The Defence Headquarters, DHQ, on Thursday, raised fresh alarm over the alleged plans by Terrorists to attack critical infrastructure in the country.
Director Defence Media Operations, DMO, Major General Edward Buba who disclosed this to Defence Correspondents in Abuja at a bi-weekly briefing on the ongoing military operations in the various theaters of operations against insurgency activities across the country in the last week however assured the Nation that the Military high Command was doing everything possible to stop the dastardly act.
According to him, “We are aware of some of the plans to target some critical infrastructure in the country.
“Accordingly, we have placed measures to forestall such plans. Security agencies responsible for securing critical infrastructure and facilities have also been placed on alert. Accordingly, some of such plans have been frustrated.
He explained that the military was keeping up the pressure through ongoing operations in five active theatres across the country namely, the North East, North West, North Central, South South and South East, with the North East and North West having the highest levels of intensity.
According to him, “These operations are complex as troops are engaged in fighting in difficult terrains as well as fighting an adversaries that adopts various forms, across the country. Clearly, we have boots on the ground and are fighting in several dimensions to crush the enemy.
” Indeed, troops are fighting on ground, air, at sea as well as in the cyber dimension in several parts of the country. The common denominator in all our operations are the terrorists.
“These terrorists are the enemy that must be fought and defeated. They are responsible for keeping the nation in an almost constant state of counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency.
He explained that during the week under review, troops neutralised 187 and arrested 183 persons while Troops also arrested 26 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 109 kidnapped hostages.
According to him, ” In the South South, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of One Billion One Hundred and Twenty-Seven Million Two Hundred and Twenty Nine Thousand Eight Hundred and Ninty Naira (N1,127,229,890.00) only.
Furthermore, troops recovered 128 assorted weapons and 3,300 assorted ammunition.
“The breakdown as follows: one PKT gun, 80 AK47 rifles, 15 locally fabricated gun, 15 dane guns, 2 FN rifles, 5 pump action guns, 2 single barrel guns, 4 locally fabricated pistols, one fabricated barretta pistol, one locally made double barrel gun, 2 hand grenades, 2 primed IEDs and materials.
” Others are: 1,941 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 729 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 377 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm, 191 rounds of 5.55mm ammo, 199 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammo, 16 rounds of 9mm ammo, 26 live cartridges, 26 empty case of cartridges, 26 AK47 magazines, 6 baofeng radios, 10 vehicles, 4 motorcycles, 4 walkie-talkie, mobile phones and the sum of N102,010.00 only amongst other items.
He further added that the Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 18 dugout pits, 30 boats and 49 storage tanks.
According to him, “other items recovered include 66 cooking ovens, 4 drums, 5 speedboats, 15 vehicles, 2 tricycles, one generator, 11 mobile phones and 57 illegal refining sites.
“Troops recovered 1,l25,440 litres of stolen crude oil, 213,539 litres of illegally refined AGO and 1,230 litres of PMS.Troops are confronted by a vicious enemy that are constantly trying to kill citizens or have killed citizens. Indeed, these terror group are responsible perpetrating insecurity across the country and will not stop doing what the are doing, until they are stopped.
” In this fight, citizens must understand that, we must never compromise on security, otherwise everyone’s security will be compromised. This is a situation that cannot be over emphasized for us to live in safety and security”.
General Buba who assured that he military was doing what was needed at this time to force the terrorist to pay a price for every act of aggression against citizens of the country said “We recognise and have included this as part of our strategy to win the war.
According to him, ” overall, we have no choice but to fight for the safety and security of our citizens. We also fight to safeguard our nation and preserve our way of life as a people. For us a force, Defence is the essence of what we do as an armed forces. Accordingly, we would defeat the terrorists on the battlefield and help our nation flourish again.
