By Linus Aleke, Abuja
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), on Thursday warned Nigerians not to mistake their professionalism for weakness.
The Military High Command also noted that the Okuama killings and Banex plaza fiasco, was untoward and capable of demoralizing the fighting spirit and morale of the troops across all theatres.
Major General Edward Buba, Director Defence Media Operations, who gave this warning during the biweekly briefing at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), in Abuja, also disclosed that troops killed no fewer than 624 terrorist, arrested 1,051, including their logistic suppliers and informants, and rescued 563 hostages.
Also, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), said that the Air Component of Operations Hadarin Daji in Northwest Nigeria, killed no fewer than 30 terrorists loyal to notorious terrorist kingpin, Babura.
Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, in a statement said, the military aircraft also bombed terrorist hideouts in Borno State.
Speaking on mob actions against troops in Delta and Abuja, Major General Edward Buba, admonished the public to
report erring soldiers and officers to military authorities and the military justice system will address the matter.
He said; “the unprovoked killings of 17 personnel in Okuama in Delta State, coupled with the recent assault of unarmed personnel in Banex Plaza in Abuja is worrisome and leaves much to be desired. These occurrences are unhealthy for our national security, counter productive and amount to self sabotage. Surely, it is no way to treat any human, certainly not a military personnel that places self in harms way to protect citizens or to safeguard the nation.
“The military has demonstrated high sense of discipline and professionalism in the face of the untoward attacks. Our professionalism must not be mistaken for weakness. Indeed, we know that to win this war, we needs the support of people. We also hope that the people would equally realize that, they need the military to win the war to guarantee their safety. Accordingly, It goes without saying that this must not repeat itself as it jeopardizes our common interest. If troops err, report them and the military justice system will address the matter. We are at war, and citizens must realize that they also have a responsibility by their actions and utterances to support troops to keep the morale and fighting spirit of troops at optimal at all times”.
Doing otherwise, the Director said, is unpatriotic and amounts to self sabotage.
On killing the terrorists and recovering of arms and ammunition including stolen petroleum products, Gen. Buba said; ‘During the month of May the potency of the terrorists was largely degraded with 624 Terrorist neutralized, 1,051 terrorists including their logistic suppliers and informants arrested, while 563 hostages were rescued. Additionally, troops recovered 707 assorted weapons, 16,487 assorted ammunition and denied the oil theft of an estimated sum of N705,836,036.00 only. Breakdown for the month of May 24 includes and is not limited to the following: 411 AK47 rifles, 234 locally fabricated guns, 43 pump action guns, 231 dane guns, 10,782 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 4,310 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 1,623 rounds 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 1,023 rounds of 511 rounds of 9mm and 2,100 live cartridges”.
Others, he said, are 4,871,470 litres of stolen crude oil, 931,416 litres of illegally refined AGO and 4,480 litres of PMS amongst other item.
While noting that the joint operational environment coupled the synergy with other security and intelligence agencies greatly assisted in the optimal performance of troops in the conduct of operations, Gen. Buba He assured that the military would continue to fight until the terrorists are defeated on the battlefield to help the nation flourish again.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), in a statement said, it has been confirmed that air strikes undertaken by the air component of Operation Hadarin Daji in Northwest Nigeria have eliminated several terrorists loyal to notorious terrorist kingpin known as Babura.
The air strikes, AVM Gabkwet, the NAF Spokesperson said, were conducted around Bakai, and Bakarya, and Yartsintsiya bandits hideouts in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.
He noted that credible intelligence received after the strike revealed that about 30 terrorists were confirmed to have been neutralized.
He said that it was also confirmed that Babura narrowly escaped being killed, while most of his foot soldiers were not so lucky.
“Similar air strikes were also carried out by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai on the same day at Tumbun Fulani, near Lake Chad, against terrorists at a once abandoned hideout. The strikes were authourized after Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions observed a pattern that was consistent with the relocation of terrorists to new hideouts and movement their logistics,” the statement said.
The NAF Spokesperson recalled that this same location was struck by NAF aircraft on 26 and 28 September 2023 with several terrorists eliminated and their logistics and mobilities destroyed.
He concluded that these remnant of terrorists’ returned to their once-destroyed enclave, is indicative of the successes being recorded by both air and ground troops in flushing them out of their various hideouts.
