Delta
Delta
Troops Rescue 17 Foreigners, 4 Nigerians Abducted by
Pirates in N’Delta
GENERAL UPDATE ON ARMED FORCES OF NIGERIA AND OTHER SECURITY
AGENCIES OPERATIONS FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST 2020
1. The Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies have
continued their major operations across the country with attendant
successes. The various operations have progressed satisfactorily in
all the theatres. In this regard, I will be updating you on the
operations in line with our weekly schedule. This briefing will
cover the month of August 2020.
NORTH-WEST ZONE
2. Troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI have continued to record
significant successes against the armed bandits in the North West
Zone of the country. For the month of August 2020, troops have
continued to exhibit continued resilience in the fight against
armed banditry, cattle rustling and other sundry crimes in the
zone. In one of the feat recorded, troops of operation SAHEL SANITY
deployed at Daki Takwas on 20 August 2020, conducted a snap road
block and intercepted a Toyota Corolla car with Registration
Number. DAL 41 MT. After a diligent search on the vehicle, troops
discovered 11 locally made rifles and 150 live cartridges concealed
in different parts of the vehicle. Preliminary investigation
reveals that the dangerous cargo was heading to Kofar Dinya in
Bukkuyum LGA of Zamfara State. A total of 5 men were arrested in
connection to the illegal fire arms. Also, a repentant bandit
leader named Bornon Kejo willingly surrendered to troops and
submitted 2 AK-47 Rifles and 2 AK 47 Rifle magazines at Zurmi in
Zurmi LGA of Zamfara State. Efforts are ongoing to recover more
weapons as well as encourage others to surrender and embrace
peace.
3. In another development, troops on 23 August 2020 conducted a
well-coordinated intelligence based operation leading to the raid
of an illegal mining site located along Gadan Zaima – Zuru Road in
Bukuyyum LGA of Zamfara State which also serves as bandits’
hideout. During the operation, 150 suspects were arrested and arms
and ammunition were recovered. Preliminary investigation reveals
that aside from sabotaging the nation’s economy, banditry is being
financed through these illegal mining activities. Similarly, the
gallant troops on fighting patrol encountered 3 bandits on
motorcycles around Maigalma village in Anka LGA of Zamfara State
while attempting to attack innocent residents. During the
encounter, one of the bandits was neutralized while others escaped.
Troops recovered one AK-47 Rifle, one AK 47 Rifle magazine loaded
with 5 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and two motorcycles from the
fleeing bandits. This is in addition to the neutralization of not
fewer than 20 armed bandits within the month of August in Katsina,
Zamfara and Sokoto States.
4. Relatedly, between 19 – 20 August 2020, 7 trucks loaded with
cattle suspected to have been rustled were arrested along Jibia –
Katsina road and Gusau – Zaria road respectively. Recovered cattle
and suspects were handed over to Katsina State Police Command and
Zamfara State Association of Rustled Animals for further necessary
action.
5. Within the period, a total of 155 bandits were arrested, no
fewer than 25 armed bandits killed and over 1000 livestock were
recovered in this zone of the country. These successes recorded
within the period are evident of the troop’s resolve, doggedness
and determination to end the security challenges in the North-West
zone. Presently, farming and economic activities have picked up in
the zone. The general public is hereby encouraged to provide timely
and actionable intelligence that will assist the troops in the
operation.
NORTH-EAST ZONE
6. The Armed Forces of Nigeria working together with other
security agencies have continued to sustain the onslaught in its
operations in the North-East zone. In the month of August, troops
of Operation LAFIYA DOLE conducted several operations ranging from
aggressive clearance operations to comprehensive precision air
strikes and air interdictions, including artillery and aerial
bombardments on terrorists’ enclaves. These operations conducted,
recorded attendance successes with scores of the terrorists’
leaders and fighters neutralized and their structures
destroyed.
7. Within the period under review, the Land Component of Operation
LAFIYA DOLE conducted offensives to several Boko Haram/ISWAP
enclaves in Borno and Yobe States. These cumulatively led to the
neutralization of 17 members of the BHT/ISWAP elements and several
of them escaped with various degrees of gunshot wounds. Moreso,
with superior firepower, the gallant troops repelled terrorists’
attacks on own troops’ locations and thwarted BHT/ISWAP attempts to
interrupt the resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons to their
communities in Borno State, which was flagged-off by the Executive
Governor of the State. Troops recovered large cache of arms and
ammunition as well as equipment during the operations and 4
abducted persons were also rescued. However, in one of the
encounters, 3 of our own troops paid the supreme prize. In the
meantime, other injured troops are recuperating at one of our
medical facilities. Nonetheless, calm has been restored to the
affected communities.
8. Meanwhile, the comprehensive air strikes executed by the Air
Task Force of Operation LAFIYA DOLE on terrorists’ enclaves at
various locations, especially with the launching of Operation HAIL
STORM, in the North East have yielded tangible results. The air
strikes which were conducted with a package of Nigerian Air Force
fighter jets and helicopter gunships, cumulatively, killed no fewer
than 111 BHT/ISWAP elements, including 15 of their high ranking
commanders which include the ISWAP naval commander Abu Imraana,
Mallam Abba and Mallam Ibrahim. This is in addition to several
others neutralized in the devastating air bombardments directed at
structures used by terrorists as hideouts and administrative
headquarters as well as training camps. Several BHT/ISWAP elements’
camps used as logistics bases and harbors for their fighters and
leaders were destroyed as well.
9. It is therefore clear that, troops of the Armed Forces of
Nigeria working together with other security agencies remain
committed and dedicated in their endeavor to end the fight against
the BHT/ISWAP menace in the North-East zone.
NORTH CENTRAL ZONE
10. In the North-Central zone, troops have continued to sustain
intensive clearance operations which have yielded remarkable
successes. Within the period under review, troops of Operations
SAFE HAVEN, THUNDER-STRIKE, WHIRL PUNCH AND WHIRL STROKE conducted
several ambushes, raids and clearance patrols at various locations
in the zone which resulted in appreciable successes within the
period under review. These ongoing kinetic efforts are being
supported by non-kinetic operations in the form of Civil Military
Cooperation (CIMIC) activities, Reconciliation and Conciliation
efforts in the form of stakeholders’ meetings amongst the various
ethnic groups in the zone, amongst others.
11. Between 1 and 30 August 2020, Operations SAFE HAVEN and WHIRL
STROKE conducted several non-kinetic operations across the
North-Central zone in line with the mandate of the Defence
Headquarters to foster cordial civil-military relations in the
theatre of operations. Within the period, Headquarters of Operation
SAFE HAVEN and WHIRL STROKE, as part of Reconciliation and
Conciliation efforts, fostered several stakeholders meeting amongst
the various ethnic groups co-habiting in the general area of
operations within the period under review. Areas covered in this
regard include communities in Zango-Kataf, Sanga and Jama’a Local
Government Areas of Kaduna State, Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Bassa
Local Government Areas of Plateau State, and Katsina-Ala Local
Government Area of Benue State.
12. Additionally, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN arrested a total
of 17 armed robbery and drug smuggling suspects during raid
operations at various locations within Plateau State including
Unguwar Mata, New Market General Area, Makera, Damakasuwa and
Rukkaya communities, amongst others. These successful operations
were conducted following credible intelligence on the activities of
the criminals within the general area. Similarly, troops of
Operation WHIRL STROKE neutralized a notorious bandit Mr Atsor AKA
‘smallie’ during a dawn raid at a hideout being used by armed
militia linked to wanted Benue militia leader Terwase Akwaza aka
Gana around Abaji in Katsina Ala LGA of Benue State. During the
operation conducted on 18 August 2020, troops recovered one AK 47
rifle and 17 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition during the
operation. Furthermore, the Air Component of Operation THUNDER
STRIKE equally neutralized several armed bandits at their hideout
in the Kuduru Forest area of Kaduna State.
SOUTH WEST ZONE
13. In the South West zone, Troops of Operation AWATSE have
continued to intensify the fight against pipeline vandals, economic
saboteurs and other criminal elements. In one of the operation
conducted, the gallant troops impounded a wooden boat with 45
jerrycans of 25 litres, one 2.2 inches capacity hose of about 300
metres in length used in siphoning petroleum products at Ibeshe
area. Troops also arrested a suspect in possession of some
jerrycans of product suspected to be Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at
Abule glass. Also, between 21 and 23 August 2020, Nigerian Navy
Ship BEECROFT patrol team raided the criminal enclaves at Corner
Loss, Ilado, Akaraba, Inagbe, Ikate Idi Mango, Abule Glass, Abule
Alfa, Ilashe and the sea side of Ikare. In the course of the raid,
a total of 30 jerry cans of 50litres containing PMS were recovered.
Although no arrest was made as the vandals fled the area on
sighting the troops.
14. 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.
SOUTH-SOUTH ZONE
15. Troops of Operation DELTA SAFE have sustained the aggressive
fight against economic sabotage in the zone with tremendous
successes. For the month of August, subsidiary Operation SILENT
HEAT was launched by Operation DELTA SAFE on 1 August 2020 for 90
days. The objective of the operation was to protect critical
installations, Key Points and Vital Points as well as combat all
forms of illegalities/crimes in the area. The operation is
conducted in order to maintain conducive environment for oil and
gas industries as well as other economic activities to thrive.
16. Since the activation of Operation SILENT HEAT, several
arrests and deactivation of various militant camps have been made.
Also, significantly, it was during the course of the operation that
on 19 August 2020, Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH intercepted a speed
boat with 13 foreigners made of 7 Russians and 6 Ukrainians alleged
to have been kidnapped by pirates in Lome waters. The 13 kidnapped
foreigners as well as 4 Nigerians on the speed boat have been
handed over to Defence Intelligence Agency on 24 August 2020 for
further necessary action.
17. In the course of other subsidiary Operations CALM WATERS II
and Operation SWIFT RESPONSE on 16 August 2020, Nigerian Navy Ship
VICTORY patrol team intercepted and arrested 7 men suspected to be
smugglers at Agbana-West by the Nigerian-Cameroun maritime border.
The suspects were arrested with a medium size wooden boat laden
with 203 bags of foreign parboiled rice and 62 empty drums
suspected to have been used to smuggle Petroleum, Oil and Lubricant
products to Cameroun. Accordingly, the suspects, bags of smuggled
parboiled rice and the medium-sized wooden boat were handed over to
Operation BORDER DRILL for further investigation and prosecution in
line with extant regulation.
18. Recall, within the month of August, several arrests were
made by troops of Operation DELTA SAFE; large quantities of stolen
crude oil as well as other petroleum products were impounded.
Cumulatively, a total of One Million Three Hundred and Nine
(1,309,000) litres of stolen Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), 1,824.04
barrels of stolen crude oil and Three Hundred and Two Thousand
(302,000) litres of stolen Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) were
recovered in the month of August 2020 in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross
River, Delta and Rivers States. Additionally, a total of 344 bags
of smuggled parboiled rice were impounded in the zone. From these
successes, it is clear that, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE and
other security agencies working together remain resolute and
dedicated in their endeavor to end the fight against economic
sabotage.
19. 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 resoluteness,
determination and loyalty. They are equally encouraged to remain
unwavering and decisive in curtailing the activities of all
criminal elements in the country. Members of the general public are
hereby reassured that the Nigerian Military will continue to tackle
the security challenges to ensure that normalcy is attained in all
the geo political zones of the Country. However their support is
highly solicited in the area of providing credible information to
assist our operations. Thank you.
JOHN ENENCHE
Major General
Coordinator
Defence Media Operations
Defence Headquarters
27 August 2020