The military has deployed special forces to hotspots in the country including Mangu local government Area of Plateau State where fighting between violent extremists fulani militias/insurgents and locals have remained unabated since Tuesday, January 23, 2024.
According to the military, “tension broke out in MANGU in the early hours of 23 Jan 24. The situation escalated and resulted in break down of law and order in MANGU Town and adjoining communities. The crisis which started from GANGARAN KWATA escalated to other parts of MANGU LGA despite concerted efforts by troops deployed to the general area to restore normalcy.”
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, spoke on Thursday on efforts being made to restore normalcy.
“We have also deployed several battlefield enablers to enhance intelligence and strike capability on these terrorists. We are encouraging the warring fractions to shield their swords,”
He said the special forces are conducting targeted operations in order to halt further escalation of insecurity in the area and other hotspots.
“Indeed, we may not have all the answers now. However, we assure citizens that we are working assiduously to address the situation both in the immediate and long term to ensure safety of lives and property.
“We are redoubling our efforts to ensure citizens live in a peaceful environment and have prosperous life. This is achievable and we are focussed on achieving it,”he added.
Major General Buba said the armed forces is determined and “would destroy the cancer of terrorism that is ravaging our country thereby creating situations such as is ongoing in the Plateau State.”
According to him,the situation of insecurity that we are confronted with is self inflicted by own citizens upon one another. Nevertheless, It is our duty to protect citizens and create a safe environment for them to have a prosperous future.
The Director said that troops of operations Safe Haven have arrested suspected violent extremists/insurgents including fulani militias gang leader in Mangu and Wase LGAs of Plateau State just as troops foiled a number of fulani militias attack on locals in Mangu and Bokkos LGAs of the State on January 17, 18 and 19, and recovered a total of 5 AK47 rifle with 123 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammo and 2 motorcycle.
While,troops response to information on large number armed Fulani Militias mobilizing to attack a Community in Bokkos LGA of Plateau State on January 18 resulted in troops neutralization of 10 insurgents and recovery of 10 AK47 rifles, 210 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 5 mobile phones and 29 rounds of PKT ammo.
On January 19, 2024, following a tip off, troops arrested one suspected violent extremist/fulani militia gang leader identified as Dahiru Musa in Mangu LGA of Plateau State who turned out to has been on wanted list of security agencies.
Major General Buba said “we do not take lightly of the privilege and enormous responsibility of safeguarding our citizens. It is for this reason that,we constantly rejig our operational strategies in order to adopt the best course of action that would make these ugly experiences a thing of the past.
On the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, that had been infiltrated by the terrorists , Major General Buba said as for the FCT and environs, military offensive operations are ongoing at the following locations; Cashew Forest, Kwaku, Gwombe, Gadoro and Tukuba all in Kuje Area Council. Other areas covered were Kawu, Igu, Tokulo, Gaba, Zuma 1 and Zuma 2, Shere, Mpape, Jikoko, Berger Quarry and Nukuchi Villages all in Bwari Area Council of FCT.
In neighboring states to the FCT such as Niger State. Troops are conducting operations in ; Gauraka, Apo Forest, Gyedna/Sabon Wusa and Garam in Tafa LGA of Niger State. Additionally, troops covered Numan and Basa in Akwanga and Nasarawa LGAs of Nasarawa State respectively.
He said that overall, during the week under review. Troops neutralised 94 terrorists and arrested 171 of them. Troops also arrested 43 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 29 kidnapped hostages. In the South South troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of Four Hundred and Eighty Five Million Nine Hundred and Eighty Three Thousand One Hundred and Fifty Naira (N485,983,150.00) only.
Furthermore, troops recovered 168 assorted weapons and 2,757 assorted ammunition as follows: one GPMG, 85 AK47 rifles, one Vektor R4 rifle, one G3 rifle, 10 pump action guns, 12 locally fabricated guns, 6 locally made pistols, 21 dane gun, one double barrel gun, one fabricated revolver rifle, 2 x 36 hand grenades and one fabricated dane gun.
Others are: 290 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 2,132 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 115 rounds of 5.66mm ammo, 29 rounds of PKT ammo, 10 rounds of 9mm ammo, 297 cartridges, 21 magazines, 14 vehicles, 35 motorcycles, 27 mobile phones, 2 baofeng radios and the sum of N2,594,000.00 amongst other items.
Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 16 dugout pits, 51 boats, 49 storage tanks and 3 vehicles. Other items recovered include 38 cooking ovens, 3 pump machines and 31 illegal refining sites. Troops recovered 363,875 litres of stolen crude oil, 198,315 litres of illegally refined AGO and 5,200 litres of PMS.
General Buba urged Nigerians to win the war. We would like citizens to clearly understand why we are fighting this war. They should understand that the terrorist will not stop, until they are stopped.