…Outlines security checklist, as Nigeria marks Armed Forces remembrance day
By Moahmmed Mohammed
The federal government on Thursday said the dreaded Boko Haram is now much weaker than in 2015, as attested to by the Governor of Borno State on December 6, 2020:
Mr. Femi Adesina, who spoke on behalf of government via a statement said it has become the tradition to mark January 15 every as Armed Forces remembrance Day, stressing that the milestone provides ample opportunity to chronicle current landmark achievements by our military in tackling security challenges in the land, towards fulfilling the constitutional requirement of government guaranteeing the protection of lives and property.
In a checklist below, he gave a run down on sector by sector analysis of the security status in the country: “From state-wide statistics on affairs in the 27 Local Government Areas since 2011, the fact is that despite the recent happenings in Borno State, the security situation in Borno State and, indeed, that of the entire North East sub-region is still far better under Buhari, and this is based on records.
“For instance, unlike the years before Buhari when a number of local governments were no-go-areas, we now have indigenes safely back to Gwoza, Askira-Uba, Dikwa, Ngala, Monguno, Kukawa, Damboa, Konduga, Mafa and led by our traditional leaders, which no one could have visited not to talk of living there. Our Emirs were all in exile. Today, Bama is coming back to life and so is Askira-Uba, Damboa, Gwoza and others. Life is even returning to Baga. This was impossible before Buhari.
“In fact, it was not possible to move few kilometres out of Maiduguri. Insurgents were so bold to attack and take over military facilities, like the Army Barracks at Monguno, Bama, Giwa Barrack and Multinational Joint Task Force Headquarters at Baga, to mention just a few. There were daily bomb blast attacks in many parts of Maiduguri, the most populated part of the state but all these have stopped under President Buhari. These are the records and no one can dispute them.”
Highlights of Defence Headquarters-coordinated operations, 18 March to 30 December, 2020:
He said: “The Armed Forces of Nigeria from 18 March to 30 December, 2020 neutralized 2,403 criminal elements (terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, cattle rustlers, etc.) across the country. • This is in addition to scores of other terrorists and armed bandits killed during air strikes. • Troops also rescued a total of 864 kidnapped victims across the country.
“In addition, a total of 9,684,797 litres of stolen AGO and 33,516,000 litres of DPK were recovered.• Equally, 1,910 criminal elements were arrested and large cache of arms, ammunition and equipment were recovered during the period.
“Furthermore, a total of 46,581.8 barrels of stolen crude oil and 22,881,257 litres of stolen PMS were recovered by the troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”
He said the sectoral breakdown of March to December 2020 military successes, are also as reflected, adding: North-West: 5,281 livestock, 6,951 rounds of ammunition and 120 assorted rifles were recovered from the armed bandits by the gallant troops in the Zone, 455 kidnapped victims were rescued and 473 armed bandits killed. 461 arrests were made in the Zone including high profile armed bandits, gun runners and bandits’ collaborators, while a total cash of N6,365,550 was recovered from armed bandits and their informants in the Zone.