues to battle insecurity, the armed forces have vowed not to relent in its offensive against insurgency until peace is restored in every part of the country.
The Director, Defence Media Operations while giving updates to newsmen in Abuja on the efforts of troops, from 1st to 20th May 2021 noted that despite the plans and efforts of the criminal elements to perpetrate nefarious activities so as to discredit the efforts of security forces, it will in no way deter the armed forces from sustaining the tempo of its operations across the country.
He said;
The combined efforts of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies demonstrate our commitment, synergy, and determination to lay down our lives to protect our great Nation. We will continue to sustain the offensive posture and will not relent until peace is restored to every troubled zone in Nigeria.
Within the period in focus, the troops were said to have neutralized scores of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists, bandit leaders as well as ESN commanders. In the course of the encounter, several kidnapped victims were rescued while bandit kidnappers, informants, and collaborators in different parts of the country were arrested
The Defence Media director added that:
For Land operations, our gallant troops have been actively engaged in constant clearance patrols, ambush, raid, picketing, cordon, and search operations as well as artillery bombardments. In the maritime environment, troops conducted various operations involving anti-piracy, anti-illegal oil bunkering, anti-crude oil theft, anti-pipeline vandalism, and anti-smuggling operations. Moreover, the Air Component conducted comprehensive air operations, which included air patrols, Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions, offensive air strikes, air interdictions, search and rescue operations as well as close air support for ground troops. As a result of these operations, our troops neutralized scores of terrorists and bandits including senior BHT/ISWAP and ESN commanders as well as major bandit leaders. Similarly, many of their fighters were incapacitated and their camps destroyed through artillery and air bombardments. Additionally, troops rescued several kidnapped victims and arrested bandits/kidnappers informants, and collaborators in different parts of the country.
In the maritime domain, the gallant troops were reported to have disrupted smuggling activities, immobilized illegal refining sites, arrested some perpetrators, seized illegally imported rice and other contraband goods as well as recovered petroleum products. But some of its personnel paid the supreme price in the course of these operations. The Military high command however while commending the gallant troops of the Armed Forces and personnel of other security agencies involved in various operations across the country for their resilience and commitment once again called on members of the public to support the armed forces of Nigeria by providing credible and 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 as security is everyone’s concern.
