actions
actions
Troops in Jos Arrest 7 Drug Peddlers, Confiscate Heaps
of Cannabis, Other Illicit Drugs
1. In line with our resolve to keep the general public duly
informed of the operations of the Nigerian military and other
security agencies, I will be briefing you this afternoon
accordingly. It will cover 24 July to 6 August 2020.
NORTH-WEST ZONE
2. The Armed Forces of Nigeria have continued the aggressive
clearance operations in the entire North-West zone of the country.
Within the period under review, troops in the Joint Operations Area
scaled-up kinetic and non-kinetic operations in the general areas
of Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and adjoining states leading to gradual
restoration of overall human activities in the zone. Recall that
the activities of armed bandits, cattle rustlers and kidnappers and
other sundry crimes hitherto made life unbearable for locals in the
afore-mentioned areas. However, through the concerted efforts of
Operations HADARIN DAJI, KATSINA, ACCORD and SAHEL SANITY, farmers
have returned to their farms while other economic activities are
gradually picking up across the zone.
3. Additionally, within the period under review, troops
continued to dominate the general area with clearance patrols,
aggressive fighting patrols, raids, ambushes and
confidence-building patrols. This is additional to several air
bombardments of identified bandits’ locations and hideouts, which
has made it possible for the conduct of farming and other
activities in the zone. These operations also resulted in the
rescue of kidnapped victims, recovery of rustled livestock, arrest
of suspected armed bandits informants and collaborators in addition
to the recoveries of large cache of arms and ammunition, among
others within the period.
SOUTH-SOUTH ZONE
4. Troops of Operation DELTA SAFE have intensified the fight
against crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal oil
bunkering in the region with attendant successes. Within the period
under review, Operation DELTA SAFE discovered and deactivated 25
illegal refining sites in Rivers, Cross Rivers and Akwa Ibom
States. Also, a total of 342, 000, 00 litres of product suspected
to be illegally refined AGO were impounded. Subsidiary operations
CALM WATERS II and SWIFT RESPONSE have continued to record
remarkable successes. The successes recorded within the period
include seizure of 141 x 50 kg bags of foreign parboiled rice as
well as arrest of boats involved in smuggling activities amongst
others.
5. As part of non kinetic activities, Nigerian Navy Ship DELTA
led a peace and reconciliation meeting with the stakeholders of
Gbaramatu Kingdom of Warri South LGA of Delta State. The peace
meeting was held following recent threats to disrupt oil and gas
infrastructure by the people of Gbaramatu Kingdom. Accordingly, the
Naval Base summoned a meeting with the key actors in the agitation.
The activists thanked the military for the timely intervention and
promised to tow the path of peace. The meeting was fruitful as they
promised to do all within their reach to forestall violence in the
area. They also solicited for the cooperation of the military in
providing security to the general area.
NORTH EAST ZONE
6. Armed Forces of Nigeria have continued to sustain the tempo
in the fight against terrorism in the North East region of the
Country. Between 23 July and 5 August 2020, own troops executed
various kinetic operations, including clearance operations,
aggressive patrols and Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance
missions, sustained air offensive operations as well as artillery
and aerial bombardments on BHT/ISWAP enclaves. As we engage in our
kinetic operations, we also consider non-kinetic engagements in
various quarters of the North East. Some of our non-kinetic
operations involve humanitarian operations, which Operation SAFE
CORRIDOR stands for.
7. Operation SAFE CORRIDOR is a Defence Headquarters led
non-kinetic multi-agency humanitarian operation established by the
presidency, designed to De-radicalize, Rehabilitate and
Reintegrated willingly surrendered and repentant Boko Haram
combatants. In addition to the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other
Law Enforcement and Security Agencies, 12 other Federal Government
Ministries, Departments and Agencies including NEDC as well as
local and international NGOs collaborate and support the Operation.
The Operation is guided by extant provisions of the Constitution of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended) and International
Humanitarian and Human Right Laws. It may be recalled that, in one
of our weekly press briefings, in which members of the Advisory
Committee of the Operation were present, we briefed on the purpose
and aim for which Operation SAFE CORRIDOR was established. We also
explained the processes involved in the De-radicalization,
Rehabilitation and Re-integration (DRR) programme.
8. It is highly desirable at this moment, to further explain
some key points about De-radicalization, Rehabilitation and
Re-integration (DRR) programme in order to allay the fears of some
members of the general public and reassure that, these individuals
were duly profiled and confirmed to be; low risk and not low risk
repentants, who were ascertained to be innocent and forcefully
conscripted to join the sects and are categorized as victims.
Additionally, monitoring mechanisms have been put in place to
monitor their activities in the society.
NORTH-CENTRAL ZONE
9. In the North-Central zone, troops conducted Civil Military
Cooperation (CIMIC) activities in addition to concerted
Reconciliation and Conciliation efforts in the form of
stakeholders’ meetings amongst the various ethnic groups in the
zone. These non-kinetic efforts were supported by ongoing kinetic
operations in the form of ambushes, raids, and clearance patrols at
various locations which resulted in appreciable successes within
the period under review. Notably, between 30 July and 1 August
2020, Headquarters Operation SAFE HAVEN commenced the survey for
the drilling of boreholes at Shimlang community in Mangu Local
Government Area of Plateau state and equally commissioned 2 other
solar powered boreholes at Messiah College and Gana Ropp
communities in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State.
10. Furthermore, between 1 and 4 August 2020, Headquarters of
Operation SAFE HAVEN, as part of Reconciliation and Conciliation
efforts, fostered several stakeholders meeting within the period
under review. Areas covered in this regard include communities in
Sanga and Jama’a Local Government Areas of Kaduna State, Barkin
Ladi and Bassa Local Government Areas of Plateau State. Meetings
were also held at Headquarters of Sectors 3 and 4 of Operation SAFE
HAVEN. All meetings were held with the leaders of the various
ethnic groups including Hausa, Fulani and Berom amongst others.
Issues discussed centred on habitual and peaceful coexistence among
the various ethnic groups. Similarly, Headquarters Operation WHIRL
STROKE held peace-meetings in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of
Benue State between the Ardo of the Fulani community and the Tiv
leaders in the general area. Discussions centred on peaceful
coexistence among them.
11. Relatedly for the period, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN
also conducted a drug raid operation on 4 August 2020. Accordingly,
troops in conjunction with police operatives and vigilante
conducted drug raid to Unguwar Mata and New Market General Area in
Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State following credible
intelligence on the activities of drug peddlers in the general
area. Troops arrested 7 suspects at the scene and recovered large
quantity of substances suspected to be Cannabis Sativa and other
illicit drugs. The suspects were subsequently handed over to police
for further action.
12. The Military High Command commends all the gallant troops of
the Armed Forces and personnel of other security agencies involved
in various operations across the country for their commitment and
professionalism. Troops are further encouraged to remain resolute
and decisive 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 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
6 August 2020