The Minister of Defence Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd), has led a federal government delegation to Enugu for the “HMOD/CDS Security Meeting with Stakeholders in the South East Geopolitical Zone”.
The Defence Headquarters said Thursday is hopeful that the meeting which was held last week’s Friday would go along way in addressing the seemingly intractable security challenges in the South East.
The Acting Director, Defence Media Operation, Brigadier General Benard Onyeuko who disclosed this during a media briefing on the activities of troops between June 3rd and 16th said it was an extra-ordinary non-kinetic approach to the seemingly intractable security challenges.
According to Onyeuko, the minister of Defence, Major General Magashi (rtd),was accompanied by the minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbeshola , the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Eluonye Onyenuchea Irabor and representatives of the Service Chiefs.
He explained that during the summit, a whole range of security challenges were discussed with all the Governors of the South East States, religious leaders, traditional rulers, opinion leaders and other stakeholders in attendance.
The discussions and decisions reached at the end of the security summit were far reaching and would go a long way in tackling and bringing peace to the Region, he said.
General Onyeuko also said that troops’ operational efforts have continued to deny criminals freedom of operation and “we remain resolute to take decisive and adequate actions to further abate terrorists and bandits’ activities as well as other vices across the Country.”
Meanwhile, the Military High Command have lauded the efforts of the troops for their resilience and unrelenting commitment and encouraged the public to support military efforts “by providing credible and timely information that will facilitate our proactive engagements.”
Also speaking , General Onyeuko said troops operational activities in Operation HADARIN DAJI in North West zone and theatre of operation between 3 and 16 June 2021 were characterized with ambush operations, aggressive fighting patrols, air raids, sustained air Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance patrols as well as cordon and search operations.
These operations yielded attendant successes in the period under review adding that troops, during an ambush operation on 3 June, intercepted and neutralized some gunrunners who were in possession of assorted arms and ammunition between Naimaimai Village and Sabon Birni Town in Sabon Birni LGA of Sokoto State.
Similarly, on 4 June 2021, troops, following credible intelligence report, conducted cordon and search operation along Gurbin Baure – Jibia Road in Katsina State. During the operation, troops intercepted and neutralized some armed bandits.
In another development on 6 June 2021, the Air Component of Operation HADARIN DAJI conducted air raids on bandits’ enclaves at Jibia area in Katsina State. The air raid led to the neutralization of several armed bandits and destruction of structures used as hideouts.
In same vein, troops while on aggressive fighting patrol arrested some kidnappers and rescued some of their victims at Bena Market in Danko Wasagu LGA of Kebbi State. During the operation, large caches of arms and ammunition as well as equipment and vehicles were captured from the criminal elements.
Troops have continued to dominate the theatre of operation with aggressive patrols and sustained air intelligence surveillance to deny bandits freedom of operation.
Within the period under review, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN also conducted non-kinetic operations as meetings were held at different locations in its area of responsibility including Wasa Village in Sanga LGA of Kaduna State and Tafawa Village in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State among others.