By Emmanuel Obisue
With barely a month to Nigeria’s decisive election slated for February 25 and March 11 respectively, the country’s military has assured that insurgents no longer hold sway of any territory.
This assurance was given by Major General Musa Danmadami, Director of Defence Media Operations, while answering questions from journalists at the Defence Headquarters Abuja.
While the military high command admitted that there are “pockets” of insecurity across the country, it added that operations are being sustained to clear remnants of terrorists.
Speaking on the report in Galkogi, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, in which a Nigerian Air Force, NAF jet allegedly misfired, killing an undisclosed number of vigilantes, Danmadami insisted that the NAF carries out its operations “in a professional manner, in line with laid down rules of engagement”. He said their operations are “intelligence-drven”.
Danmadami added that between January 12 and 26, troops neutralized 114 terrorists and bandits, rescued 101 kidnapped civilians, recovered 51 AK47 rifles and arrested 115 terrorists, logistics suppliers, suspected vandals, bandits, gunrunners, armed herders and economic saboteurs.
In the Niger Delta region, he said in the course of joint military operations, troops discovered and destroyed 39 illegal refining sites, 48 cooking ovens, 103 storage tanks, 27 dug-out pits and 33 wooden boats, among other items.
“Cumulatively, within the weeks in focus troops discovered as destroyed 39 illegal refining sites, 48 cooking ovens, 103 storage tanks, 27 dugout pits and 33 wooden boats. Troops also recovered 1 tug boat, 1 barge, 3 pumping machines, 3 speed boats and 13 vehicles. Additionally, troops recovered 274,000 litres of crude oil, 71,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, 15 Ak47 rifles, while 40 suspected economic saboteurs were arrested.
“It is worth mentoring that the sum of One Hundred and Twenty-Five Million Three Hundred Ninety-Nine Thousand Four Hundred and Sixty Naira (N125,399,460.00) only were denied oil thieves,” he stated.
