Kaduna Killings: Military Deploys Special Forces, Vows To End Carnage
BY EDMOND ODOK, ABUJA – The Nigerian Military has confirmed the deployment of Special Operations Forces to curb the escalating rate of killings in the Southern part of Kaduna State.
According to the Military High Command, the move is meant to check the menace of incessant deadly attacks and killings being orchestrated around the areas by suspected bandits, armed herdsmen, and so-called unknown gunmen.
Briefing defence correspondents on the latest military operations, Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, said the operations are part of the Armed Forces’ mandate to defend and secure the territorial integrity of the country.
He said the Military is assuring Nigerians that no efforts will be spared at stopping the ongoing carnage that has made the area not only volatile area, but pose a huge threat to the nation’s security.
He said the Special Operations Forces have been deployed to the Joint Operations Area covering the various flash points, adding that; “This move is expected to achieve the desired result with the provision of credible and actionable intelligence specifically from primary sources
“In a bid to curb the recent attacks and isolated killings in Southern Kaduna, troops of Operation Safe Haven have continued to intensify efforts aimed at securing the lives and property in the general area.”
Major General Enenche said given the nature of the operations, the Military is requesting the locals to cooperate with the “security agencies by availing them with the required information that will be useful to our collective objective of taking out the criminals from the area.”
He stated that the overall outlook of military activities indicates enhanced efforts by the security forces with a commensurate degraded action and casualties inflicted on the enemies of the Nation.
“This positive signal is connected to the directive by the Commander in Chief to the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies tackling the various security challenges in the Country to do more.”
Enenche explained that in the week under review, the North West had troops of Operation Hadarin Daji continuing the aggressive clearance operations in the entire North-West zone of the country.
He said; “For the past one month, we have witnessed downward trend in the activities of armed bandits and cattle rustlers in the general areas of Katsina, Kebbi, Zamfara, Sokoto and adjoining states.
“Most of these criminal elements have been decimated. Gradually there is restoration of human activities in the zone. Farmers have returned to their farms while other economic activities have picked up across the zone.
“The troops have continued to dominate the general area with clearance patrols, aggressive fighting patrols and confidence-building patrols.”
The Media Coordinator said the Military High Command is satisfied with the operations so far and “congratulates the troops for the feat recorded and encourages the good people of the zone to continue to provide credible information to the troops.”
For the South-South region, Major General Enenche said; “Troops of Operation Delta Safe have intensified the fight against crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal oil bunkering in the zone with significant successes.”
“Within the period under review, Nigerian Navy Ship PATHFINDER patrol team discovered an Illegal Refining Site at Yellow Platform off Onne, Rivers State. The site had two (2) metal reservoirs laden with an estimated 314.49 barrels of crude oil and 90,000 litres of illegally refined AGO. Accordingly, the site was deactivated” he said
Giving further insights on the ongoing operations, General Enenche said; “Similarly, Nigerian Navy Ship DELTA patrol team located an Illegal Refining Site along Lokpobiri in Burutu LGA of Delta State. The site had 23 ovens, 15 surface metal storage tanks and 9 dug out pits cumulatively laden with about 195,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined AGO.
“Also, a speed boat laden with 4 sacks containing unspecified quantity of illegally refined AGO and 3 pumping machines, were found at the site. Accordingly, the site was deactivated while the speed boat with its content was recovered to the Base.”
Urging the general public to continue providing “timely and credible information to the troops”, the Media Coordinator assured that; ““The Armed Forces of Nigeria will sustain the onslaught against economic sabotage” going forward.
Also detailing security operations in the South West geo-political zone, the Army General said; “Troops of Operation AWATSE impounded a wooden boat with a sack containing 45 jerry cans of 25 litres, one 2.2 inches capacity hose of about 300 metres in length at Ibeshe area.
“The items were evacuated to ATLAS COVE camp. Troops also arrested a suspect in possession of some jerry cans of product suspected to be PMS and at Abule glass.”
According to him; “The suspect was handed over to Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT patrol team”, adding; “He is currently in custody at the Base while arrangements are ongoing to hand him over to appropriate prosecuting agency.”
“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”, he further disclosed
On military activities in the North East zone, Major General Enenche said; “The Armed Forces of Nigeria have continued to sustain the tempo in the fight against terrorism in the zone with attendant successes. Within the period under review, gentlemen of the press you could attest to the fact that there has been reduction in the number of incidences recorded so far from the zone.
“That is an evidence of own troops overwhelming superiority over the criminal elements which have drastically degraded the operational capabilities of the BHT/ISWAP elements.”
“Troops have also sustained the clearance operations, aggressive patrols and Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance missions, sustained air offensive operations as well as artillery and aerial bombardments in the theatre of operation” he assured.
The Defense Media Operations Coordinator however said; “In the theatre, the attention of the Defence Headquarters was drawn to the alleged activities of troops in Baga, regarding dealings in livestock and farming. In line with military procedures, it was investigated and found to be baseless. The full details will be made available at the next briefing.”
