Nigerian Troops Sustain Raids on Bandit Camps in Sokoto, Benue

Nigerian Troops Sustain Raids on Bandit Camps in Sokoto,
Benue

In an intensified effort to rid the North West part of the
country of bandits and other criminal elements, troops of the Armed
Forces of Nigeria have continued to record successes, as combined
forces of 818 Battalion deployed for CLEARANCE OPERATIONS in
conjunction with troops of Operation SHARAN DAJI recently over ran
and cleared bandits enclaves in Sabon Birni and Dangulbi villages
in Sokoto State.

In a coordinated operation, the troops further raided and
dislodged bandit camps at Gobirawan and Gidan Garba forests,
killing 5 bandits while others fled in dissarray abandoning their
camps, following the superior fire power of the troops. The gallant
troops also recovered 4 Motor Cycles, 2 Ak 47 riffles and one
locally fabricated gun.

In a similar operation, troops conducted Cordon and Search
operations in some suspected hideouts in Zaki Biam, in Ukum Local
Government Area of Benue State. During the sting operation, troops
arrested suspected bandits who revealed their hideout, where troops
recovered 1 locally made rifle, a pistol, 3 shotgun cartridges and
1 stolen motorcycle.

In a separate operation also in Benue state, troops of Operation
WHIRL STROKE deployed at Agagbe in Gwer West Local Government Area,
last Thursday had a fierce encounter with armed herdsmen along
Azoom river bank. In the fire fight that ensued, troops routed the
herdsmen and recovered 3 locally made rifles, 1 AK 47 magazine, 27
rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and 1 machete. The troops are
currently on the trail of the fleeing criminals.

We call on members of the public to provide credible information
on banditry and other criminal activities in their localities for
proactive intervention by the security agencies.

ONYEMA NWACHUKWU
Colonel
Acting Director Defence Information
……..

THEATRE COMMANDERS CHARGED ON JOINT OPERATIONAL STRUCTURE

Theatre and Field Commanders have been charged to strictly
adhere to the joint operational structures to further combat
emerging security challenges in Nigeria. The Chief of Defence Staff
General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin gave the charge while addressing
participants at the just concluded Training Conference organized by
the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), held at the Main Auditorium of the
National Defence College, Abuja.

According to the participants who were mostly top echelon of the
military, strict adherence to extant joint operational procedures
and structures will boost further synergy and decisive defeat of
the adversary in the fight against insurgency, terrorism,
militancy, kidnapping, banditry and other transnational crimes.

During the DHQ Maiden Training Conference, participants
exchanged ideas on modalities to address lapses identified in joint
training doctrines, concepts, procedures and policies within the
Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN). This is with a view to further
enhance capacity development of the AFN to effectively tackle
current asymmetric threats bedeviling the country.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Defence (MOD), Mansur
Muhammad Dan Ali, who was the Guest of Honour, described training
and retraining as critical component essential to shore up
efficiency in any organization, especially, the Armed Forces. In
his words, “For the AFN, a training conference such as this is
crucial to the success of our efforts to maintain conducive
security environment for the economy to thrive”.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Mrs
Nuratu Batagarawa, the Defence Minister, commended the CDS and the
Service Chiefs for placing premium on improving the capacity of
military personnel, which he noted, is a primary factor in
determining the roles played by the AFN in the security of the
country.

The Honorable minister further expressed the Federal
Government’s commitment towards providing the AFN and security
agencies with requisite support, and urged the AFN not to relent in
the protection of lives and property, as well as securing the
territorial integrity of the nation.

In his remarks, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General
Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin stated that military operations were
among the approaches adopted by the FG to confront the security
challenges in the country. He added that the conference was part of
the AFN’s initiative towards addressing these challenges. The CDS
emphasized the collective resolve by the military and other
security agencies to ensure a safe and secure society for
social-economic growth.

The CDS catalogued some of the ongoing DHQ coordinated Joint
Operations to include Operations WHIRL STROKE, WHIRL PUNCH, DELTA
SAFE, SAVE HAVEN and SHARAN DAJI, describing them as so far
successful.

General Olonisakin urged all stakeholders to fully harness the
decisions of the conference in order to promote jointness in future
operations.

Addressing the participants earlier, the Chief of Defence
Training and Operations (CDTOPS), Major General LEO Irabor said the
Conference was intended to metamorphose into series of training
conferences that would be organized by the DHQ to standardize and
harmonize the training doctrines and operational concepts in the
AFN. General Irabor noted that the outcome of the deliberations
would indeed add value to the military institutions, both in joint
and combined training and operations.

At the Conference, a total of eleven papers were delivered by
erudite military scholars from the three Services and tri service
institutions of the AFN.

The lead paper titled “Joint Command and Development” was
presented by former United Kingdom Commander Joint Operations,
Lieutenant General Sir David Capewell (Rtd).

Dignitaries who graced the occasion were the Chief of Army
Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, Chief of Naval
Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas and representative of Chief
of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao, who is the
Chief of Training and Operations, Headquarters Nigeria Air
Force.

Others were former Chiefs of Defence Staff, as well as serving
and retired senior military officers.

ONYEMA NWACHUKWU
Colonel
Acting Director Defence Information
………………..

DHQ UNVEILS CDS ARMED FORCES AND SECURITY AGENCIES HALF MARATHON
CHAMPIONSHIP LOGO IN ABUJA

The Defence Headquarters today Friday 10 May 2019 unveiled the
official Logo for the Third Edition of the Chief of Defence Staff
(CDS) Armed Forces and Security Agencies Half Marathon at the
Defence Headquarters Conference Hall, Abuja. The official Logo
which is a new innovation added to the athletic event, was launched
alongside the star price which is a brand new SUV and a Hyundai
salon car respectively donated by Innoson Motors and Mujaf
Automobile Company, who are among the lead sponsors of the CDS Half
Marathon Championship.
While unveiling the Logo on behalf of the CDS, the Chief of Defence
Policy and Plans (CDPP), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Nurudeen Abiodun
Balogun, disclosed the theme for this year’s CDS Half Marathon as
“Together We Are.” This he said signifies unity of purpose amongst
security agencies in the country.

AVM Balogun recalled that the sporting event, is an initiative
of the incumbent CDS, General Gabriel Abayomi Olonisakin, with the
first edition held in 2017. He added that the championship aims at
ensuring the physical fitness as well as the promotion of
espirit-de-corps amongst the members of the Armed Forces as well as
security and response agencies. He pointed out that “sport would
foster cooperation and synergy, which further translates into
enhanced capacity for security agencies to combat security
challenges facing our nation.”

AVM Balogun stated further that the Half Marathon Championship
is one of the tools which the CDS is leveraging upon to further
enhance the existing cordial relationship amongst military
personnel and other security outfits in the country.

He expressed delight on the contributions toward the racing
event, describing the involvement of private and public
institutions as a testimony of the support and encouragement which
the stakeholders have hitherto shown to security agencies in the
protection of the country.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman Central Organizing
Committee of the Championship Commodore Nuhu Bala, disclosed that
this year’s edition of the Championship would take place on the 15
of June 2019 with eleven Security Agencies and the Armed Forces
participating and competing for laurells in the 21.5 km Half
Marathon.
He also indicated that the starting point is Kubwa, while the
finishing point is at Aguiyi-Ironsi Cantonment, Abuja.

Earlier, the Executive of Mujaf Automobile, Mr Ibrahim Abubakar
presented one of the star prices, a Hyundai Salon Car to the Half
Marathon Central Organizing Committee.

ONYEMA NWACHUKWU
Colonel
Acting Director Defence Information