Sustain onslaught against terrorists, experts tell DHQ

Army patrol team kills bandits, captures three in Kaduna

Stakeholders in the intelligence community, who felt disappointed after the attacks on Kuje Correctional Centre and Presidential Guards Brigade in Abuja, now have something to cheer, about following the recent bombardment of the terrorists’ camps by the military.

Speaking in different fora, yesterday, they urged the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) to sustain the military onslaught in the various theatres of operation.

Former Director, Department of State Services (DSS), Dennis Amachree, said he never doubted the military’s capability to decimate the hoodlums.

“I have to give kudos to the Nigerian military and the security intelligence community for a job well done in routing these terrorists in the North East and North West regions.

“I never doubted the capability of our security forces in dealing with the rag-tag terrorists. Thanks to the leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor.

“This is the good news Nigerians have been waiting for. The security forces should sustain the present push in asserting themselves, especially now that we are approaching the general elections.”

The President, of the Association of Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN), Dr. Wilson Esangbedo, said: “We need to support the military operation by providing relevant information to state security agents. If you see something, say something.

“They have the support of the people, as they are expected to continue the operation to dislodge these criminal elements from the bushes and our society.

“Security has improved, but the military must not assume the bandits have stopped operation, as they are merely relocating to areas where there is no military operation.”

Security expert and founder of Security Express, Frank Oshanugor, said: “The Nigerian military has always been a reliable and formidable entity that has the capability and capacity to defend the country against the insurgents and bandits within the country. What made it look like the military has become weak, prior to the recent achievements, was because of the politicisation of its achievements.

“By this, I mean the downplaying (by the Presidency) of numerous incidents of capturing the terrorists and bandits by the military, only for such terrorists to be treated with kid gloves and eventually let off the hook. Some of the so-called repentant terrorists reportedly found their way into the armed forces, only to become the real enemies.”

MEANWHILE, a fighting patrol team led by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, accompanied by a team of operational commanders and operatives, have cleared bandits in Buruku, Udawa, Manini, Birnin Gwari, Doka, Maganda, Kuyello and Dogon Dawa communities in Kaduna State, while on a fighting patrol, on Monday.

Army spokesman, Brig-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, said: “In the firefight that ensued during the engagements, the patrol team overpowered the bandits with superior firepower, neutralising one of them, while three others were captured alive. Some of the criminal elements escaped with gunshot wounds.”

“The patrol team also recovered one AK-47 rifle, 27 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition and 18 motorcycles.”

He urged members of the public, particularly health facilities and paramedics, to watch out for persons, who might be seeking medical attention for gunshot wounds and report to relevant security agencies.